THE BUILDING AND OPERATIONS OF REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES IN THE SOUTH FROM 1954 TO 1965

VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES GRADUATE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Le Dinh Hung THE BUILDING AND OPERATIONS OF REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES IN THE SOUTH FROM 1954 TO 1965 DOCTORAL

VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

GRADUATE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Le Dinh Hung

THE BUILDING AND OPERATIONS OF

REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES IN THE SOUTH

FROM 1954 TO 1965

DOCTORAL THESIS OF HISTORY

HANOI - 2016

VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

GRADUATE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Le Dinh Hung

THE BUILDING AND OPERATIONS OF REVOLUTIONARY

ARMED FORCES IN THE SOUTH

FROM 1954 TO 1965

Major: History of Vietnam Code: 62 22 03 13

DOCTORAL THESIS OF HISTORY

SCIENCE SUPERVISOR: Assoc Prof Nguyen Dinh Le

Hanoi - 2016

INTRODUCTION

1 Urgency of the topic

The Resistance War against the American invasion in the period of 1954 -

1975 is a special event not only of the modern history of Vietnam but world history in the twentieth century It is a event of the era significance which gains the attention of researchers worldwide Armed violence is one of the two subjects of this historical event in this stature era

Research on the history of building and operation of the Revolutionary Armed Forces in the South (RAFS) the period from 1954 to 1965 will shed light

on context of the Revolutionary history of Vietnam after the Geneva agreement, the creations of the southern people in the armed construction and operation to defend themselves These creations provides revolutionary pioneering solid arguments to redirect strategic guidance, recognize and direct the construction, develop and accelerate the operation of RAFS This research clarifies the construction and operation of RAFS in the period 1954 – 1965 which is the beginning the foundation, clarifies its role with the revolutionary process in general and decisive role in the war against the US in the period of 1954-1975 Studying the Resistance War against the American invasion also suggests and provides the scientific foundation to facilitate the building and reinforcement of the proper and scientific foreign policy, defense and security guidelines in the new situation Therefore, requirements for research, review and draw on lessons in the country construction and defense in the Resistance War against the American invasion in the period of 1954 -1975 becomes urgent However, the beginning of this war, the construction and operation of RAFS in the period of 1954 - 1965 has not been studied as a whole, basically continuous and comprehensive system Hence, a deep, comprehensive and systematic research on RAFS in the period of 1954 -1965 will contribute to more complete awareness of the decisive role of RAFS in Resistance War against the American invasion, as well as to enrich awareness of the artistic Vietnam resistence war This work also provokes methodology arguments in the context of country construction and defense at present

From the above sense, we chose: "The building and operation process of

the revolutionary armed forces in the South from 1954 to 1965" as the Ph.D

thesis in History of Vietnam

2 Research objectives and tasks

2.1 Research Objectives

Recreate the system, rule, construction and operation scale of the

2.2 Research Tasks

To achieve the objectives, thesis includes these following tasks:

- Research and clarify essential requirements to maintain the operation of RAFS for Southern Revolution

- Analyze and interpret to clarify the policy and the direction of the Party in building armed forces and armed struggle in 1954 – 1965, the construction and operation progress of RAFS defeat America - Republic of Vietnam in the period from 1954 to 1965

- Evaluate the characteristics and role of the construction and operation progress of the Revolutionary Armed Forces in the South from 1954 to 1965

3 Research object and scope

1965

4.2 Methodology and Research Methods

- Methodology: The thesis was based on the fundamental perspectives of Marxism Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Ideology ; the views of the Communist Party of Vietnam on the Revolution War, the People's War

- Research Methodology: During the study, we used historical and logical approaches as the core In addition, we also use a number of methods such as

analysis, synthesis, comparison and interdisciplinary approaches to address the specific problems of the thesis

5 New scientific contribution of the thesis

- Firstly, the thesis embodies the overall picture of the construction process and the activities of the Southern Revolutionary Armed Forces from 1954 to

1965 to against the neocolonial invasion of America and the Republic of Vietnam

- Second, it contributes to affirm the tremendous role of RAFS in the transitional stage of the anti-US resistance war in the period of 1954-1965

