Vo Nguyen Giap (Vo Nguyen Giap)

(p. 1911)
Born August 11, 1911 in Quang Binh province in Central Vietnam. In 1924 entered the prestigious National Academy in the imperial capital of Hue. Two years later he was expelled for creating a student organization, spent three months in prison for leading demonstrations on behalf of the Vietnamese New Revolutionary Party. In 1930 he was imprisoned for two years for belonging to the Communist Party of Indochina (CIP). After leaving prison, he entered the Lycц?e Albert-Sarraut in Hanoi, he graduated with a degree in law and political economy. He was a professor of history at the Lyceum Tang Loong. In the 1930's has published numerous articles on socio-economic situation in Vietnam and international affairs in such newspapers as the 'Voice of the People', 'News and Information', 'Work', 'people' and 'We'. In collaboration with another member of the Communist Party, Truong Chinem, wrote a book - Peasant Question.
In 1939 the Communist Party of Indochina was banned, and Vo fled to China. His wife and cousin were arrested by French authorities and died in prison. In 1940, Vo Nguyen Giap, met with Ho Chi Minh, and soon became one of his closest associates. In 1944, organized an armed propaganda team, the predecessor of the Vietnam Liberation Army, which played a key role in the seizure of state power during the August 1945 revolution. In the same year he became one of the four powerful members of the Permanent Secretariat of the Party Central Committee, forerunner of the Politburo.

During the 1-second Indochina War was commander of the Vietnamese armed forces, won the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954. During the period of deteriorating relations between China and the USSR in the early 1960's was regarded as a revisionist and was exiled to Before Sleep (near Haiphong), and many of his associates, military commanders and supporters were arrested and thrown in prison. About Giap recalled, when the Vietnam War. He was appointed commander of the armed forces of North Vietnam. In late 1976, after the war, formally still remain as defense minister, he was deprived of all authority, which went to General Van Tien Dungu. In 1978, Giap spoke against the introduction of troops into Cambodia. In March 1982 was dismissed from the Politburo, but retained the post of Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers on scientific and technological development. In July 1991, Giap was removed from the Central Committee of the Party and dismissed from all his posts.