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'''Ho Chi Minh''', born on May 19, 1890 as Nguyen Tat Thanh, was a [[Vietnam]]ese revolutionary who imposed one-party rule on North Vietnam, dashing any hopes of it becoming a [[Democracy|democratic]] [[country]]. He was [[prime minister]] of the Viet Minh, a communist proto-state, from 1945 to 1955. The Viet Minh became the government of North Vietnam in 1954. Ho became president in 1955 and held this position until [[death]] on September 2, 1969. Ho was more a figurehead than a leader. Although Le Duan, the party boss, maintained a lower profile, he was a more powerful leader. "Ho" is a surname while "Chi Minh" means "the one who brings light." Vietnamese generally call him ''Bác Hồ'' (Uncle Ho). This phrase was coined in imitation of "Uncle Joe," one of Stalin's nicknames. Official propaganda stresses that Ho was celibate and dedicated only to welfare of the nation. Few Vietnamese are aware that he was married to [[Tang Tuyet Minh]], a Chinese Catholic who lived in Guangzhou. After the Vietnam War ended in 1975, [[Saigon]] was renamed [[Ho Chi Minh City]].  

'''Ho Chi Minh''', born on May 19, 1890 as Nguyen Tat Thanh, was a [[Vietnam]]ese revolutionary who imposed one-party rule on North [[Vietnam]], dashing any hopes of it becoming a [[Democracy|democratic]] [[country]]. He was [[prime minister]] of the Viet Minh, a [[communist]] proto-state, from 1945 to 1955. The Viet Minh became the government of North Vietnam in 1954. Ho became president in 1955 and held this position until [[death]] on September 2, 1969. Ho was more a figurehead than a leader. Although Le Duan, the [[political party|party boss]], maintained a lower profile, he was a more powerful leader. "Ho" is a surname while "Chi Minh" means "the one who brings light." [[Vietnamese]] generally call him ''Bác Hồ'' (Uncle Ho). This phrase was coined in imitation of "Uncle Joe," one of [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]]'s nicknames. Official [[propaganda]] stresses that Ho was celibate and dedicated only to welfare of the nation. Few Vietnamese are aware that he was married to [[Tang Tuyet Minh]], a [[Chinese]] [[Catholic]] who lived in [[Guangzhou.]] After the [[Vietnam War]] ended in 1975, [[Saigon]] was renamed [[Ho Chi Minh City]].  

==Life and Career ==

==Life and Career ==

Nguyen Tat Thanh left Vietnam at the age of 20. He traveled to [[London]], [[New York]] and [[Paris]] and took different jobs (among others: worked as a [[ship]] steward, gardener, cook in a restaurant). While working on a ship he used name Nguyen Van Ba, then he returned to his original name.  

Nguyen Tat Thanh left Vietnam at the age of 20. He traveled to [[London]], [[New York]] and [[Paris]] and took different jobs (among others: worked as a [[ship]] steward, gardener, cook in a restaurant). While working on a ship he used name Nguyen Van Ba, then he returned to his original name.  

In 1919 he joined the [[French]] [[Socialist]] Party and in 1920, after the [[party]] fell apart, he become a member of the French Communist Party. He became an expert in colonialism issues. In 1922 he was delegated to [[Moscow]], where he studied the [[doctrine]] and techniques of communism.  

In 1919 he joined the [[French]] [[Socialist Party]] and in 1920, after the [[party]] fell apart, he become a member of the French [[Communist Party]]. He became an expert in [[colonialism]] issues. In 1922 he was delegated to [[Moscow]], where he studied the [[doctrine]] and techniques of communism.  

In  1925 he was sent to China, officially as a staff member of the [[Soviet]] Consulate in Kanton, in fact as a [[Comintern]] agent. Then he became the Director of the Comintern Office in Shanghai. Since then, until the start of the [[Second World War]] he traveled a lot over [[Asia]].

In  1925 he was sent to [[China]], officially as a staff member of the [[Soviet]] Consulate in [[Canton]], in fact as a [[Comintern]] agent. Then he became the Director of the Comintern Office in [[Shanghai]]. Since then, until the start of the [[Second World War]] he traveled a lot over [[Asia]].

*Ho throughout his life was a dedicated [[Communist international]]ist. In 1938 Ho went from [[Moscow]] to Moa's side at [[Yenan]].<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=NJcolGHWfzoC&pg=PA288&lpg=PA288&dq=chi+minh%2Bmao%2Byenan&source=bl&ots=MqYmygssrY&sig=HuS7BoXeptzMYrD_EJfYeEaZTMk&hl=en&ei=cVHDTY7UA5CPsgav0qneAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CC4Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=chi%20minh%2Bmao%2Byenan&f=false [[OSS]] in China: prelude to Cold War]], By Maochun Yu.</ref><ref>http://www.oldwardogs.us/2006/12/understanding_r.html</ref>

