The struggle to keep machines and keep people
After the victory over Dien Bien Phu, on July 20, 1954, the Geneva Agreement was signed, and the North of our country was completely liberated.
According to the book "Discipline and Concentricity - the tradition of Quang Ninh Mining Workers" (published by the Provincial Propaganda Committee, the Quang Ninh Coal Party Committee, November 2021), from October 29 to October 30, 1954, the French army was forced to withdraw from the districts of Nam Sach, Chi Linh and most of Dong Trieu and Kinh Mon districts. However, most coal mines in Hon Gai area are still in the 300 -day gathering area of the French army before withdrawing. This is an extremely tough, calculating time of the French colonialists in order to sabotage facilities, to remove resources before they withdraw.
The French army at that time was khai thac coal in large numbers with the goal of dredging nearly 80,000 tons in a short time. At the same time, French mine owners are trying to move machinery and equipment out of the Mining area with the intention that it will take 20-25 years for Vietnamese people to recover and continue mining coal.
In that situation, workers in Quang Ninh mines have resolutely fought and prevented acts of sabotage. The best miners at that time resolutely did not listen to the enticement to the South of the French army, determined to stay and maintain machinery and equipment. The people of the Mining area were in a committed mood, preparing together to wait for the liberation army.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Dam (102 years old) - former Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the Administrative Committee of Hong Quang Area (now Quang Ninh Province) - said: "At that time, I directly reported to President Ho Chi Minh on the situation in the mine area. Uncle Ho clearly instructed: Attitude towards France needs flexibility, but not concessions. ”
"Implementing Uncle Ho's direction, the movement of struggle spread to all classes of people. Both fighting sabotage and forced migration, people in the mining area keep their assets, machinery and stabilize their lives. Thanks to that, when our army officially took over, after only two days, coal production was restored, and the mines quickly returned to operation," said Mr. Dam.
The joy burst out on the day of taking over
Talking to Lao Dong at his private home, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thung - a veteran of the 244th Regiment taking over the Mining area, former Director of Quang Ninh Radio and Television Station - said: "Now I am also in my 93rd year, there are many things I cannot remember completely, but the memories of the days of taking over the Mining area are still intact in my mind.
"The atmosphere in the Mining area before the day our soldiers came to take over was quite quiet. On the night of April 19 and early morning of April 20, 2015, we marched across Mong Duong, towards the center of Cam Pha town. The unit took over Cua Ong, Coc Sau, Deo Nai, and then Quang Hanh.
On April 25, 2015, our army officially took over the Mining area. On the roads, leaders of the Military Commission stood on a convertible car waving to greet the people and the Hon Gai miners.
The red flag with yellow star flies all over the sky, the cheers and chants of "Viet Minh Support" express the overwhelming joy of tens of thousands of people after many years of living in oppression and exploitation".
After taking over, the revolutionary government urgently restored coal production and repaired mechanical factories. Excavators, excavators, and excavators have been gradually put into operation, especially in the Cam Pha area.
In the conditions that are still extremely inadequate, but with the spirit of "discipline and concentration", mine workers are still enthusiastic, devoted to the construction of economic development, and at the same time reinforcing human strength and strength for the Southern battlefield against the US resistance against the US to save the country.
70 years have passed, but the memories of the first days of taking over the Quang Ninh Mining area are still imprinted in the minds of generations of cadres, soldiers and workers who witnessed and contributed to that historic moment.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thung shared: "Our generation is truly happy to be immersed in the great milestones of the history of the Mining region."
The mine liberation event is an important milestone in the Vietnamese revolution process, an endless source of inspiration, reminding today's generations of the responsibility to preserve, promote the tradition, continue writing heroic history on the northeastern land of the country.
