Ho Chi Minh
Although Ho Chi Minh's career as a rebel guerrilla leader actually began much earlier than the Vietnam War, most of us only remember him for his campaign against US and South Vietnam-led forces during that conflict. The Indochina Communist Party and its successor Viet-Minh were founded by Ho, one of the most renowned communist figures of the Cold War era, in 1930 and 1941, respectively. Ho had been involved in politics since at least 1917.
He organized several factions under his command and led the Vietnamese independence movement first against the Japanese in 1941, then against France in 1945. At the pivotal battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1953–1954, Ho Chi Minh's men decisively destroyed the better-equipped French colonial army.
After defeating the French, North and South Vietnam took control of the nation and essentially started the two-decade-long Vietnam War. He and a few other North Vietnamese leaders are to blame for the North Vietnamese troops' adoption of guerilla tactics sometime in 1965, which prevented open conflict unless the circumstances were favorable.
As we are all aware, that tactic was successful, and Ho Chi Minh's forces ultimately prevailed. Ho is still revered as a national hero in Vietnam and other former communist countries, even though Vietnam was unified in 1975 as a socialist state.
Born: Nguyễn Sinh Cung, 19 May 1890Kim Liên, French Indochina
Died: 2 September 1969 (aged 79)Hanoi, North Vietnam
- Chairman of the Workers' Party of Vietnam
In office: 19 February 1951 – 2 September 1969
General Secretary: Trường Chinh, Lê Duẩn (acting)
Preceded by: Position established
Succeeded by: Position abolished
- First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Vietnam
In office: 1 November 1955 – 10 September 1960
Preceded by: Trường Chinh
Succeeded by: Lê Duẩn
- 1st President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
In office: 2 September 1945 – 2 September 1969
Preceded by: Bảo Đại (as Emperor)
Succeeded by: Tôn Đức Thắng
- 1st Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
In office: 2 September 1945 – 20 September 1955
Preceded by: Trần Trọng Kim (as Prime Minister of the Empire of Vietnam)
Succeeded by: Phạm Văn Đồng
- Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office: 28 August 1945 – 2 March 1946
Preceded by: Trần Văn Chương(Empire of Vietnam)
Succeeded by: Nguyễn Tường Tam
In office: 3 November 1946 – March 1947
Preceded by: Nguyễn Tường Tam
Succeeded by: Hoàng Minh Giám
- Full Member of the 2nd and 3rd Politburo
In office: 31 March 1935 – 2 September 1969
