Vương Thừa Vũ
Lieutenant General Vương Thừa Vũ | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Chief of the PAVN General Staff | |
| In office 1964–1980 | |
| Commander of Military Region 4 | |
| In office 1964–1971 | |
| Preceded by | Đàm Quang Trung |
| Succeeded by | Đàm Quang Trung |
| Commander of Military Region 3 | |
| In office 1955–1963 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Nguyễn Văn Đồi December 21, 1910 Vinh Ninh, Thuong Tin District, Hanoi, French Indochina |
| Died | September 10, 1980 Hanoi, Vietnam |
| Political party | Communist Party of Vietnam |
| Children | 6 |
| Alma mater | Whampoa Military Academy |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Kuomintang China (1930s) Democratic Republic of Vietnam and later Vietnam |
| Branch/service | National Revolutionary Army People's Army of Vietnam |
| Years of service | 1945–1980 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | |
Vương Thừa Vũ (born Nguyễn Văn Đồi) (1910-1980) was a lieutenant-general in the People's Army of Vietnam active during World War II, the First Indochina War, and the Vietnam War. He commanded Viet Minh forces in their early engagements at Hanoi in 1946, directing the city's two month-long defence against French forces. By 1949, during the Viet Minh's transition from guerrilla to regular warfare, he had risen to command the PAVN's first modern infantry division, the 308th, which he led into battle at Dien Bien Phu in 1954.: 63
Owing to his unique experience fighting in the Second Sino-Japanese War, he was well-versed in Chinese language and military doctrine. Hence, he became part of a small nucleus of Chinese-trained officers (Vũ, Nguyễn Sơn, and Lê Thiết Hùng) relied upon by General Giáp and other leaders early in the First Indochina war for their expertise, while due to his connections, he was active in liaising with the People's Republic of China for support.: 75–77
During the Vietnam War, he rose to command Military Region 4 alongside the PAVN Military Academy, and became deputy chief of the General Staff.