* Ho throughout his life was a dedicated [[Communist international]]ist. In 1938 Ho went from [[Moscow]] to Moa's side at [[Yenan]].<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=NJcolGHWfzoC&pg=PA288&lpg=PA288&dq=chi+minh%2Bmao%2Byenan&source=bl&ots=MqYmygssrY&sig=HuS7BoXeptzMYrD_EJfYeEaZTMk&hl=en&ei=cVHDTY7UA5CPsgav0qneAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CC4Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=chi%20minh%2Bmao%2Byenan&f=false [[OSS]] in China: prelude to Cold War]], By Maochun Yu.</ref><ref>http://www.oldwardogs.us/2006/12/understanding_r.html</ref>

* Ho Chi Minh was a [[Nationalism|

* Ho Chi Minh was a [[Nationalism|

nationalist]] in the sense that he had a special affection for Vietnam’s people and favored Vietnamese unification and independence, but, from his reading of [[Lenin]]’s Theses onward, he firmly adhered to the Leninist principle that Communist [[nation]]s should subordinate their interests to those of the international Communist movement. <ref>http://www.triumphforsaken.com/index.php?pr=Excerpt</ref>

nationalist]] in the sense that he had a special affection for Vietnam’s people and favored Vietnamese unification and independence, but, from his reading of [[Lenin]]’s Theses onward, he firmly adhered to the [[Leninist]] principle that Communist [[nation]]s should subordinate their interests to those of the international Communist movement. <ref>http://www.triumphforsaken.com/index.php?pr=Excerpt</ref>

==External links==

==External links==

*[http://www.paulbogdanor.com/left/vietnam/hochiminh.html The Blood-Red Hands of Ho Chi Minh], Vietcong mass murder in South Vietnam   

*[http://www.paulbogdanor.com/left/vietnam/hochiminh.html The Blood-Red Hands of Ho Chi Minh], Vietcong mass murder in South Vietnam   

*[http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/SOD.CHAP6.HTM Statistics Of Vietnamese Democide:  Estimates, Calculations, And Sources]

*[http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/SOD.CHAP6.HTM Statistics Of Vietnamese Democide:  Estimates, Calculations, And Sources]

*[http://www.rfa.org/english/news/vietnam_landreform-20060608.html The North Vietnamese Terror] "More than 172,000 people died during the North Vietnam land reform campaign after being classified as landowners and wealthy farmers, official records of the time show.  But official figures leave out summary executions of those accused of membership of the National People’s Party, however. Unofficial estimates of those killed by Ho Chi Minh’s Vietnam Labor Party, which later become the Vietnamese Communist Party, range from 200,000 to 900,000. ...“The land reform campaign was a crime of genocide like that of Pol Pot,” Hao said."

*[http://www.rfa.org/english/news/vietnam_landreform-20060608.html The North Vietnamese Terror] "More than 172,000 people died during the North Vietnam land reform campaign after being classified as landowners and wealthy farmers, official records of the time show.  But official figures leave out summary executions of those accused of membership of the National People’s Party, however. Unofficial estimates of those killed by Ho Chi Minh’s Vietnam Labor Party, which later become the Vietnamese Communist Party, range from 200,000 to 900,000. ...“The land reform campaign was a crime of genocide like that of [[Pol Pot]],” Hao said."

*[http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,839103,00.html "The Massacre of Hue", Time Magazine, 1969]  South Vietnamese skulls stacked on top of one another in dozens of mass graves reveal a gruesome slaughter of thousands by the Vietcong.

*[http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,839103,00.html "The Massacre of Hue", Time Magazine, 1969]  South Vietnamese skulls stacked on top of one another in dozens of mass graves reveal a gruesome slaughter of thousands by the Vietcong.

*[http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/star/images/239/2390710003A.pdf "The Human Cost of Communism in Vietnam,"]  US Government Report  estimates that at least half a million were killed in the north and that up to one million will be killed in the south following the Communist victory.  See the rest [http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/star/images/239/2390710003B.pdf here],[http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/star/images/239/2390710003C.pdf here], and [http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/star/images/239/2390710003D.pdf here].  Communist Lt. Col. Chuyen states that 5 million South Vietnamese are targets for persecution and that about 500,000 will be killed--which is almost exactly what happened.  When asked if fears of a bloodbath are exaggerated, he says "they could not be exaggerated.  It will happen."  It ''did'' happen.

*[http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/star/images/239/2390710003A.pdf "The Human Cost of Communism in Vietnam,"]  US Government Report  estimates that at least half a million were killed in the north and that up to one million will be killed in the south following the Communist victory.  See the rest [http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/star/images/239/2390710003B.pdf here],[http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/star/images/239/2390710003C.pdf here], and [http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/star/images/239/2390710003D.pdf here].  Communist Lt. Col. Chuyen states that 5 million South Vietnamese are targets for persecution and that about 500,000 will be killed--which is almost exactly what happened.  When asked if fears of a bloodbath are exaggerated, he says "they could not be exaggerated.  It will happen."  It ''did'' happen.

==References==

==References==

<references/>

<references/>

[[Category:Vietnam]]

[[Category:Vietnam]]

[[Category:Marxism]]

[[Category:Marxism]]