Update: 09:41 | 07/05/2020
(BGO) - Over half a century has passed but the people of Yen The district (Bac Giang province), especially communes with arterial roads passing through the "Deo Ca death gate" to the Dien Bien Phu battlefield, cannot forget the extremely fierce years living in dropping bombs and explosive bullets.
In the Dien Bien Phu campaign, the Yen The people unyieldingly joined the youth volunteer units C231 and C232 in Bac Giang province to keep the transport route smooth, contributing to the Dien Bien Phu Victory, which was described as “resounding victory throughout five continents, stirring up the world”.
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In the afternoon of May 7, 1954, the "Quyet chien quyet thang" (Determined to fight, determined to win) flag of the Vietnam People's Army flies over the roof of General De Castries's bunker. The historic Dien Bien Phu campaign is a complete win. |
Implementing the Navarre plan, in addition to gathering soldiers and modern military equipment, the French colonialist also focused their firepower on Dien Bien Phu basin to create a definitive victory in their invasion plot.
Only from April 4 to May 7, 1954, the French colonialist threw 1,750 bombs down an area in Dong Huu commune, Yen The district, which houses Deo Ca - a key point on the arterial road to the Dien Bien Phu battlefield.
In addition, they also used aircraft and cannons to fire from Mo Tho (Viet Yen district), crushing a 20km long arterial road running through "Deo Ca death gate" to prevent the transportation of food and ammunition that the rear and international community provided for the Dien Bien Phu battlefield.
During the 30 days and nights from April 7 to May 7, 1954, the enemy dropped 282 bombs over all the artery roads and fired 6,000 cannons, damaging the road surface and many houses in Huong Vi and Dong Huu communes (Yen The district).
In response to the slogans "All for the frontline, all to win" and "The enemy destroys, we build again; the enemy beats, we continue going", Yen The mobilized thousands of conscripted workers and 615 bicycles to carry food, food stuffs, medicine and weapons to the battlefield. In just one day, the people of communes in upland Yen The supported the Government 350 buffaloes as food for soldiers fighting on the Dien Bien Phu front.
Dong Huu commune with Deo Ca as a key point set up a team of 120 people and 30 buffalo-drawn vehicles passing through the forests day and night, and climbing the slopes to transport food and weapons to support the battlefield.
Vu Tho, an artist of the Kep Ton ‘tuong’ (traditional opera) troupe, enthusiastically participated in the conscripted workers force. He composed many short songs to encourage the soldiers and conscripted workers. Although the enemy bombarded fiercely over the key point of Deo Ca, there were 2,500 turns of cars carrying weapons, food and foodstuffs to the frontline safely.
In the course of defending Deo Ca, in April 1953, soldiers and militia of Dong Huu commune shot down two French planes, one dropped to Ao Gao village and the other to Huu Lung (Lang Son province), and captured the enemy’s pilots.
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Former youth volunteers of Dong Huu commune (Yen The) educate students of the Dong Huu Secondary School about the local traditions at the Deo Ca historical-cultural relic site. |
Also at this time, in Dong Huu commune, there was also a workshop manufacturing and repairing weapons and ammunition in Ao Gao village, a food warehouse in Rung Giang (Trai Vanh) and a military field hospital in Luu village (Ba Lo) managed by the military, directly serving the Dien Bien Phu battlefield. Tran Nang Doan, a member of Bo Ha township’s conscripted workers team sacrificed his life when paving the way.
When the campaign ended, a song of triumph echoed in Dien Bien. During a conference to review the campaign, the Bac Giang provincial Administration Committee presented the “best unit” flag to officials and people of Huong Vi commune. Some individuals were awarded with the province’s certificates of merit. Vu Tho (an artist of the Kep Ton ‘tuong’ troupe) in Bo Ha township received the third-class Labor Order.
On July 12, 2007, the People's Committee of Bac Giang province issued a decision to recognise Deo Ca as a historical-cultural relic site. At the end of 2007, a stele of the Bac Giang youth volunteer historical-cultural relic site was erected on Deo Ca peak. Officials and people of all ethnic groups in Yen The district were honored with the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the Party and State.
Tran Thi May Lai
