Battles of Khai Phat and Na Ngan

Battle of Khai Phat - Na Ngan
Part of French Indochina in World War II, the South-East Asian theatre of World War II and the Pacific Theater of World War II

The Armed Propaganda Unit with Vo Nguyen Giap
DateDecember 25, 1944 (1944-12-25) to December 26, 1944 (1944-12-26)
Location
Khai Phat and Na Ngan, Cao Bằng Province, French Indochina
Result Viet Minh victory
Belligerents

Provisional Government of the French Republic France

North Vietnam Việt Minh (Armed Propaganda Unit)
Commanders and leaders
French Fourth Republic Unknown French Officers North Vietnam Võ Nguyên Giáp
Strength
Unknown 34 soldiers (Tran Hung Dao platoon)
Casualties and losses
2 French officers killed
1 armoury guard wounded
Remainder surrendered		 None

The Battle of Khai Phat-Na Ngan (or Phai Khat-Na Ngan)[1] was the first battle ever fought by the People's Army of Vietnam. Taking place in December 1944, it involved a series of raids by the Viet Minh Armed Propaganda Unit (Tran Hung Dao platoon) on French outposts at Khai Phat and Na Ngan. Personally led by Vo Nguyen Giap, the force consisted of 31 men and 3 women armed with two revolvers, seventeen rifles, one light machine gun, and fourteen breech-loading rifles dating from the Russo-Japanese War.[2] The first raid was on Khai Phat outpost, in which the commander was killed and its armoury seized, making the colonial troops surrender without a fight.[3] The second took place the following day at Na Ngan where another officer was killed. These raids gave the Viet Minh its first victory, and defectors from the garrisons bolstered their ranks.[4][5]

  1. ^ Wise, Edward Taylor (May 1991). Vietnam in turmoil : the Japanese coup, the OSS, and the August revolution in 1945 (Masters of Arts thesis). University of Richmond. p. 67.
  2. ^ MacDonald, Peter (1993). Giap: The Victor in Vietnam. Fourth Estate. p. 32. ISBN 1-85702-107-X.
  3. ^ Greer, Bob (2011). Journey Among Heroes. Trafford. ISBN 978-1426996115.
  4. ^ Trimmer, Earl (2019). Unbreakable Hearts: A True, Heart-wrenching Story About Victory...Forfeited!. Dog Ear. pp. 95. ISBN 978-1-4575-6856-5.
  5. ^ Giáp, Võ Nguyên (1964). Từ Nhân dân Mà Ra. Hanoi: People’s Army Publishing House. pp. 164–170.