6 The theoretical and practical meaning of the thesis

The thesis brings RAFS to a deserved position in the period from 1954 to

1965 of Vietnam's Revolutionary history

Thesis supplements documenting about the Resistance War against the American invasion of Vietnamese people; It can be used as reference contributing to the study and teaching history; adds to the tradition and experience in building and fighting for more than 70 glory years of the people's armed forces The results also suggest significant methodology problems in the

of building and firmly defense the socialist fatherland Vietnam today

7 Structure of the thesis

Addition to the Introduction, Conclusion, References, and Appendices, the thesis includes 4 chapters:

Chapter 1: Overview of research

Chapter 2: The Southern Revolutionary Armed Forces from 1954 to 1960 Chapter 3: The Southern Revolutionary Armed Forces from 1961 to 1965 Chapter 4: Some comments on the Southern Revolutionary Armed Forces from 1954 to 1965

Chapter 1

AN OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH SITUATION 1.1 Group of domestic research on anti-US Resistance War in general 1.1.1 Group works review, the leaders of the Communist Party, the State, the Vietnam People's Army

Firstly, some of the studies of the War and the Revolutionary War should

be mentioned such as Military theses Collection, volume III, Ha Noi: People's Army Publishers; Ho Chi Minh, Le Duan, Truong Chinh, Vo Nguyen Giap, Nguyen Chi Thanh, Van Tien Dung, Song Hao (1996)

“ About the Resistance War against America” by Gen Van Tien Dung Hanoi

Truth Publishers, 1976 Gen Vo Nguyen Giap, the Great Brother of Vietnam

People's Army forces, wrote “ The People's Liberation War and the People's

national defense war”, Hanoi: Truth Publishers, 1979

1.1.2 Group of monograph projects on the Resistance War against the American Empire to Save the Nation in Vietnam

“The South on the road to victory” Part 2 and 3 by Tran Van Giau, Hanoi:

Social Sciences Publishing House, 1965 and 1968 Vietnam Academy of

Military History wrote “History of resistance against American 1954 -1975”

including 9 parts, Ha Noi: People's Army Publishers This monograph mentioned the War of Resistance against American through the period 1954 –

1965 in the first 03 parts: Part 1 was entitled “Causes of the war”; Part 2 with

“Moving Strategies” and the last one was “Winning the Special War”

“History of the Southern Resistance” by Editor Directing Council of the

Southern Resistance History, volume II period 1954 - 1975, Hanoi: National Political Publishers- The truth, 2010

These monographs are studied in detail on the 21 years of the resistance War against the American Empire to Save the Nation of Vietnam in general or

on a specific aspect and a field of the anti-US Resistance war for national salvation that related to the armed forces However, these study authors do not have in-depth research on the Southern Revolutionary Armed Forces’ processes

and activities in the Resistance War against the United States in general and in

the crucial period of the war (1954 -1965) with sense of a problem or the most important aspect of a comprehensive war against the most powerful superpower

in the world in that period

1.2 Group of monograph projects on the People's armed forces in general and in particular on the Southern Revolutionary armed forces

1.2.1 Group monograph books on the People's armed forces and the Southern Revolutionary Armed Forces

Ministry of Defense wote “ The special subjects of the local people's war in

defencing the nation”, the saved documents at the Military History Institute

“The History of the Vietnam People's Army”, Part 2 issued by the People's Army Publishers, Hanoi, 1994; “Vietnam Military History”, vol 11, Hanoi: National

Political Publishing House, 2005 by the Institute of Military History

Most military region has published books on the history of the People's armed forces or the Resistance war against American to save the Nation History of the military Region VI (South Central Coast - Southern Central Highlands) wars against the American in the period of 1954-1975 Hanoi: the People's Army

Publishing House, 1995 by Military Region V; Military Region IX - 30 years of

war (1945-1975) issued by the People's Army Publishing House in Hanoi, 1999

by Military Region IX; Military Region VIII (The Mekong River Delta) War against American for Resistance from 1954 to 1975, the National Political

Publishing House, Hanoi, 2001 by Chen Yang served as editor; History of the

Military Region VII’s Armed Forces (1945-2010) by Military Region VII, issued

by the People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2010

All of the Southern Military Commands published books related to the history of the People's Armed forces or Resistance war against America in their own locality Typical books are Quang Nam - Da Nang, 30 years of Fight and

