Vo Nguyen Giap Biography

Birth of Vo Nguyen Giap in Quang Binh Province

Begins anti-colonial activity as a student in Hue

Arrested for anti-colonial activity and imprisoned by French authorities

Released from prison after serving part of his sentence

Writes and organizes for anti-colonial nationalist causes

Leaves Vietnam and joins Ho Chi Minh in revolutionary exile

Returns near Pac Bo to help organize Viet Minh bases

Helps develop the Viet Minh movement after its formation

Builds early guerrilla bases among upland communities

Creates the armed nucleus that becomes the Vietnam People's Army

Forms the Vietnam Propaganda Unit of Liberation Army

Leads attack on Khai Phat soon after forming the armed propaganda unit

Leads attack on Na Ngan as the new Viet Minh force wins early victories

Commands Viet Minh forces during the August Revolution

Joins the first revolutionary government as Minister of Interior

Appointed Commander in Chief of the Vietnamese armed forces

Appointed Minister of National Defence in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam

Directs resistance as war with France begins in Hanoi

Resists French Operation Lea against the Viet Bac base area

Returns as Minister of National Defence for a long 2nd term

Promoted to General and becomes the first full general of the Vietnam People's Army

Calls for intensified operations against French-backed Bao Dai forces

Launches the Border Campaign against French positions near Dong Khe

Viet Minh assault Dong Khe during the Border Campaign

French forces evacuate Cao Bang during the Border Campaign

Border Campaign opens supply routes to China and weakens French positions

Launches attacks near Vinh Yen against French mobile forces

Becomes a senior party leader during the Second Party Congress period

Attacks French defenses around Mao Khe

Conducts attacks along the Day River against French positions

Compels the French to withdraw from Hoa Binh southwest of Hanoi

Begins the Northwest Campaign against French posts

Viet Minh capture Nghia Lo during the Northwest Campaign

Attacks the French fortified camp at Na San

Giap directs Viet Minh forces into northern Laos

Plans major operations against the French base at Dien Bien Phu

Continues as Minister of National Defence during the Dien Bien Phu campaign

Postpones a quick assault and shifts to a siege strategy

Positions artillery around the French base before the final siege

Battle begins with a heavy Viet Minh artillery bombardment

Viet Minh capture the Beatrice strongpoint

Viet Minh capture Beatrice in the opening phase

Viet Minh capture the Gabrielle strongpoint

Viet Minh capture Gabrielle after sustained assault

Viet Minh pressure causes the Anne-Marie position to collapse

Second phase of the siege attacks eastern strongpoints

Fighting intensifies around the Eliane strongpoints

Orders final assault against the French entrenched camp

Viet Minh take the French garrison before the Geneva settlement

Dien Bien Phu victory strengthens Vietnam's position at Geneva

Appointed Deputy Prime Minister while retaining major military responsibilities

Supports logistical expansion through Laos and Cambodia

Supports military planning for communist struggle in South Vietnam

Oversees expansion of air defence as American pressure increases

Shapes North Vietnamese response as United States combat forces enter the war

Senior military leadership prepares the 1968 general offensive

PAVN pressure around Khe Sanh diverts American attention before Tet

Communist forces attack cities and provincial capitals during Tet

Associated with overall North Vietnamese military leadership during Tet

Assesses losses and political impact after the Tet Offensive

Responds to allied incursions against communist base areas in Cambodia

North Vietnamese forces resist South Vietnamese operations in Laos

PAVN divisions strike across the DMZ and from Laos

North Vietnam launches the Nguyen Hue Campaign as a major conventional offensive

PAVN opens coordinated attacks across northern South Vietnam

Loc Ninh falls to North Vietnamese forces

PAVN forces capture Loc Ninh during the Easter Offensive

Keeps defence policy focused on final reunification after the Paris Peace Accords

Supports the final military campaign that leads to reunification

Celebrates communist victory after decades of war

Continues as Deputy Prime Minister after national reunification

Leaves the Defence Ministry and is succeeded by Van Tien Dung

Leaves the Politburo while remaining a senior national figure

Leaves the deputy prime ministership after decades in government

Death of Vo Nguyen Giap in Hanoi at age one hundred and two