GENERALS, GUERRILLAS AND THE COMMUNIST BONAPARTE

VÕ NGUYÊN GIÁP

THE ‘RED NAPOLEON’ 1911-2013 NORTH VIETNAM

Politically minded from an early age Giáp worked as a history teacher and journalist before he joined the Communist Party. He began protesting against French rule in Indochina and joined with Ho Chi Minh, the leader of the Viet Minh, to organise guerrilla activities against the Japanese during WWII.

Giáp cut his military teeth during the First Indochina War when he commanded Viet Minh forces against the French. He was the victor of the decisive Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, which led to the partition of Vietnam. As deputy prime minister and minister of defence of what was then North Vietnam, Giáp was also the overall commander of the People’s Army