Which general was once a history teacher?

Comrade Vo Nguyen Giap, whose birth name was Vo Giap, was born into a Confucian family with a rich tradition of patriotism, in An Xa village, Loc Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, former Quang Binh province.

As the first general of the Vietnam People's Army, he was the main commander in the Indochina War (1946-1954) and the Vietnam War (1960-1975). He participated in many important campaigns such as the 1950 Autumn-Winter Border Campaign, the Battle of Dien Bien Phu (1954), the Tet Offensive (1968), the 1972 Campaign, and the Ho Chi Minh Campaign. He was the most prominent military commander alongside President Ho Chi Minh throughout the war and led many major campaigns until the end of the war.

What is special is that before taking on the responsibility assigned by the Party and the people, General Vo Nguyen Giap had not attended any military academy or school like military generals in many other countries.

He himself once joked with international journalists: "Regarding military affairs, I only attended one school, the Bush School."

According to the website of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Quang Binh province , before becoming an outstanding military man, General Vo Nguyen Giap was a teacher.

Specifically, in 1934, after passing the baccalaureate, he became a History teacher at Thang Long Private School (Hanoi). He was respected and praised by students for his enthusiasm, thorough understanding of historical issues and unique presentation, inspiring patriotism and revolutionary enthusiasm.

In mid-1940, he left Thang Long Private School and embarked on a new journey.

The US Department of Defense's Military Encyclopedia, published in 1993, also wrote: "General Giap's military talent in strategy, tactics and logistics was skillfully combined with politics and diplomacy... The overwhelming economic strength, technological superiority, overwhelming military strength and enormous firepower of Western countries had to submit to the military talent of a general who was once a history teacher."

The book 100 portraits of a century of Hanoi National University wrote about General Vo Nguyen Giap studying at the Law School, Indochina University.

In the book, there is a passage that says: Vo Nguyen Giap enrolled in the Law School of the University of Indochina, focusing on Economic Law. The study regime here, the number of hours spent in class listening to lectures was small, but the textbooks and reference materials that had to be taken home for self-study were numerous and at the end of the year, there was an exam. Vo Nguyen Giap took his books to the Red River embankment to find a deserted place to study for the exam.

In particular, Vo Nguyen Giap participated in the Indochina-wide excellent student competition with the topic: Balance of payments and trade balance of Indochina and won first prize. Professor Khérian, in charge of teaching Law at the University of Indochina, evaluated this thesis as having clear content, methodical and personal identity. The professor also said: According to the regulations, the first prize winner will be granted a scholarship to study abroad in France but needs to adjust his political perspective. Vo Nguyen Giap replied: "Thank you, but my belief has been confirmed".

In an interview with a Western reporter about the criteria for promoting General to comrade Vo Nguyen Giap, President Ho Chi Minh once said: If you defeat a Colonel, you will be promoted to Colonel; if you defeat a Major General, you will be promoted to Major General; if you defeat a Lieutenant General, you will be promoted to Lieutenant General; if you defeat a General, you will be promoted to General.

During his life, General Vo Nguyen Giap defeated 4 French and 6 American generals. Americans often refer to him as "5-star General". William Westmoreland, former Commander-in-Chief of the US Army in Vietnam, once called him "Legendary General".

Ducan Townson, author of the book Famous Generals published in London (UK), wrote: “Vo Nguyen Giap is one of 21 famous generals of the world in the past 25 centuries… those whose achievements created a turning point in the art of war”.

The New Encyclopedia of England (published in 1985), in the section introducing famous generals of the world from ancient times to the present day, also introduced two famous Vietnamese generals, Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan and General Vo Nguyen Giap.