The past has receded, but in the memories of many people, especially those who participated in taking over the Mine Area (April 1955), they still remember the sacred moment of the first day of liberation. The return of April reminds us of a time long gone, arousing pride and emotion about the positive change of our homeland.
The new mining area took over
In 1954, the Geneva Agreement was signed, stating that within 300 days after signing, the French colonialists must withdraw their troops from the North. However, with the ambition of the invaders, in the Mining Region they implemented martial law, eliminating the democratic rights stipulated in the Agreement. They continuously organize exercises and raids; aggressively carry out all tricks to exploit human and material resources. French mine owners massively exploited coal; At the same time, find every trick to move machinery and equipment out of the mine area.
However, we refuse to give up and watch them rob us of our resources and efforts. With the direction of the Central Committee, the Hon Gai Special Region Party Committee allowed our facilities in the mining area to secretly establish worker self-defense groups to protect machinery, equipment and industrial facilities.
At this time, Regiment 244 – a unit gathered from the northern battlefields, was assigned the task of taking over and protecting the newly liberated area. In the memory of Colonel Phung Ngoc Hung, a former officer of Regiment 244, being able to return to fight to liberate his homeland is a matter of immense pride. “After the success of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and the takeover of Son Tay Town (Hanoi), I was assigned to the artillery section of Regiment 244 to take over and protect the Hong Quang Mine Area. I was in charge of artillery, selected key areas for strong defense, and on the mainland arranged artillery at Cua Ong (Cam Pha) to Pha Rung (Quang Yen) and on island lines from Co To, Ngoc Vung, Hon Rong, to prevent enemy commando ships from landing and attacking unexpectedly. On the morning of April 22, 1955, we entered and took over Cua Ong, Coc Sau, Deo Nai, then went to Quang Hanh, Ha Tu, Ha Lam and returned to Hon Gai town. As soon as the last French expeditionary soldier boarded the ship to withdraw from the mine area at noon on April 24, 1955, flags and flowers covered the sky and sea” – Colonel Phung Ngoc Hung said emotionally.
“France had to recognize our country’s independence and unity. The areas previously occupied by the French army have been liberated one after another, and the people of Hon Gai and Quang Yen can live freely again” – That is the affirmation in the letter of President Ho Chi Minh at the launch rally. The Hong Quang Military Affairs Committee in Hon Gai Town on the morning of April 25, 1955, aroused the pride and happiness of the people of the Mining Region on the first day of freedom.
New life, new atmosphere
The mining area was taken over by our army and people, and the people took control of their lives and their homeland. However, protecting the newly liberated mine poses many challenges. Colonel Phung Ngoc Hung said: At that time, after the French withdrew from Hon Gai, they re-installed a number of reactionary organizations of Voong A Sang and Luc Van Thong to sabotage the peaceful labor of our people. . Faced with that situation, in the Mining Region, order and management regime of the revolutionary government has been established, maintaining political security and social stability; create favorable conditions for the Mining Region to quickly recover economically. In just a short time, the entire furnace floor, factory, and port were back in operation. From there, arousing a vibrant mass movement, creating a new spirit to implement the plan to heal the wounds of war, restore production, reform socialism, build and protect the homeland. That is the “3 best” movement in the coal industry (most production, most training, most safety protection), coal production is like an army fighting an enemy; the “3 ready” youth movement, “3 capable” women… People have jobs, many young people in production labor have become red seeds, proud to stand in the Party ranks. Communist Vietnam.
During that revolutionary movement, a trained and tested militia and self-defense team was born, the legendary Coal Army. This is one of the local armed forces developed from squads to companies, equipped with weapons, assault in production, patrolling and guarding, protecting construction sites, factories, furnace floors, workers’ hamlets, and neighborhoods. , providing support for the Southern battlefield…
The military, police and revolutionary government forces closely coordinated in maintaining political security and social order and safety, arrested and the Revolutionary Court sentenced Phan Nam to death – a man named Phan Nam. spies, effective henchmen for the French colonialists and mine owners, who had suppressed many workers’ struggles – reinstalled at Deo Nai Mechanical Factory – Cam Pha. Thanks to that, the people, especially the workers, were excited and had absolute confidence in the leadership of the Party and Uncle Ho. Quang Ninh also became one of the strong rear bases for the Southern front line.
69 years have passed, but the heroic atmosphere of the early days of liberation of the mining area still lives on, a strong motivation for the government and people of all ethnic groups in Quang Ninh province to continue promoting the tradition of “Discipline and Discipline”. Together we “build and develop our homeland to become increasingly rich and beautiful.”
