The August days were boiling in the capital Hanoi. The August Revolution opened a new era in Vietnam, the era when the Vietnamese people were masters of the country and their own destiny. (Photo: VNA)

The August days were boiling in the capital Hanoi . The August Revolution opened a new era in Vietnam, the era when the Vietnamese people became masters of the country and their own destiny. (Photo: VNA)

That victory is the result of the synthesis of many factors, in which the decisive, consistent and guiding factor for all other factors is the correct, resilient and wise leadership role of the Communist Party of Vietnam .

The Party determines the right revolutionary path.

Before the Communist Party of Vietnam was born on February 3, 1930, the Vietnamese people were immersed in the dark night of slavery. Under the domination of French colonialism and Japanese fascism, the country was torn apart, the people were hungry and miserable. All previous patriotic movements, despite their spirit, failed because they lacked the right direction and a revolutionary organization with sufficient leadership capacity.

It was in that context that the Communist Party of Vietnam - with its historical mission as the true representative of the interests of the working class and the entire nation - emerged as a historical inevitability.

Right from its founding, the Party clearly defined the path of the Vietnamese revolution as a revolution for national liberation. The Party's " Brief Platform" determined the strategic goal as: "Overthrow French imperialism and feudalism, making Vietnam completely independent" (1).

From January 6 to February 7, 1930, the conference to unify communist organizations to establish the Communist Party of Vietnam was held in Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong (China) under the chairmanship of comrade Nguyen Ai Quoc on behalf of the Communist International. (Photo: Documentary painting/VNA)

After that, the Party's revolutionary line was constantly supplemented and developed to suit each revolutionary stage, clearly demonstrated through the Party Central Committee Conferences.

The Central Conference in November 1939 clearly stated that "The survival path of the Indochinese peoples has no other way than to overthrow French imperialism, fight against all foreign invaders, regardless of white or yellow skin, to gain independence and liberation" (2).

The 8th Central Conference (May 1941) emphasized: "The task of national liberation and independence for the country is the first task of our Party" (3).

Regarding revolutionary methods, the Party determined that "The Indochina Revolution must end with an armed uprising" (4). Armed uprising is the way to seize power, but not subjectively or voluntaristically, but persistently preparing the necessary conditions. And the policy of "partial uprising towards a general uprising" is the Party's wise strategy.

When the Japanese fascists staged a coup against the French colonialists to monopolize Indochina (March 9, 1945), the Party Central Committee immediately issued a historic directive: "The Japanese-French War and Our Actions" (March 12, 1945), clearly identifying the enemy of the revolution at that time as the Japanese fascists. From there, the Party launched a strong anti-Japanese, national salvation movement to lay the foundation for the General Uprising.

Building a comprehensive and widespread revolutionary force

Along with providing the right guidelines, the Party led our people to prepare forces systematically and comprehensively for the General Uprising.

In fact, the building of revolutionary forces was carried out very early. Right from its inception, with a correct political platform, our Party mobilized the masses to create a large revolutionary movement throughout the country, with rich and diverse forms of struggle.

Under the leadership of the Party, the people carried out the revolutionary movement of 1930-1931, the democratic movement of 1936-1939 and the national liberation movement of 1939-1945.

Since 1941, the 8th Central Conference established the Viet Minh Front, thereby gathering all patriotic forces: workers, farmers, intellectuals, small traders... National salvation organizations (workers, youth, women, farmers...) were born everywhere, forming a large political network, closely connected with the people.

To meet the requirements of the revolution, on December 22, 1944, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army (the predecessor of the Vietnam People's Army) was established under the direction of President Ho Chi Minh.

On December 22, 1944, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army was established in Tran Hung Dao forest in Nguyen Binh district, Cao Bang province, under the command of comrade Vo Nguyen Giap, directly participating in the fight alongside local militia bases and forces, playing a pivotal role in deciding the success of the August Revolution. (Photo: VNA documents)

In April 1945, the Central Committee convened the Northern Military Revolutionary Conference, unifying the armed forces into the Vietnam Liberation Army. This was the main force for the General Uprising later.

From 1940 to 1945, the Party actively directed the construction and consolidation of revolutionary bases. In just a short time, we built a large Viet Bac base area, including most of the rural areas of six provinces: Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, along with many other war zones and armed bases, such as: Bac Giang, Vinh Yen, Phuc Yen, Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Hai Duong, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Quang Ngai... These were important bases directing the process of building and developing revolutionary forces, and were the nerve centers leading the uprising forces nationwide.

With strategic vision and tight organizational methods, our Party has gradually built a strong revolutionary force, both politically, militarily and at the mass level, creating a decisive premise for the August General Uprising to win nationwide.

