The heritage and stature of the August Revolution of 1945

This is not only a successful general uprising, but also a golden milestone, a heroic history crystallizing the will to be independent, the spirit of determination and the strength of great solidarity of the entire nation. Although eight decades have passed, the values left by the August Revolution are still intact, not only paving the way for the cause of protecting and building the Fatherland but also being an endless source of inspiration for oppressed peoples around the world and are profound lessons for today's era.

Historical context and rapid rise

To fully understand the great stature of the August Revolution, we need to look back at the tragic context of the country in the early 40s of the 20th century. For nearly a century, our nation has struggled under the brutal domination of French colonialism, stripped of all rights and freedoms, and exploited to the point of bone and mind.

Not stopping there, since the year 1940, Japanese socialism has entered Indochina, and our people have had to endure the oppression of "one-sided, two-edged". The brutal domination of the Japan-France alliance has pushed our nation to the brink of destruction. The most painful result was the terrible hunger in the year of the Snake in 1945, which took the lives of about two million people, an unhealthy scar in the history of the nation.

During the long night of slavery, the fire of patriotism and the will to fight for independence never goes out. According to the inevitable law of history "there is oppression, there is struggle", patriotic movements have continuously broken out but have all sunk in a sea of blood. In that context, the Indochinese Communist Party, despite only 15 years old, has persistently built its forces, educated the masses and prepared for a "heavenly landslide" revolution.

A historic opportunity came in August 1945. In the world, the Second World War has come to an end with the failure of the socialist faction. On August 9, 1945, the Soviet Union attacked the Japanese Quan Dong army in Manzhou, pushing Japanese occupiers to the brink of complete collapse. Taking advantage of this "one for a thousand years" opportunity, our Party launched a General Uprising to gain power across the country.

The revolution broke out on August 14 and quickly spread like a typhoon. On August 19, 1945, under the leadership of the Party, tens of thousands of Hanoians took to the streets, with a boiling atmosphere, occupying the enemy's brain organs, winning a brilliant victory.

The victory in the capital has created a strong wave, encouraging localities across the country to simultaneously rise up. Within just half a month, from August 14 to 28, the General Uprising was a success nationwide.

From Lang Son to Ca Mau cape, from major cities such as Hanoi, Hue, Saigon to remote rural areas, the government has reached the people. This is a rapid revolution, a beautiful testament to the spirit of "efforce yourself to liberate yourself" as taught by President Ho Chi Minh.

On September 2, 1945, at the historic Ba Dinh Square, before a rally of nearly a million people, President Ho Chi Minh, on behalf of the Provisional Government, read the Declaration of Independence, respectfully declaring to the whole world: The birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Opening a new era for the Vietnamese people

The victory of the August Revolution was not just a simple military or political feat; it created a great leap, opening a completely new era in the history of the nation: the era of independence, freedom associated with socialism.

The greatest and most basic value that the August Revolution brought was the independence of the Fatherland and the freedom of the people. For nearly a century, the concept of " released" has been a luxury, a burning dream of many generations. Our people, from being slaves and considered cheap, have risen to become true masters of the country and their own destiny.

This event broke the nearly 100-year chain of French colonialism, erased the 5-year domination of Japanese socialism, and overthrown the feudal throne that had existed for thousands of years. A half-favorite, reactionary regime has been completely terminated, giving way to a progressive people's democracy.

The birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam - the first agricultural state in Southeast Asia - is the greatest achievement. For the first time in history, the working class and the working people have gained power across the country. Our Party has gone from a secret Party to a ruling Party.

The historical fate of the Vietnamese people has turned the page. It is from the strength of this turning point that our nation has enough spirit and strength to continue writing golden pages of history in the two long-term resistance wars against French colonialism and American domination, firmly defending the independence and unity of the country.

The August Revolution is a powerful testament to the invincible strength of the great national unity bloc under the leadership of the Party. The government rebellion has not only the workforce and farmers, but the unity of all classes and classes in society. National capitalists, traders, intellectuals, students, religions, brotherly ethnic groups, and patriotic parties are all gathered and united in the Viet Minh Front.

The name "Viet Minh" (Vietnam Independence and Alliance) has a strong calling, arousing the national spirit and patriotism of millions of people. The simultaneous rebellion with "the turbulent weather like a rising tide" across the country is a celebration of the strength of a fighting nation, with a long-standing culture with the core being the community spirit.

It is the will to be independent, self-reliant, and never submitting to conquest that has been fostered over thousands of years of history and exploded strongly in August 1945. That spirit and spirit have become an unparalleled driving force, creating a combined strength to help our nation overcome all challenges, going from one victory to another.

The sound crosses the border

The stature of the August Revolution is not limited to the national scale. This victory also has profound international significance, having a great impact on the world revolutionary movement. As President Ho Chi Minh affirmed, "The victorious August Revolution has made us a part of the world's great democratic family".

At the time of 1945, most Asian, African and Latin American peoples were still struggling under the domination of colonialism. Vietnam's victory has dealt a fatal blow to the colonial system of imperialism, breaking one of its weakest linkages. More importantly, it has marked an international unpredictable disolution of old colonialism.

The August Revolution has become a shining example, a beacon lighting the way for oppressed ethnic groups. It proves a truth that, even though a nation is small and weak, if it unites and fights under a correct leadership and knows how to seize opportunities, it can completely defeat the mighty empire to regain independence and freedom.

Vietnam's success has conveyed a strong message, a "thrill of victory", helping the ethnic groups in the region to recognize their own strength and firmly believe in the path of self-reliance. Norwegian historian Dr. Stein Tonesson has affirmed that among all revolutions, the Vietnamese revolution "brought birth as one of the most vitable and disruptive".

Similarly, French researcher Alain Ruscio emphasized that Vietnam's victory had a "huge impact" and became a "symbol of the struggle for independence" for the colony countries, especially in Africa.

The August Revolution is also a victory of Marxism-Leninism, creatively applied to the specific conditions of a land of half-feudal fealty. This victory has contributed to adding to the world revolutionary theoretical treasure trove of extremely valuable experiences.

First, it is a lesson in putting the issue of nation above the issue of class. In a colony country, the main and overwhelming conflict is the conflict between the entire nation and the invading empire and the wrong hands. Therefore, it is necessary to prioritize solving the problem of national liberation first. Successful national liberation will create a solid foundation to solve the problem of class. President Ho Chi Minh pointed out: "If the problem of national liberation cannot be solved, the independence and freedom of the entire nation cannot be demanded, not only will the entire nation continue to suffer the Life of a buffalo, but the rights of the classes will not be demanded after thousands of years". This is a creative point different from the revolutionary model in Western capitalist countries.

Second, it is a testament to the possibility of the success of the colonial revolution. Previously, revolutionary theory often said that the colonial revolution depends and can only win after the proletariat revolution in the "national" success. However, with the spirit of initiative and self -reliance "bringing our strength and freeing to us", the Vietnamese people were not passive waiting but had stood up to win themselves. This proves that the colonial revolution can completely broke out and succeeded before the revolution in the country, even had the opposite impact, promoting the movement of struggle in the nation.

This victory surprised and admired the whole world. As President Ho Chi Minh proudly wrote: Not only can the working class and people of Vietnam be proud, but the working class and the oppressed ethnic groups in other places can also be proud: This is the first time in the revolutionary history of the colony-based and semi-colonised ethnic groups that a new 15-year-old Party has successfully led the revolution and taken power nationwide.