The historical artifacts of Lang Son’s guerrilla zones during the struggle against the French

(LSO) – Among the historical documentary artifacts of the province and the country, the artifacts of Lang Son’s guerrilla zones during the struggle against the French always make a deep impression on the heroic years on Road No. 4 front. The artifacts reflecting the construction and operation of guerrilla bases, collected over 60 years ago, have now become an important part of the national cultural heritage.

During the years of the struggle against the French, Road No. 4 was the artery providing weapons, military equipment and military supplies to French soldiers stationed in Cao Bang. With the determination to “cut off Road No.4”, destroying the plot of attacking on our headquarters of the struggle in the North Vietnam, our troops actively clung to and fought against the enemy on Road No. 4. Implementing the policy of the Zone Party Committee, from 1947, Lang Son province built guerrilla bases in some districts including Chi Lang guerrilla zone spreading over three communes: Tinh Gia, Tam Long, Tu Mich (Loc Binh); Ba Son guerrilla zone in the communes of Cao Lau, Xuat Le, Cong Son, Hoa Cu, Hai Yen and so on (Cao Loc); Na Thuoc guerrilla base at Binh Xa, Kien Moc, Bac Xa and so forth (Dinh Lap). These guerrilla bases are the rear in the area behind the enemy, the place for the gathering and training of soldiers and guerrillas on Road No.4.

Po Khua Communal House (Tam Gia commune, Loc Binh district) – the place where Chi Lang guerrilla zone was established

Among them, the most elaborate building is  Chi Lang guerrilla zone. It had a system of fortresses, fortifications and an observatory, a trench traffic system connecting villages and so on. Guerrilla teams were established, local people actively participated in village guerrilla teams, commune guerrilla teams, drunk blood together to swear their determination to fight the enemy and protect villages. Households enthusiastically emulated to increase production to create food for the army, contributed money to buy weapons and equipment for militants, participated in transporting wounded people, patrolling, guarding and so on. During the period from 1947 to 1950, these guerrilla zones made outstanding achievements, repelled many attacks and sweeps of the French army on the base, making active support for the army to fight the enemy on Road No. 4.

Documentary artifacts about these three guerrilla zones in Lang Son in museums inside and outside the province are quite rich and comprehensive. Currently in the Provincial Museum, there is a Sten gun of Cao Loc Honorary Armed Team, which was used to scout for the construction of Ba Son guerrilla zone. At Vietnam Military History Museum, there are spades that the People of Tinh Gia commune, Loc Binh district used to dig trenches to build Chi Lang guerrilla zone. These two museums are also home to many weapons which militias, guerrillas used to fight in Chi Lang guerrilla zone such as rifles, Joop guns and bullets and so on. Besides, there were items used by guerrillas in difficult days to combat the enemy’s raid on the bases such as camens, bags of bullets; hand-made bamboo, wood  bowls, dishes, tables and so on. There are also a number of artifacts that were belongings of French soldiers that our army obtained after the enemy’s raid battles against the guerrilla area.

It can be said that the achievements and results of the guerrilla zones were always linked to the timely direction and encouragement of the authorities and functional forces at all levels inside and outside the province. Reflecting that direction, there were directives to mobilize conscripted laborers of the Provincial Resistance Administrative Committee, orders of the Ba Son Defense Commanding Board to besiege Xam village post, announcement of communes in the guerrilla zones about mobilizing rice for the army and so on. Besides, there are letters of merit, certificates of merit from the Viet Bac Interregion, the Provincial Resistance Administrative Committee, Lang Son Provincial Military to individuals who had excellent achievements in the struggle. In particular, Quang Ninh Provincial Museum is currently keeping an embroider with the words “Kháng chiến hộ ủng” (supporting the resistance) in Chinese characters by President Ho’s “awarding” Po Hang royal citadel (Binh Xa commune, Dinh Lap district), February 1948.

Documentary artifacts about Lang Son’s guerrilla zones vividly reflect the arduous but very heroic years of the resistance against the French. At the same time, they show courage and determination to fight the enemy to protect villages and homeland. Those are important factors contributing to the victory of the Border Campaign, liberating Lang Son in 1950.