The letter said “The upcoming battle is a major battle that is decisive to staging a total attack to eliminate the whole enemy in Dien Bien Phu. You comrades should further uphold the example-setting spirit and bravery of Labour Party members, especially in difficult and decisive moments. In the upcoming battle, we must all be resolute and courageous, strive for a quick and fierce battle, not waste any chance to destroy the enemy, and lead all the officers and soldiers to fulfil the glorious mission assigned by the Party.”
On the same day, General Vo Nguyen Giap, the Commander-in-chief of the Vietnamese People’s Army, also issued a letter of encouragement to all officers and soldiers ahead of a major attack on the Dien Bien Phu stronghold. In his letter, the General listed three purposes of the second attack:
- Destroying as many enemy troops as possible in consecutive battles.
- Destroying and capturing part of the enemy’s firing positions, causing them to lose their support, and then using their positions to shoot them in the head.
- Capturing places with terrain that is favourable to us, occupying those places, and using them as our positions to strongly threaten the remaining enemy troops.
General Giap told all officers and soldiers to fully grasp the senior level’s determination and demonstrate their resolution and bravery in the battles and not waste any chance to exterminate the enemy fast. When those in the front fall down, those in the back must charge forward; officers and Party members must set the example for the whole army, and each soldier is an example in killing the enemy, all having a tremendous fighting spirit. We are not afraid of difficulties and losses, and we will make the enemy extremely frightened at the sight of our army.
The General stressed: “This is a great challenge to all officers and soldiers. The whole army on all the fronts and our compatriots all over the country are awaiting news of victory. The Party Central Committee and President Ho Chi Minh are awaiting news of victory.”