Victory, the People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 1988 by the Quang Nam -

Da Nang Provincial Military command; History of the Ben Tre people’s Resistance war against American Ben Tre people, 1993 by the Ben Tre Provincial Military Command; History Dong Nai Armed forces (1945-1995) by Military command of Dong Nai, issued by the People's Army Publishing House

in Hanoi, 1999

1.2.2 Group of theses, dissertations and scientific journals about the People's armed forces and the Southern Revolutionary Armed Forces

Party’s leadership of the struggle against the " national policy " of the US

strategic hamlets in the South Vietnam (1961 – 1965)by Tran Thi Thu Huong - PhD thesis in historical science, major in Historical Party, by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Polistics, Hanoi, 2000

Being related to the group of monograph projects on the Revolutionary armed forces, there are hundreds of scientific articles that published in the journals such as Military History, Historical Studies, History of the Party There are

some typical articles of these for instance, Aspects of the Southern

Revolutionary Armed Forces period 1954-1960, Journal of Military History,

No 4, 1996, the Fifth resolution on the Southern Revolutionary Armed Forces,

Journal of Military History, No 1, 1999 by Nguyen Dinh Le; the Signal Battle, Journal of Military History, No 1, 2003; Journal of Military History, No 3,

2003; Journal of Military History, No 12, 2005 by Ho Khang; and the Southern

Revolutionary Armed Forces in the diversion processing in the Party's direction

at that crucial momentary history by Nguyen Dinh Le, Journal of Military

History, , No 1, 2010

The achievement of these researches on the Southern Revolutionary armed forces was very valuable It could be in a concrete field of the construction or operation of the Southern Revolutionary Armed Forces, or was generalized in a certain time period which associated with the special history events, the battles, the strategic significance campaigns.The demension and domain of study can be generalized on a short period of time or a historical turning-point of the resistance War against the American Empire to Save the Nation in the period 1954-1965 or a specific field related to construction and operation of the Southern Revolutionary Armed Forcesduring this period

The research achievements of the authors and monographic studies would be the valuable documentations and foundation that the authors can gather, inherit and apply for deploying in the foundation and completing thesis process …

1.3 Group of studies conducted by foreign scholars and the Saigon government

William Westmoreland - the direct leader of the US military commander in

Southern Vietnam wrote “Report of a soldier”, issued by Ho Chi Minh City

Youth Publishing House in 1988 In 1995, Robert Strange McNamara, former American National Sercurity Defense P minister, who took part in planning policy to Vietnam under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson completed the

memoir “The Past reminiscence, great tragedy and experienced learning about

Vietnam”, Random House Publisher, 1995

Since the capitalist standpoint, originated from the other side, the scholars tried

to mention the American war in Vietnam in the most objectively interpretation Although the viewpoint and assessment in the war are different, inobjective and inconsistent with the traditional Labour Party stance, the authors considered it one of the important documentary souces for comparison and cross-referenced

of their own researches

1.4 Thesis issues needed to be further researched and resolved

Due to lacks of concrete science projects, specific thesis research to clarify appearing laws, operation, characteristics, establishment andoperation of the Southern Revolutionary armed forces in the crucial period of the Resistance War against the American Empire to Save the Nation between 1954 and 1965 The thesis aimed to go details, scientific interpret some of the following subjects:

- Analyze factors, historical circumstances affecting the appearance of the Labour Party violent revolution way, laid foundation for the establishment and operation of the Southern Revolutionary armed forces in the period from 1954 to 1965; Analyze the origin, operation, characteristics and nature of building and operation of the Southern Revolutionary armed forces during the period 1954 -1965; On the basis of the system, overall, including regional factors, specific characteristics to these procedures The thesis attempts to interpret rules, assess objectively the role of the Southern armed forces to the Resistance War against the American empire to save the nation in the South during the period of 1954 - 1965; Evaluate the construction and operation of the Southern Revolutionary Armed Forces Suggest issues which have methodology meanings in the national construction and defense nowadays

2.1.3 Resources of the United States and the Saigon regime in South Vietnam from 1954 to 1960

In March, 1956 under the auspices of the US, Ngo Dinh Diem regime held elections, to set National Assembly In October, 1956, Diem promulgated Constitution of “the First Republic" and carried out comprehensively in military, politics, social-culture When the US government - Diem had been built in a

perfect way from the central to grassroots levels, Republic of Vietnam embarked

on the implementation of the "pacification" of South Vietnam, started up the policy "anti-communist"

