General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army

Bộ Tổng tham mưu
(General Staff)

Insignia of the General Staff
Active September 7, 1945–present
Country  Vietnam
Allegiance Vietnam People's Army
Branch Active duty
Type Staff
Part of Ministry of Defence
Vietnam People's Army
Garrison/HQ Hanoi
Commanders
Current Chief of General Staff Col. Gen. Đỗ Bá Tỵ
First Chief of General Staff Gen. Hoàng Văn Thái

General Staff (Vietnamese: Bộ Tổng tham mưu) is the commanding and managing organization of the Vietnam People's Army, the paramilitary forces, militia and other activities relating to defence of Vietnam. The General Staff was established on September 7, 1945, right after the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the first Chief of the General Staff was General Hoàng Văn Thái. During the Second Indochina War, Vietnam War, Cambodian-Vietnamese War, Sino-Vietnamese War and other skirmishes, the General Staff always had an essential role in organizing, commanding the armed forces and planning, operating military campaigns for the Ministry of Defence and the Government of Vietnam. The current Chief of the General Staff is Colonel General Đỗ Bá Tỵ who also holds the position of Deputy Minister of Defence.

History and roles

Right after the August Revolution and the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on September 2, 1945, the General Staff was established on September 7, 1945.[1][2] The first Chief of the General Staff was Major General Hoàng Văn Thái who held the position from 1945 to 1953.[3] During the existence of the General Headquarters of the Vietnam People's Army (Bộ Tổng tư lệnh Quân đội Nhân dân Việt Nam), which had been the supreme commanding organ of the armed forces from 1946 to 1975, the General Staff was directly under the General Headquarters and acted as staff of the General Headquarters according to the decree No. 47/SL which was issued on May 1, 1947.

After the Vietnam War, the General Headquarters was dissolved and the General Staff began to operate under the Ministry of Defence in the position of commanding and managing organization of the Vietnam People's Army, the paramilitary forces, militia and other activities relating to defence of Vietnam. From 1978, the Chief of Staff was also Deputy Minister of Defence and would take the position of acting minister during the absence of the Mnister of Defence.[4] Following the demise of Colonel General (or Senior Lieutenant General) Nguyễn Khắc Nghiên, the current Chief of Staff is Colonel General Đỗ Bá Tỵ.[5]

Structure

Gen. Phùng Quang Thanh, Chief of the General Staff from 2001 to 2006.

The organization of the General Staff consists of:[4]

In addition, the General Staff also directly manages the operation of the 144th Brigade (which protects the Ministry of Defence headquarters), the Military Honor Guard (Đoàn Nghi lễ quân đội), and several companies and project management authorities.

List of Chiefs of General Staff

No. Image Time Name Rank in office Notes
1 1945–1953, 1954 Hoàng Văn Thái Maj.Gen(1948) Later promoted to General, Deputy Minister of Defense, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam.[3]
2 1953–1954, 1954–1978 Văn Tiến Dũng Maj.Gen(1948), Col.Gen(1958) Later promoted to General, Minister of Defense, Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam.[6]
3 1978–1986 Lê Trọng Tấn Lt.Gen(1974), Col.Gen(1980), Gen(1984) Deputy Minister of Defense, Member of Central Committee, died in 1986.[7]
4 1986–1987 Lê Đức Anh Gen(1984) Later elected to President of Vietnam, Member of the Politburo.[8]
5 1987–1991 Đoàn Khuê Col.Gen(1984), Gen(1990) Later promoted to Minister of Defense, Member of the Politburo.[9]
6 1991–1995 Đào Đình Luyện Col.Gen(1988) Held at the same time the position of Deputy Minister of Defense, Member of the Central Committee.
7 1995–1997 Phạm Văn Trà Lt.Gen(1995) Later promoted to full General, Minister of Defense, Member of the Politburo.
8 1997–1998 Đào Trọng Lịch Lt.Gen( 1998) Deputy Minister of Defense, member of Central Committee, died in an aircraft crash in 1998.[10]
9 1998–2001 Lê Văn Dũng Lt.Gen(1998)Later promoted to full General, Director of the General Department of Politics, Secretary of the Central Committee.
10 2001–2006 Phùng Quang Thanh Lt.Gen(1999), Col.Gen(2003) Later promoter to full General, Minister of Defense, Member of the Politburo.
11 2006–2010 Nguyễn Khắc Nghiên Lt.Gen(2002), Col.Gen(2007)Deputy Minister of Defense, Member of the Central Committee, died in 2010 of cancer.[11]
12 2010–present Đỗ Bá Tỵ Lt.Gen(2007), Col.Gen(2011) Deputy Minister of Defense, Member of the Central Committee

Notes

  1. ↑ Ministry of Defence (2009), White book, p. 110
  2. ↑ Mai Phương (2007-09-07). "Gặp mặt truyền thống các thế hệ cán bộ" (in Vietnamese). Qdnd.vn.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Hoàng Văn Thái" (in Vietnamese). Từ điển Bách khoa toàn thư Việt Nam.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ministry of Defence (2009), White book, p. 53
  5. ↑ "Đỗ Bá Tỵ" (in Vietnamese). National Assembly of Vietnam.
  6. ↑ "Văn Tiến Dũng" (in Vietnamese). Từ điển Bách khoa toàn thư Việt Nam.
  7. ↑ "Lê Trọng Tấn" (in Vietnamese). Từ điển Bách khoa toàn thư Việt Nam.
  8. ↑ "Lê Đức Anh" (in Vietnamese). Từ điển Bách khoa toàn thư Việt Nam.
  9. ↑ "Đoàn Khuê" (in Vietnamese). Từ điển Bách khoa toàn thư Việt Nam.
  10. ↑ "Bay qua đỉnh Phy Phả Xây" (in Vietnamese). Tuoitre.com.vn. 2005-06-06.
  11. ↑ "Nguyễn Khắc Nghiên" (in Vietnamese). National Assembly of Vietnam.

References

  • Ministry of Defence of Vietnam (2009). White book of Defence of Vietnam (in Vietnamese). Hanoi: World Publishing House.