Dr Evgeny Vlasov, Vice Presidentfor International Relations at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), said DienBien Phu was an entrenched fortification with seven fortresses, 49 strongholds,mine fields, communication trenches, and an air strip. The French colonialists wantedto turn it into a springboard to attack the communication routes of the Vietnamesearmy and put France in an advantageous position at ongoing negotiations in Genevaat that time.
However, after many failures duringits military campaign in 1953, French troops had become exhausted. At the sametime, the Vietnamese army gradually seized areas of strategic importance, whichboosted morale. In particular, they held an edge in fighting tactics and understandingthe local terrain.
Vlasov affirmed that although the victorydid not bring peace to Indochina just yet, it was a strong blow against the Frenchcolonialists. The world then also knew of a new Vietnamese hero and national liberator- General Vo Nguyen Giap.
Meanwhile, Professor of Vietnamese language at the FEFU,Alexander Sokolovsky, affirmed the historic significance of the victory at DienBien Phu.
According to him, the victory stopped France from continuingits colonial policy in Indochina. After that, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam regainedtheir sovereignty and right to build their own country.
He recalled that while playing the role of General De Castriesin a film directed by Bach Diep in Hanoi’s outlying district of Ba Vi in 1994, hebecome more aware of the power of the Vietnamese people, which laid behind theirglorious triumph against the French invaders./.