2.1.4 International Context

National liberation movements from the Middle East spread to Africa and Latin America The year 1960 was called “the year of Africa" Labor movement struggling for peace, democracy, national independence and progress in capitalist countries and nationalism became an important front line hitting the bourgeoisie and monopoly capitalist state

In Indochina peninsula, after the Geneva agreements, Cambodian government maintained the pursuit of neutrality In Laos, the Lao People's Party was open to the public in 1955 and the Lao Patriotic Front operated actively Such changes benefited the Vietnam revolution

However, the communist movement and worker movement in other countries also gave some disadvantages The opinions of the leading Communist Parties

of the two largest countries in the socialist system at that time that had not supported using violent solution to the reunification, and the outstanding features of the cold war impacted negatively on the process making way against American invasion of Communist Party of Vietnam

2.1.5 North Vietnam forward to build socialism

In 1958 North Vietnam implemented socialist renovation and further developed

in economy – culture section The result of the 3-year plan (1958-1960) of socialist renovation created enormous changes in the North of Vietnam

Up to 1960, the People's Army had completed the tasks in the first 5 years military plan; took a further step, from the force mostly infantry with not very unified organization, and shortages of weapons and equipment to a regular army, more modern, including forces: Army , Navy, and Air Force

2.2 Revolutionary armed forces in the South from 1954 to 1960

2.2.1 Revolutionary Armed Forces in the South from 1954 to 1956

2.2.1.1 Revolutionary Armed Forces in the South in the resistance against France

Southern battlefields proved that, through 9 years of resistance, the armed forces held here was in line with the capabilities of the remote central battlefield, to adapt to a guerrilla war in the enemy's rear The small-scaled and tenacious armed units, could withstand greater forces many times, destroy the large number of enemies, maintained the control on the base and opened some liberated areas

2.2.1.2 Efforts for the implementation of the Geneva agreements

On September 5, 1954, the Political Bureau of Party Central Committee had a meeting to concretize the tasks of the revolution in the South in the current period was "to lead the people in the South implement the Armistice Agreement,

to consolidate the peace and to implement democratic freedoms (freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of organization, freedom of movement, etc.), improve people's livelihood, unify and enlist independence "

2.2.1.3 Formation and other forms of revolutionary armed forced activities of the Revolutionary Armed Forces in South Vietnam from 1954 to 1956

With 200 officers and soldiers, at the beginning, to support the political movement, the South propaganda armed safeguard forces had grown with 37 armed platoons for propaganda But these only worked in restriction, in order to not be against the policy of the Party at that time, which was political struggle

By May 5, 1956, within U Minh Ha base (Ca Mau), Western Provincial Union had set up 14 armed “companies" (a company is equivalent to a platoon); provinces had built secret self-defense forces

Based on difficult terrain and on people's habits in the West, the delta area V was armed against the oppression of the US - Diem The unique form of self-defense of the officers and people in the West was spontaneous, but it was the beginning of the combine of political struggle and armed self-defense

2.2.2 Revolutionary Armed Forces Southern 1957-1958

2.2.2.1Resources of the US - Diem in 1957-1958

A series of campaigns anti-communist, land reform programs, dense area establishment, parks and estates setting up, Law 10/59 the US – Diem regime made heavy loss for the revolution in South To completely destroy the revolution in South, the US - Diem continued to implement more violent policies

2.2.2.2 Advocated building and operation of the Revolutionary Armed Forces in the South in 1957 - 1958

Before implementing blatantly undermining Geneva Agreement of the US - RVN, on June 8, 1956, the Political Bureau had a meeting, gave a resolution determining the nature and mission, the guideline of the revolution in the South Although southern revolution still used peaceful and politic means, but by no means not armed to protect themselves and support the political struggle To concretize the Party's policies, the South and the area V directed flexibly depending on specific conditions of their locality

2.2.2.3 The construction and operation of the revolutionary armed forces in the south in the years 1957-1958

In June, 1958, Southern Committee decided to establish the commander of the Eastern Military Committee under the Southern Committee, in charge of the