First Battle of Urumqi (1933)
Encyclopedia
The First Battle of Urumqi was a conflict which occurred in the spring of 1933 between the armies of the Xinjiang provincial government, and the Chinese Muslim
36th Division (National Revolutionary Army)
of the national government of China. The Chinese government secretly urged Ma Zhongying to attack Jin Shuren, while pretending to Jin that he was recognized as the legitimate Governor. Fierce fighting broke out at the gates of the city, and one of the Chinese commanders torched a street where the Muslims troops had managed to break through at the West Gate, killing everyone in the vicinity, including refugees. The Muslims were then forced to retreat into the range of machine gun fire, which killed many of them.
1,800 White Russian troops under Colonel Pappengut subsequently fought off the Muslim soldiers. Wu Aichen was told at least 2,000 had died at that point. The Muslims attempted to scale the walls at the Great West Bridge, where several were killed. The city was relieved when the provincial Sheng Shicai approached and the Muslim soldiers fled. 6,000 Chinese and Muslim soldiers died in total.
Hui people
The Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's...
36th Division (National Revolutionary Army)
36th Division (National Revolutionary Army)
The 36th Division was a cavalry division in the National Revolutionary Army. It was created in 1932 by the Kuomintang for General Ma Zhongying, who was also its first commander. It was made almost entirely out of Hui Muslim troops, all of its officers were Hui, with a few thousand Uighurs forced...
of the national government of China. The Chinese government secretly urged Ma Zhongying to attack Jin Shuren, while pretending to Jin that he was recognized as the legitimate Governor. Fierce fighting broke out at the gates of the city, and one of the Chinese commanders torched a street where the Muslims troops had managed to break through at the West Gate, killing everyone in the vicinity, including refugees. The Muslims were then forced to retreat into the range of machine gun fire, which killed many of them.
1,800 White Russian troops under Colonel Pappengut subsequently fought off the Muslim soldiers. Wu Aichen was told at least 2,000 had died at that point. The Muslims attempted to scale the walls at the Great West Bridge, where several were killed. The city was relieved when the provincial Sheng Shicai approached and the Muslim soldiers fled. 6,000 Chinese and Muslim soldiers died in total.