August Revolution wins people’s hearts and minds

Tens of thousands of people march to the Hanoi Opera House in the general uprising on August 19, 1945 (Photo: qdnd.vn)

The lesson continues to be learned in national resistance wars, construction, and defense.

83-year-old Hoang Ngoc, a resident of Tuyen Quang province, still remembers May 21, 1945, when President Ho Chi Minh came to Tuyen Quang to lead Vietnam’s revolution. He chose Tan Trao commune as his revolutionary base.

The family of 10-year-old boy Hoang Ngoc provided shelter for delegates who came to attend the National Congress there. Ngoc felt honored to be one of the young people chosen to deliver a congratulating massage during the Congress.

Ngoc said, "We are Tay ethnic people, who lived through the harsh colonial times. During the August Revolution, the Party and Uncle Ho taught us the revolutionary spirit and we were all very excited and motivated. All resources were mobilized to help the revolution.”

The revolutionary base of Tan Trao accommodated and safeguarded Uncle Ho and other party officials during the days before the general uprising. It was the command center of the August Revolution.

Dr. Mach Quang Thang of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, said, “We made thorough preparations by creating the Communist Party in 1930, a rehearsing the general uprising from 1930 to 1931, and staging the Soviet Nghe Tinh revolutionary movement from 1931 to 1935. We mapped out a policy of seizing revolutionary opportunities, launching movements, and combining national and international strength.”

On August 19, 1945, tens of thousands of people marched to the Hanoi Opera House for the uprising. The crowd then stormed and occupied the Palace of the Imperial Commissioner for Northern Vietnam and other bases of the puppet government. The event was a milestone in Vietnam’s history.

The August Revolution’s tremendous victory taught valuable lessons about putting people at the center, upholding national great unity, focusing on the alliance of workers, farmers, and intellectuals, and fighting for people’s interests and aspirations.

Dr. Nhi Le, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Communist Review, said the August Revolution created the largest revolutionary movement, rallying people of all ethnicities, religions, and social classes.

All the people from the northern, central, and southern regions of Vietnam joined the uprising. The people’s strength is invincible. 600 years ago, Nguyen Trai, a national hero, said, “When the boat capsizes, we realize that people are as powerful as water. President Ho Chi Minh said, “Under the sky, nothing is more precious than people. In the universe, nothing is stronger than the people’s power.” The August Revolution was a revolution of the people, by the people, and for the people. People were the origin of the August Revolution.