Our country has experienced numerous springs with the echoes of victory perpetuating the national tradition of fighting against foreign aggressors.
Mau Than 1968 is a such spring, which attaches to our military and people’s General Offensive and Uprising on the battlefield of South Vietnam during the resistance war against the US Imperialists, for national salvation. That unforgettable spring was full of joys and victories. Hence, in his letter for new year celebration in 1968, our beloved President Ho Chi Minh affirmed:
“This spring will be far better than any spring past,
As truth of triumph spreads with trumpet blast
North and South, rushing heroically together, shall smite the American invaders
Go forward! Certain victory is ours at last.”
His were our nation’s words expressing the whole Vietnamese nation’s desire for peace, national independence and reunification.
Following the Party’s strategic guidelines, our military and people launched the 1968 Spring General Offensive and Uprising across the South, in the three strategic areas, namely urban, plain, and mountainous areas, with a focus on Saigon - Gia Dinh, Da Nang, and Hue, by means of invincible strength of people’s warfare in which the three-category armed forces played the core role. Under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, our troops and people closely combined offensive with uprising and vice versa, causing the enemy heavy losses in terms of force (killing 4,954 puppet enemy troops and 24,013 troops of the U.S. and its allies) and materiel, creating chaos in the enemy's rear and bases.
At that time, it was the most daring, surprising, vehement, massive, extensive, intense, influential offensive in the resistance war against the US aggressors, for national salvation. Most of the headquarters of the US and the Saigon puppet regime, from central level to localities, were attacked; key targets, such as the Joint General Staff of the Republic of Vietnam’s Army, Special Capital Zone, Saigon’s Presidential Palace, US Embassy in Saigon, radio station, Police Office and so on, were assaulted.
The 1968 Spring General Offensive and Uprising completely reversed the U.S. and Saigon puppet regime’s strategic disposition, and reduced them to passivity. That event not only dealt a blow to the US troops on the South’s battlefield, but also shocked the US administration; while delighting international friends, particularly socialist countries and those who love peace around the world, including American people. The effect of the 1968 General Offensive and Uprising upon the U.S. was very profound, bringing about a division, indignation and wave of protest against the war in Vietnam within the U.S., for the withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam. Under the pressure of the 1968 Spring event, besides dismissing the Secretary of Defence, US President Lyndon B. Johnson sacked the Commander in Chief of US forces in Vietnam, while announcing that he would not run for the following election to the Presidency, halting all the attacks launched by the US air force and navy on North Vietnam, and agreeing to enter into negotiation with our Government.
That said, the US Administration implicitly admitted its politically, militarily comprehensive failure and the complete collapse of its “local war” strategy on the battlefield of Vietnam. That was consonant with the affirmation of Vietnamese revolution’s great victory made up by the heroic, resilient front of in the South and the great rear in the North which provided sufficient food and troops for the former. The determinant to the victory was the sound leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh. The 1968 Spring strategic offensive made a new change in situation and power in favour of us during the resistance war full of sacrifice and hardships against the US Imperialists and Saigon puppet regime. That was also the opening strategic offensive as a basis for the following one in 1972 and especially the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising which completely liberated the South, unified the country and gloriously accomplished our people’s national liberation cause under the Party’s leadership.
History is a continuous flow and closely attaches to feats of arms. 50 springs have elapsed. Our country has experienced numerous positive changes since the 1968 Spring. Nevertheless, the spring and victory of 1968 always remain in the national heroic history and Vietnamese people’s mind as a great pride.
A new spring is coming and filled with the joys from achievements of the country’s reform under the Party’s leadership. On these days, how greatly we miss Uncle Ho and his deeply touching poems for new year celebration. Our beloved Uncle Ho is staying with us and encouraging the whole Party, people and military successfully realizing the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress, building Vietnam into a rich people, strong nation, democratic, equal and civilized society, safeguarding the Homeland and standing firm in the path of integration, development and socialism.
National Defence Journal