Đồng Khởi () was a movement led by remnants of the Việt Minh that remained in South Vietnam and ĐồngKhởurged people to revolt against the United States and the Republic Of Vietnam, first of all in large rural areas in southern Vietnam and on highlands of South Central Coastal Vietnam. This movement took place from the end of 1959, culminating in 1960, rapidly spreading across the South, dissolving the rural government structure of the Republic of Vietnam under President Ngô Đình Diệm, resulting in a significant part of rural South Vietnam being controlled by the communists, leading to the foundation of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam.
Causes
In May 1959, Ngô Đình Diệm promulgated the 10/59 Act openly "outlawing the Communists".
In January 1959, at the 15th meeting of the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Workers' Party, it was decided to "allow the revolutionary forces of the South to use violence to overthrow the US - Diem government". Combining political and armed struggle to overthrow the government of the Republic of Vietnam, the climax took place in the following localities: Bác Ái (February 1959), and Trà Bồng (August 1959). The movement grew rapidly throughout the South, especially the Đồng Khởi movement in Bến Tre province. On 17 January 1960, in Mỏ Cày district, Bến Tre province, a protest took place (later taking January 17 as the anniversary date), then spread to Giồng Trôm, Thạnh Phú, and Ba Tri districts. The movement caused confusion throughout the government apparatus of the Republic of Vietnam.
From Bến Tre, the movement spread throughout the South, Central Highlands, and other places in the Central region. By the end of 1960, the movement had mastered many villages and communes in South Vietnam, Central Highlands, and central coast of Vietnam.
The success of the movement captured large areas and prompted the establishment of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (20 December 1960).
Developments
Đồng Khởi of Bến Tre
On the night of 2 January 1960, the leadership of Bến Tre province held a meeting in Tân Trung commune, deciding: "to launch a week for all the people to come together, eliminate the evil, break the grip, liberate the countryside, and master the fields. garden" and decided to revolt from 17 January to 25 January. The breaking point was at Minh island (including 3 districts of Minh Tân, Mỏ Cày and Thạnh Phú, the main point at Mỏ Cày.
At dawn on 17 January 1960, according to the planned plan, the Co-initiation broke out as expected in three communes: Định Thủy, Phước Hiệp, and Bình Khánh (Mỏ Cày district, Bến Tre province) and took full control of the villages and communes after 2 days. The first platoon of the Liberation Army of Bến Tre was established in the coconut garden in Bình Khánh commune.
After that, the movement turned to Giồng Trôm, concentrated in the key communes of Châu Hòa, Châu Bình and Phong Mỹ under the leadership of Nguyễn Thị Định.
From this victory, within a week (17 January to 24), 47 communes in Mỏ Cày, Giồng Trôm, Châu Thành, Ba Tri, and Thạnh Phú rebelled. The rebel forces owned many hamlets, of which completely owned 22 communes.
Faced with the expanding movement, the Republic of Vietnam's military counterattacked. On 22 February, a company from Mỏ Cày entered Phước Hiệp. On 24 February, 3,000 troops were mobilized to attack 3 "point" communes (Định Thủy, Bình Khánh, and Phước Hiệp). The army and people of the three communes used rudimentary weapons to counterattack, typically the air gun. The attack failed. From Bến Tre, the Đồng Khởi movement spread throughout the South, shaking the Republic of Vietnam apparatus at local levels.
From the above victories, the Southern Party Committee of the Vietnam Labor Party proposed to the Central Committee of the Party to raise the armed struggle to the level of the political struggle.
On 25 March 1960, more than 10,000 troops of a combination of amphibious assaults and paratroopers entered to sweep the "point" communes in Mỏ Cày district. Faced with the above situation, leaders of Bến Tre decided to use political measures to mobilize the masses, especially women.
In March 1960, more than 7,000 Giồng Trôm women protested to demand that the main army units of the government be swept back to their old positions.
In June 1960, the branches of the communists decided to launch Đồng Khởi in the whole South.
On 24 September 1960, the communists in Bến Tre launched the second Đồng Khởi movement. At that time, the movement not only took place in the places where they thought they could prevail, but also dared to launch it even in other weak areas.