Sharp in assessing the situation and seizing revolutionary opportunities

Seizing the right opportunity to revolt is a matter of decisive significance to the victory of every revolution. Fully aware of this, our Party and President Ho Chi Minh seized the opportunity, acted promptly and resolutely in the August 1945 General Uprising.

The opportunity for the August Revolution in 1945 appeared when Japanese fascists surrendered to the Allies, the Japanese command in Indochina was extremely divided, Japanese soldiers were disbanded, demoralized, and pro-Japanese Vietnamese traitors were frightened.

At the same time, this was also the time when all preparations of our Party in terms of forces, guidelines, and combat strategies were completed, and the national salvation movement of the entire people had reached its peak.

Partial uprisings broke out and were victorious in many areas. Liberated zones and bases were established throughout the country, revolutionary armies were formed, and all forces were ready for combat.

The revolutionary opportunity only existed from the time the Japanese fascists surrendered to the Allies until before the Allies entered Vietnam. That was when the old enemy had lost power, but the new enemy had not yet arrived, creating a situation of balance of power most favorable to the revolution.

Seizing the opportunity, the Party acted decisively. On August 13, 1945, the Uprising Committee ordered a General Uprising.

On August 14-15, 1945, the Party's National Conference convened to agree on a plan. On August 16, 1945, the National Congress passed the General Uprising Order and 10 major policies of the Viet Minh.

On August 19, 1945, after a rally at the Opera House Square, the people of the capital occupied the Bac Bo Palace, the headquarters of the French puppet government in the North. The August Revolution was a historical lesson, opening a new era in Vietnam, the era of the Vietnamese people being masters of the country and their own destiny. (Photo: VNA)

On August 18, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter calling for a general uprising: "The decisive hour for the destiny of our nation has come. The whole nation, let's stand up and use our own strength to liberate ourselves... We cannot delay." (5)

Responding to President Ho Chi Minh's call, under the leadership of the Party, the entire Vietnamese people rose up together. The Vietnamese revolution quickly moved from partial uprisings to a general uprising.

Thanks to careful preparation of forces and the timely outbreak, the August Revolution quickly achieved victory.

A true revolutionary party always puts the people's interests first and foremost.

A key factor creating the trust and strength of the entire people is the morality, prestige, intelligence and mettle of the Party, headed by President Ho Chi Minh.

Not only was he the founder of the Party, President Ho Chi Minh was also the soul of the August Revolution, the one who directly planned strategies, built forces, and directed the General Uprising. President Ho Chi Minh's revolutionary morality has permeated every policy, action, and leadership style of the entire Party. That is the morality of a revolutionary soldier who is "diligent, thrifty, honest, upright, impartial, and selfless," ready to sacrifice personal interests for the benefit of the nation.

On the morning of September 2, 1945, at the historic Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

In addition to President Ho Chi Minh, the Party leadership at that time included comrades Truong Chinh, Vo Nguyen Giap, Pham Van Dong, Nguyen Luong Bang, Hoang Quoc Viet, Le Duc Tho, Nguyen Chi Thanh, Ton Duc Thang... These were leaders who not only had a firm grasp of Marxist-Leninist theory but also deeply understood the reality of Vietnamese society, and had the capacity to organize and direct a large-scale revolutionary movement. These were people who had operated secretly in the enemy's heartland, had been captured, tortured, and imprisoned by the enemy, but were never shaken, always maintaining the revolutionary spirit and steadfast belief in the victory of the revolution.

The Party's stature in the August Revolution was not only in its role in power but also in its courage to take responsibility before the nation and lead the people, despite countless challenges ahead. That was the political courage of a true revolutionary Party, always putting the interests of the nation and the people first and foremost.

It is the high level of unity in ideology, organization and action among Party leaders at all levels, from the Central to the grassroots, that has created an effective leadership system, creating absolute trust among the people in the Party.

The August Revolution left valuable lessons about the Party's decisive role in the cause of national liberation as well as in building and developing the country.

80 years have passed, but that lesson remains valuable, continuing to illuminate the nation's path forward in the new era.

Being steadfast in the ideal of national independence associated with socialism, maintaining the Party's leadership role, constantly innovating the method of governance, and promoting the strength of great national unity - that is the solid foundation for Vietnam to firmly overcome all challenges, continuing to write glorious pages of history in the era of national development./.

(1) Ho Chi Minh, Complete Works, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, volume 3, p.1
(2) Communist Party of Vietnam - Complete Party Documents, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2000, volume 6, p.536
(3) Communist Party of Vietnam - Complete Party Documents, op. cit., volume 7, p.118.
(4) Communist Party of Vietnam - Complete Party Documents, op. cit., volume 7, p.129
(5) Ho Chi Minh, Complete Works, op. cit., volume 3, p. 596

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/dang-cong-san-viet-nam-nhan-to-quyet-dinh-thang-loi-cach-mang-thang-tam-post1053547.vnp