Trần Văn Quang (1917 – 3 November 2013) was a colonel general (three-star general) of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN). He was a deputy chief of General Staff of PAVN and a deputy minister of Vietnam's Ministry of Defence. During the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, Quang was the head of Department of Operations.[1]

Colonel General
Trần Văn Quang
Deputy Chief of General Staff
In office
1974–1977
PresidentTôn Đức Thắng
MinisterVõ Nguyên Giáp
Deputy Minister of Ministry of Defence
In office
1981–1992
PresidentTrường Chinh, Võ Chí Công
MinisterVăn Tiến Dũng, Lê Đức Anh, Đoàn Khuê
Personal details
Born
Trần Thúc Kính

1917
Nghi Lộc, Nghệ An, Annam (French protectorate)
Died3 November 2013(2013-11-03) (aged 96)
Hà Nội, Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Awards Gold Star Order
Ho Chi Minh Order
NicknameBảy Tiến
Military service
RankColonel General
Battles/wars

Early years

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Born in 1917 in Nghi Lộc District, Nghệ An Province of Annam (French protectorate), Quang was a son of Trần Văn Năng – a Confucianist who was jailed by French colonial government for six months. His elder brother is Trần Văn Tăng – a teacher and revolutionist and member of New Revolutionary Party of Vietnam who was also jailed by the French and died in prison. His second elder brother is Trần Văn Cung, who was a Vietnamese revolutionary and was the secretary of the first communist cell in Vietnam.[2] His young brother is Trần Văn Bành, who was a colonel of PAVN.

Quang joined the Indochinese Communist Party in 1936. Between 1938 and 1939, he was one of communist leaders in SaigonCho Lon. He was jailed by French in 1939, but he escaped in October 1940 and went to Nghệ An. In April 1941, he was caught again and was life sentenced. In June 1945, he was freed.[3]

Military career

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NLF Fronts and Military regions, 1970

During November 1946 and July 1947, Quang was the Commissar of Interregion IV (including 11 provinces of North Central Coast). During 1948 and 1949, Quang was the military commander and the commissar of BìnhTrịThiên region.[4] In May 1950 when the 304 Division was established, Quang became the political commissar of this division.[5]

In 1958, he became a major general and the deputy chief of General Staff.[6] In 1961, he went to Southern of Vietnam and became a member of Central Executive Committee of the People's Revolutionary Party who was in charge of military affairs.[4] In 1965, he became the Commander of 4th Military Region. During 1965 and 1973, Quang was the Commander cum Commissar of Trị–Thiên Military Region (B4 Front).[3]

In 1974, he was promoted to lieutenant general. He became a deputy chief of General Staff for the second time. During 1978 and 1981, Quang was the commander of 678 Corps and the commissar of Vietnamese Voluntary Force in Laos. He became a deputy minister of Defense during 1981 and 1982 and a colonel general in 1984.[3]

Quang died on 3 November 2013 in Hanoi.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Colonel general Trần Văn Quang – a whole life following the revolution". nghean.gov.vn. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  2. ^ Hoàng Văn Ðào Việt Nam Quốc dân Đảng: A Contemporary History of a National National Struggle: 1927–1954 . 2008 – Page 24 "A number of its youths and party members were affiliated with the Indo-Chinese Communist Party, “Đảng Cọng Sản Đông Dương” (ICP), while Trần Văn Cung and another numberformed the Indo-China Communist League (ICL), “Đông Dương Cọng Sản Đảng."
  3. ^ a b c "Brief biography of colonel general Trần Văn Quang". nhandan.vn. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b Phan Hoàng (11/2013), "Hành trình đặc biệt và chiến công lẫy lừng của Thượng tướng Trần Văn Quang," Pháp luật và Cuộc sống, các số 40, 41, 42.
  5. ^ Sắc lệnh số 67-SL ngày 14/5/1950 của Chủ tịch Nước Việt Nam Dân chủ Cộng hòa. Truy cập ngày 13 tháng 6 năm 2013.
  6. ^ Sắc lệnh số 64-SL ngày 22/4/1958 của Chủ tịch Nước Việt Nam Dân chủ Cộng hòa. Truy cập ngày 13 tháng 6 năm 2013.
  7. ^ "Tổ chức trọng thể lễ tang Thượng tướng Trần Văn Quang – Xã hội – Dân trí". Dantri.com.vn. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2024.