Thu Dau Mot from that autumn of general uprising

Under the leadership of Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and President Ho Chi Minh, the nation wide uprising had gotten back the authority within only just 15 last days of August 1945 to the total victory and handed back the authority to the people. In such atmosphere of victory on August 25, 1945, over fifty thousand people of Thu Dau Mot had crowded the Phu Cuong Office for the meeting of getting the authority back.

The August of fighting fire

Mr. Mai Thanh Chi, 101 and a war veteran residing at Phu Cuong ward in Thu Dau Mot town, is still of sound minde. Every day, he reads through all local news to follow the headlines and then the books and documents recording every battle and event of historic values. He joined the revolutionary cause in 1944 as a member of national language dissemination within Tan Uyen of the former Bien Hoa, which is now Tan Uyen town. As the South Uprising failed, revolutionary activities of people in Tan Uyen faced the tremendous drawback. By the beginning of 1944, local CPV units were basically recovered. By the beginning of 1945, Japanese soldiers surrendered to the allied army as a chance for Tan Uyen people to set up their revolutionary authority after defeating the puppet government.

On August 25, 1945, nearly 50,000 people gathered at Phu Cuong Office to hold a meeting of power seize. In the photo: Phu Cuong Office is seen today. Photo: Quoc Chien

To prepare for the general uprising, on August 14, 1945, Tan Uyen's Bravery Squad was established with 14 members. Along with the squad, across 32 communes at that time, the Young Pioneers were also active. These two forces contributed greatly to the victory of the August Revolution in Tan Uyen. At the same time, these were also the first seeds of the heroic Tan Uyen armed forces later.

Colonel Ho Van Nam, a veteran revolutionary cadre in Chanh My ward of Thu Dau Mot city was in the same mood of a 96-year-old veteran. He said before the August Revolution of 1945 he joined the Young Pioneers in Thu Dau Mot. On August 25, 1945, he joined forces to take to the streets to seize power and liberate Thu Dau Mot.

Colonel Ho Van Nam recalled: “That day, I joined the forces in short pants and a blazer holding a volley in my hand. At dawn on August 25, 1945, the demonstration of force of nearly 50,000 people flocked to Phu Cuong Office to attend a meeting and seize the power. In the gathering, the yellow flag with red star or flag of the youth force at that time and the red flag with yellow star flew along 2 market streets as people chanted the slogan saying government returned to Viet Minh, independent Vietnam, overthrow of the government of Nguyen Van Sam. 50,000 compatriots together with the paramilitary forces constitute the synergy of the general uprising."

At the meeting, Mr. Van Cong Khai, the then Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, cum Head of the provincial Uprising Committee gave a speech, clearly stating the meaning of the uprising to seize power of the people of Thu Dau Mot: "From now on, the old government will be abolished along with the power created by the Japanese fascists to establish the government of the working class – the peasants." In response, the whole crowd of red flags with yellow stars fluttered with the people's thunderous chants: "Long live the independent Vietnam"

After the rally, 50,000 compatriots in the province marched through the streets, chanting revolutionary slogans, assigning to occupy the remaining enemy offices and agencies, and shaking hands with reactionary henchmen. At 14:00 on the same day, the uprising to seize power ended successfully along with the people of Saigon and some other provinces.

Recalling that event, Mr. Mai Thanh Chi, said: “The glorious achievement is due to the fact that our Party has relied entirely on the workforce of workers and farmers through legitimate public organizations, taking the youth as the working core and especially the patriotism of the people. At that time, weapons were still very rudimentary, and we won the government thanks to patriotism, thanks to the people raising the revolution, and the people raising the army."

Sharing the joy of celebrating independence, Colonel Ho Van Nam proudly said: "After years of suffering and after listening to the speech, there was no greater joy than that. It was even more joyful when tens of thousands of compatriots, including Kinh, Chinese overseas, and ethnic minorities shared the same heart of joy of independence day.”

Spreading the spirit of the August Revolution

The vestiges of the historical event are being kept respectfully by the commemorative stele of the historical event "Capture the victorious government" on August 25, 1945 located at the traditional house of Thu Dau Mot city. Promoting such spirit, the Party Committee, authorities and people of Binh Duong province in general and Thu Dau Mot city in particular have joined forces to overcome difficulties to build a more and more civilized and modern homeland.

Colonel Ho Van Nam was proud to be the person who walked the whole length of the struggle for national independence, then witnessed the restoration of peace, the increasingly renewed country's homeland on the way to greater development.

Especially in 2022, Thu Dau Mot City marks a 10-year journey of construction and development as a blooming city. In those 10 years, with the tradition of solidarity and high political determination, the Party Committee, authorities and people of Thu Dau Mot city have well mobilized internal resources to take new steps of development quite comprehensive in both position and power. Today, Thu Dau Mot city confidently competes with the central cities of the region and the whole country. Thu Dau Mot is in the leading group of cities under the province with high budget revenue, spacious urban appearance and civilized livehood.

Ms. Nguyen Thu Cuc, Chairwoman of Thu Dau Mot city People's Committee, said that thanks to appropriate policies, the economic structure developed in the right direction. Accordingly, by 2021, the economic structure according to the ratio of trade and services was accounted for 60.89%, industry 39.07% and agriculture 0.04%. Thu Dau Mot City is a district-level unit leading for 7 consecutive years in the PAR index. The model of a public administrative service center is considered a model and is being replicated throughout the province. The average income per capita reaches VND 120 million a person a year.

Recognizing those efforts, recently, the Party Committee of Thu Dau Mot city was honored to receive the emulation flag of the Binh Duong provincial Party Committee for its outstanding achievements for 3 consecutive years from 2019 to 2021. Every year, the city's Party Committee is always recognized by the province for successfully completing its tasks; and, mass organizations are always leading in the emulation block of 9 districts and towns.

Today, the city is keeping on to affirm its role as the political, administrative, economic and cultural center - the heart of Binh Duong province, which is the basic and very important foundation for the city to develop more firmly in the coming years.

Reported by Thu Thao – Translated by Vi Bao