Battles of Khai Phat and Na Ngan
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Phai Khat - Na Ngan
| commander2 = {{flagicon|North Vietnam|1945}} Võ Nguyên Giáp
| territory =
| partof = French Indochina in World War II, the South-East Asian theatre of World War II and the Pacific Theater of World War II
| strength2 = 34 soldiers (Tran Hung Dao platoon)
| strength1 = Unknown
| casualties2 = None
| casualties1 = 2 French officers killed
1 armoury guard wounded
Remainder surrendered
| commander1 = {{flagicon|French Fourth Republic}} Unknown French Officers
| image = Vo Nguyen Giap, Vietminh forces, 1944.jpg
| combatant2 = {{flagicon|North Vietnam|1945}} Việt Minh (Armed Propaganda Unit)
| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Provisional Government of the French Republic}} France
- {{flagicon|French Indochina}} French Indochina
| result = Viet Minh victory
| place = Phai Khat and Na Ngan, Cao Bằng Province, French Indochina
| date = {{start date|1944|12|25}} to {{end date|1944|12|26}}
| caption = The Armed Propaganda Unit with Vo Nguyen Giap
| casualties3 =
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox French Indochina}}
{{Campaignbox Vichy France Military in World War II}}
{{Campaignbox South-East Asian Theatre}}
{{Campaignbox Indochina Wars}}
}}
The Battle of Phai Khat - Na Ngan 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 Phai Khat 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.{{Cite book|last=MacDonald|first=Peter|title=Giap: The Victor in Vietnam|publisher=Fourth Estate|year=1993|isbn=1-85702-107-X|pages=32}} The first raid was on Phai Khat outpost, in which the commander was killed and its armoury seized, making the colonial troops surrender without a fight.{{Cite book|last=Greer|first=Bob|title=Journey Among Heroes|year=2011|publisher=Trafford |isbn=978-1426996115|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ohBPTTiatTYC}} 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.{{Cite book|last=Trimmer|first=Earl|title=Unbreakable Hearts: A True, Heart-wrenching Story About Victory...Forfeited!|year=2019|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Iq2YDwAAQBAJ&q=Na+Ngan 95]|publisher=Dog Ear |isbn=978-1-4575-6856-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Iq2YDwAAQBAJ}}{{Cite book|last=Giáp|first=Võ Nguyên|title=Từ Nhân dân Mà Ra|publisher=People’s Army Publishing House|year=1964|location=Hanoi|pages=164–170}}
Background
In 1940, Japan had invaded French Indochina and occupied it. During the period of occupation, the Viet Minh expanded their size, and in September 1944 the first Revolutionary Party Military Conference was held. During the conference, it was agreed that it was time to take the military struggle forward into a new phase. Subsequently, the formation of the Vietnam Liberation Army was proclaimed, with Giáp as its commander. Ho Chi Minh directed him to establish Armed Propaganda Brigades and the first one, consisting of thirty-one men and three women, was formed in December 1944 and named the Tran Hung Dao Platoon.
Battle
In late December, two outposts in Cao Bang province were selected. Using a 12 year old named Hoang as a spy, the Viet Minh discovered that they were mainly guarded by colonial soldiers. At 5 pm on December 25, Viet Minh troops dressed in French uniforms entered Phai Khat and seized its armoury, wounding the guard and killing the French commander in the process, making the unarmed garrison promptly surrender. This was repeated the following day at Na Ngan, with the commander also being killed and the garrison surrendering after a short fight.
Aftermath
The Viet Minh seized 40 rifles, 2 sidearms and 3000 piastresDirection Générale des Études et Recherches, Rapport 1 Juin 1945, Indochine nouveau fonds, c. 122, d. 1106, Centre des Archives D'Outre-Mer, Aix-en-Provence. during these raids. They also captured 37 prisoners (including a French NCO),Sûreté, Rapport 10 Janvier 1945, Fonds conseiller politique 161, Centre des Archives D'Outre-Mer, Aix-en-Provence. most of whom either defected or were released to go home. The minor victory gave the Viet Minh its first experience in combat and was the first of many battles against the French.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khai Phat and Na Ngan 1944}}
Category:Military history of Vietnam during World War II
Category:Battles involving Vietnam
Category:December 1944 in Asia
Category:Battles and operations of World War II involving France
Category:History of Cao Bằng province
Category:Attacks on military installations in Vietnam