HO HO HO CHI MINH
MICHAEL HERMAN
“LONG LIVE WORLD PEACE!”
Search for Traces 2008, 2010
Introduction by Michael HermanWith the clear statement “Long live world peace!” H ồ Chí Minh, Vietnamese revolutionary and statesman, closed his speech at the congress of the Vietnam workers’ party in 1960 in the middle of the Vietnam war. His people loved him and called him Uncle H ồ . He served as Prime Minister and as President of Vietnam from 1945 until his death in 1969. Ideologically a Marxist–Leninist, he fought tirelessly against the American intruder and supported the
c ộ ng, an armed communist organization in South Vietnam. The USA wanted to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. H ồ Chí Minh died of heart failure in 1969 at the age of 79. The final withdrawal of the American troops after twenty years of senseless suffering and the reunification of his beloved homeland, he could not experience anymore. Nevertheless, H ồ Chí Minh set the course for modern socialism. All over the world he became a symbol of the striving for self-determination. Even such a long time after his death the gratitude for his efforts can be seen all over the population.
My trips to Vietnam took place in 2008 and 2010. Originally it was not the aim to search for traces of H ồ Chí Minh’s ideas. But these force themselves on the viewer and you can quickly see them. The pride of the Vietnamese in their “Uncle H ồ ” is not only reflected in the kilometers of queues in front of his mausoleum, but his portrait is also omnipresent. War is still ingrained in society and remains can be found everywhere. Decades after the end of the war, the Vietnamese still proudly wear their uniforms and helmets.
“Nothing is more precious than independence and liberty.”
“The Socialist Republic of Vietnam shall live forever.”
“Man perfects himself in competition.”
“Better to endure death than slavery!”
“You will kill ten of us and we will kill one of you, but in the end we will be victorious!”
“Just as a single canopy stretches over mountains, gorges and wide horizons, so are all proletarians brothers.”
“Everything for victory, victory over the colonialists, victory over ignorance, victory over hunger, victory over all the flaws that hide within us.”War Remnants Museum, Hồ Chí Minh City
“The people of Vietnam are advancing toward socialism under the glorious banner of Marxism and Leninism.”
“Under no circumstances should one become complacent, conceited, and lose touch with the masses.”
“Like a radiant sun, the October Revolution illuminates the world with its light and comforts millions and millions of oppressed and exploited in the world.”
“My last wish is that our whole party, our whole people, united in the struggle build a peaceful, united, independent, democratic, prosperous Vietnam and make a worthy contribution to the world revolution.”
Chí Minh (1890—1969), revolutionary and politician became the symbol of the quest for self-determination. He was Prime Minister (1945—1955) and President (1955—1969) of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Influenced by his Marxist-Leninist convictions, he liberated Vietnam through long guerrilla struggles from colonial rule and led his country to modern socialism.
This book is a search for traces of the remnants of his thought in Vietnam today.
Imprint
Slanted Publishers UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
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Thanks
Neil O’Sullivan for English proofreading
Michael Krumm for German proofreading, mk-lektorat.de
Special Thanks: Achim Urbanke for the first layout, urbankeundsohn.de
© Slanted Publishers, Nördliche Uferstraße 4–6, 76189 Karlsruhe, Germany, 2023
© Photography by Michael Herman, Stuttgart, Germany, 2023
© Design by Lars Harmsen, Munich / Karlsruhe, 2023
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-3-948440-52-7
1st edition 2023
Author and photographer: Michael Herman, michael-herman.de
Sources
The quotations were taken from the following sources:
Ho Chi Minh: Reden und Schriften, Reclam, Leipzig 1980
Poesiealbum 36: Ho Chi Minh, Neues Leben, Berlin 1970
Ho Chi Minh: Gefängnistagebuch, DTV, München 1970
Ho Chi Minh: Ausgewählte Werke, Band 1, Internationale Solidarität, Köln 1976
Ho Chi Minh: Gegen die amerikanische Aggression, Trikot, München 1968
Publishing Direction: Lars Harmsen, Julia Kahl
Final Design: Julia Kahl
Print: BALTO print
Disclaimer:
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