Book Review: National Liberation War in Vietnam by General Von Nguyen Giap

General Giap’s book National Liberation War in Vietnam covers the struggle of the Vietnamese people against the ruthless imperialist forces. Strategy and tactics of guerilla warfare in Vietnam are included. The author relates the resistance in Vietnam back to 11^th century, when the fight was against the Chinese Sung army. Furthermore the resisting the Mongol attack of 13^th century and the Ming invasion of 15^th century have also been included. In the 18^th century 200,000 strong army of the Ching was crushed by the people of Vietnam, which marked the last foreign feudal aggression in the country.

Second World War created a new scenario for Vietnam. Now the main objective turned into national liberation. The revolution of August 1945 was against the fascist Japanese and the pro- Japanese puppet administration. Immediately after the August Revolution the Vietnamese fought against the French colonialists. This war of resistance lasted nine years ending in victory for the communists in 1954.The author quotes President Ho Chi Minh: “To save the country and liberate the people, the only way is that of proletarian revolution”.

In 1950 Vietnam started receiving aid from brother socialist countries. Giap believes that men, politics and ideology are the most determining factors for the excellence of armed forces. He refers to Ho Chi Minh’s historic appeal: “Without a solid rear area, the front cannot win; this is the general law of all wars”. After victory at Dien Bien Phu the northhad become a rear area in the struggle against the imperialist forces.

Furthermore the author considers offensive thought as the ideological basis of revolutionary strategy and war in Vietnam. He views offensive as an insurrection. Only when guerilla warfare expands can regular warfare fully develop and progress. The choice of the time of attack along with that of the direction of attack has a decisive impact in uprising and a great importance in war.

The author quotes Lenin: “Victory in war goes to the side whose person has greater reserves, greater sources of strength and greater endurance”. Military history, military force, political force, importance of rear area, mode of conducting the war, the role of leadership of the party and the essentials of victory are all included in this book, written by an author who himself played a vital part in the liberation of Vietnam.