Day of the August Revolution of 1945 in Vietnam (19/08)

August Revolution of 1945 in Vietnam (Vietnamese). Cách mκng Tháng Tám) — national people's democratic revolution that overthrew the dominance of the imperialists and established people's democratic power.

The revolution was the result of the development of the national liberation movement in Vietnam, directed against the French colonialists who subjugated the country in the 50-80s of the 19th century and occupied the Japanese invaders.

On May 19, 1941, in accordance with the decision of the 8th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Indochina (CPIC; since 1951 — Vietnamese Workers' Party — PTV), a united national liberation front of the Viet Minh (Vietnamese Independence League) was created, in whose ranks all patriotic forces of the country. Through the Viet Minh in 1941 - 1944, the CPIC deployed extensive propaganda activities and began establishing strongholds and armed detachments. On December 22, 1944, the first detachments of the Vietnamese Liberation Army (hereinafter the People's Army of Vietnam) began to form in Kaobang province in northeastern Vietnam.

After the coup of March 9, 1945, which resulted in the liquidation of the French administration by the Japanese imperialists, the Viet Minh launched a broad guerrilla war against the Japanese occupiers. In April 1945, the Viet Minh Military Revolutionary Conference took place, which adopted a plan to prepare for a general uprising.

On June 4, the Liberated District was formed in 6 provinces of North Vietnam, centered in the village of Tanchao. On August 13-15, 1945, the CPIC held a national conference that decided to launch a general uprising in Vietnam with the aim of gaining complete independence and establishing people's power. A Committee of Revolt was established to lead the rebellion.

On August 16, the Viet Minh All Vietnam National Congress took place in Tanchao, which approved the decision to launch a general uprising, elected the National Committee for the Liberation of Vietnam (led by Ho Chi Minh) and entrusted this committee with the functions of an interim government. At the call of the CPIC, people across the country rose to revolt on August 16-26.

On August 19, the armed masses captured Hanoi, and the next day the People's Revolutionary Committee of North Vietnam was created in the capital. Everywhere, the rebellious people took power into their own hands On August 24, Emperor Bao-Dai, under pressure from the revolutionary masses, was forced to abdicate. On September 2, 1945, at a rally of 500,000 people in Badinh Square in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh solemnly proclaimed the Declaration of Independence of Vietnam and the formation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) on behalf of the Provisional Government.

The revolution took place under the hegemony of the working class, which acted in alliance with the peasantry, the national bourgeoisie and other patriotic forces, united under the leadership of the CPIC in a single national liberation front of the Viet Minh. The August Revolution took place in the context of the Soviet defeat of German fascism in Europe and the victorious war of the Soviet Union against Japan, which made it easier for the Vietnamese people to achieve victory in the fight against the French colonialists and Japanese invaders.

This revolution opened the way for broad socio-economic transformations in Vietnam and had a great influence on the development of the national liberation movement in the countries of Southeast Asia, primarily in Laos and Cambodia.

The day of August 19 itself today is considered the Victory Day of the Revolution in Hanoi and is celebrated in Vietnam as a memorable date — anniversary of the August Revolution.

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