Buzz
1. One of the Top 10 Greatest Generals in the World
War is an unwanted reality, yet through those chaotic battles, the image of a skilled leader becomes more evident. General Võ Nguyên Giáp is one such individual.
According to the Royal Society's announcement, he is honored to be ranked among the top 10 greatest military leaders globally, mastering guerrilla warfare with extremely sharp tactics. The glorious victory at Điện Biên Phủ, where the impregnable fortress of the French crumbled, somewhat showcased the talent of a military leader like him.
2. The Youngest General in Vietnam
In 1948, President Hồ Chí Minh issued the order to confer the rank of General upon Võ Nguyên Giáp at the age of 37. Following were orders to confer the ranks of Lieutenant General on Nguyễn Bình and Major Generals on Hoàng Văn Thái, Nguyễn Sơn, Hoàng Sâm, Chu Văn Tấn, Trần Tử Bình, Văn Tiến Dũng, Lê Hiến Mai, and Trần Đại Nghĩa (1).
A Western journalist once asked Uncle Hồ: We haven't seen any high-ranking military schools in Vietnam. So, Mr. President, where do you base the promotions to the rank of General on?
Uncle Hồ chuckled and replied: 'Vietnam is fighting in a guerrilla style, so we confer military ranks in the guerrilla style. That means whoever defeats a Colonel is promoted to Colonel, whoever defeats a Brigadier General is promoted to Brigadier General, whoever defeats a General is promoted to General. And perhaps you agree with me that this way of promotion is still modest, isn't it?'
That Western journalist was completely surprised because in 1948, France had to replace two 4-star generals commanding French expeditionary forces in Indochina due to defeats. They were Generals Le Clerc and Valluy, both highly skilled French generals. True to Uncle Hồ's belief, General Võ Nguyên Giáp achieved glorious victories across continents, making history.
3. The Sole General to Achieve Complete Victory over Japan, France, the United States, and China
It's no exaggeration to say that General Võ Nguyên Giáp is a military genius of Vietnam and the world. He is the first and only general to completely defeat all four militarily powerful nations: Japan, France, the United States, and China.
What's even more remarkable is that most generals defeated by General Giáp expressed admiration and respect. General De Castries, who suffered defeat in the Dien Bien Phu campaign, exclaimed: 'I am honored to be the adversary of General Giáp, to be the direct defeated enemy of such a talented person as General Giáp. I admire and respect him.'
4. The General with the Most Written Books
In the history of Vietnam, military leaders often excel in literature, like Lý Thường Kiệt with the famous poem 'Nam quốc sơn hà,' Trần Hưng Đạo with the literary work 'Hịch tướng sĩ,' and Quang Trung with strategic proverbs. A warrior skilled in both literature and martial arts is Nguyễn Trãi, known for psychological warfare (targeting the hearts of people).
Võ Nguyên Giáp, alongside his unparalleled military career, is also the author of 64 books, totaling over 10,000 printed pages. He contributed to the theoretical treasury of people's war, the military doctrine of Vietnam, and the literary and historical heritage of the nation.
With 64 published books, General Võ Nguyên Giáp deserves to be recognized as a master of both literature and martial arts. His prowess extends beyond the battlefield; his writing skills have earned admiration. Võ Nguyên Giáp's books are a valuable contribution to the theoretical foundation of people's war and the military doctrine of Vietnam.
5. Formerly a History Teacher
Before becoming a prominent national general, Võ Nguyên Giáp was once a dedicated history teacher, imparting knowledge and patriotic enthusiasm to countless generations of students. His lessons sparked the spirit of the struggle for national independence and instilled pride in the red-blooded, yellow-skinned Vietnamese people. Observers note that General Giáp, known for his warmth and integrity, may owe these qualities to his background as a history teacher.
In terms of methodology, Teacher Võ Nguyên Giáp was a remarkably fluid and innovative educator. Standing before the class, he would captivate students with animated discussions. The allure of his lectures began with posing questions and guiding learners to focus on events, extracting essence and historical lessons. He emphasized the objectivity of historical events, prioritizing the analysis of historical figures so that students could understand the era they lived in.
With a charismatic and eloquent voice, close and friendly to students, Teacher Giáp engraved himself in the memories of many generations with beautiful images of a respected teacher in terms of character, adept in knowledge, and skilled in pedagogical abilities. Above all, it was his dedication to the teaching profession, love for history, and care for his students that formed a strong bond.
6. One of the Top 21 Leading Generals in the World Over the Past 25 Centuries. 'Renowned Generals' – Duncan Townson
Once a history teacher, General Võ Nguyên Giáp played a crucial role in shaping the glorious history of the Vietnamese nation. His talent, virtue, and revolutionary fervor garnered international admiration. This is evident in numerous military books, thousands, even millions of articles praising General Giáp, written by foreign authors.
In the book 'Renowned Generals,' Duncan Townson asserts: 'Võ Nguyên Giáp is one of the 21 renowned generals in the world, from the time of Alexander the Great to Hannibal, and into modern times with Kutuzov, Zhukov, and others who made pivotal contributions to the art of war.'
Awestruck by the victory of an army lacking formal training and resources, American military historian Cecil Curay wrote in 'Victory at All Costs - General Võ Nguyên Giáp, the Genius of Vietnam': 'General Giáp is the only general in modern history who conducted warfare against a formidable enemy from an extremely weak position, lacking equipment and financial resources. Despite initially having no troops, he continuously defeated the remnants of the Japanese empire, the French army (a colonial power ranked second), and the U.S. military (one of the two superpowers in the world)... General Giáp is the greatest living expert on people's war... a great logistical general of all ages.'
7. First General of the Vietnamese People's Army
From a teacher's background, General Võ Nguyên Giáp became a military strategist, a pinnacle of strategic thinking in the People's War art, with his character and virtue deeply engraved in the hearts of every Vietnamese and admired by leaders and people of friendly nations.
Assigned by President Hồ Chí Minh to establish the Liberation Army Propaganda Team - the precursor to our Army, General Võ Nguyên Giáp, through his military talent, played a crucial role in every victory of the Vietnamese people. On December 22, 1944, the Liberation Army Propaganda Team was officially established - General Võ Nguyên Giáp was the direct commander of this force. At the age of just 37, he became the first General of our Army.
