Vo Nguyen Giap

Vo Nguyen Giap (1912-) was the principal military commander for the Communist forces in Vietnam, both against the French as leader of the Viet Minh troops, and the first Senior General of the People's Army of Viet Nam, and Minister of Defense until 1980.

He wrote extensively, perhaps best known for People's war, People's Army. Giap could be frank within government circles, write in dense Communist revolutionary jargon, or speak eloquently, as in discussions with some of his former opponents.

Early life
Born to a peasant family that was educated and nationalist, he entered at the Quoc Hoc French school in Hue in 1922. At the age of 14, he joined the Tan Viet (Revolutionary Party for a great Viet Nam), was expelled for political activism in 1927, and participated in the unsuccessful Yen Bai revolt by the VNQDD in 1930. Returning to school, he eventually received a law degree in 1937 and a doctorate in political economics in 1938; he had taught history while his study and his early career has often been described as "teacher".

He joined the Indochinese Communist Party, founded in 1930 by Ho Chi Minh, possibly somewhat after its creation, but was active in it by 1936.

Revolutionary warfare against France
After a year of training the Viet Minh, he launched the first major offensive on October 1, 1950. Combat continued until the decisive defeat of French forces, in 1954, at Dien Bien Phu.