Han Xianchu
Encyclopedia
Han Xianchu (1913–1986) was a general of the Chinese Communist Party. Han participated in many military campaigns and battles such as Battle of Pingxingguan
, Liaoshen Campaign
, Pingjin Campaign
, Hainan Campaign, and the Korean War
. In 1955 he became Shang Jiang (上将), the highest rank in the People's Liberation Army
, and more commonly known as the Country Establishing General (开国上将).
Province in February, 1913 (Hong An is known for being the hometown of many Military Generals). He stopped schooling and joined the People's Liberation Army when he was 17 and fought his way up through countless battles and military campaigns. Han's early military background and tough childhood offered him a revolutionary mindset and a brave character.He had a nickname of " Tornado Commander" indicating his everchanging tactics in the battlefield and the quick moves like the storm.He was also known as the "Best Field Commander" of PLA.
in April 1927, peasant revolts broke out throughout China in the Ten Year's Civil War. Han joined his local Peasant's Committee and participated in the Huangma Uprising (黄麻起义). The following year, he joined the Grand Union of Anti-Imperialism (反帝大同盟) and in the year after, he joined a Communist youth group. In 1930, Han joined Communist guerrillas in Xiaogan
area and officially joined the Chinese Communist Party in October of the same year.
and operated guerrilla warfare in Hubei. Han showed bravery and perseverance in numerous fights defending the local Communist powers, and proved to be an ardent supporter of the revolution. Han was assigned to the Red Army
25th Army, 75th Division, 225th Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 5th Company as a platoon
commander in 1933. In November 1934, the Red 25th Army began a strategic retreat, known as the Long March
to avoid annihilation by the Kuomintang
. Han performed outstandingly against the pursuers and by the time his regiment arrived in Shaanxi
, the destination of the Long March, Han was already promoted to commanding a battalion in the 15th Corps
(rename of the 25th Army). Soon after arriving in Shaanxi, Han led his battalion in the Laoshan Campaign (劳山战役). His forces ambushed Nationalist forces and won. After the campaign in October 1935, Han was promoted to Colonel of the 78th Division, 223rd Regiment for efforts in the campaign. He was only 22 years old.
's East March (东征). The purpose is to establish a Communist position in Shanxi
(山西). In April, Han became Deputy Division Dommander of the 75th Division and one month later, the Division Commander. Soon after returning to Shanbei
, Shaanxi, Han joined the West March (西征). Han's forces attacked and occupied Dingbian County (定边县) (disobeying Peng Dehuai
, Marshall of the Army at the time, who ordered Han to march around Dingbian City), and Yanchi County (盐池县), destroying the Nationalist
's 2 cavalry battalions and 1 security regiment. Over 700 horses and a large quantity of supplies were gained for the Communist war effort.
refuse the Communist's plea to unite against the Japanese, he sent the Nationalist 1st, 3rd, 37th, Northeast 67th Armies, including a cavalry Army to destroy the new Communist base in Shaanxi. In the campaign, Han's 15th Corps was assigned to lure the Nationalist's 87th Division to Shanchengbao area. The Nationalist 87th Division took the bait, and was attacked from 3 sides by Red 15th Corps led by Han and several other corps on November 21, 1936. The battle continued until noon the next day when the Communists successfully destroyed over 1 brigade. Other Nationalist forces were in retreat as well. Shaanxi was successfully defended, and became the heartland of future Communist activities. The Nationalist's failures also promoted the 'Second United Front' against Japan. After the campaign in early 1937, Han went to the military academy in Yan'an
to learn strategies against the Japanese Imperial Army.
between the two countries, and according to terms of the 'Second United Front', the 15th Corps was renamed to the National Revolutionary Army
's 8th Route Army, 115th Division, 344th Brigade. Han was assigned the 344th Brigade's 688th Regiment's Deputy Colonel.
, was advancing through Pingxingguan (平型关). Lin Biao's 115th Division, including Han, laid an ambush and defeated the Japanese. The battle resulted in a minor, morale-boosting victory in which the Communists were able to capture a cache of weapons and annihilate a Japanese brigade. After the battle, Han remained stationed at Pingxingguan to halt further Japanese advances.
, Chinese communist commanders were wary of Island Campaigns, Mao Zedong
issued a stand down to frontline marshalls like Su Yu
, Lin Biao
and Chen Yi
, to halt all military operations until the Soviet aid arrives. Han, however convinced Marshal Lin Biao to give him a chance to attack Hainan Island and the battle was a success due to his superior intelligence, speedy deployment and nationalists' insurgency on the Island itself. Hainan island was the last location taken over by PLA during the civil war and the nationalists had to give it up and retreat to Taiwan Island with no other choices.
was assigned as one of the four strategic armies deployed at Henan
Province. Soon after the Korean War
broke off, 40th Army was sent to Korea
as one of the four armies firstly entering Korea. Han was promoted as the Vice Commander in chief of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army
. On October 25, 1950, 40th Army fired the first shot of Sino-US military conflict in Korea. China claimed it was the first day of its involvement in Korean War. 40th Army participated 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Phase Offensives. It was the campaign at the West Front that Han was in charge of by heading a small commanding headquarter. For most of the time, his commanding headquarter consisted of only three people and always on the road. Under his command, 116th Division of the 40th Army was the first to capture Seoul
on January 6, 1951.
In 1955, Han was awarded the rank of General, an independent Medal of Freedom, a Liberation Medal. He was elected to be on the first session of the CPPCC National Committee and the Fourth National People's Congress, he was on the first, second and third National Defense Commission. In 1958, on the eighth Session of the CPC, Han was the first to be elected to be the alternate member.In February 1967, Han chaired the committee of Fujian front-line troops, the CPC Central Military Commission. In l983, Han was elected as the Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, the Chinese Communists ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth session of the Central Committee.
On October 3, 1986, General Han died in Beijing. Marshal Xu Xiangqian complimented General Han as "a heroic warrior." The first President Li Xiannian praised General Han as "a candor, straightforward, righteousness leader." On May 18, 1987, the city Hongan held a grand ceremony for him, and placed his ashes in Hungan military memorial cemetery.
Battle of Pingxingguan
The Battle of Pingxingguan , also commonly called the "Great Victory of Pingxingguan" in Mainland China, was an engagement fought between the 8th Route Army of the Communist Party of China and the Imperial Japanese Army on September 25, 1937....
, Liaoshen Campaign
Liaoshen Campaign
Liaoshen Campaign , literally the abbreviation of Liaoning-Shenyang Campaign, was part of the three major campaigns launched by the People's Liberation Army during the late stage of the Chinese Civil War. This engagement is known in the Nationalist government as the Battle of Liaoshi...
, Pingjin Campaign
Pingjin Campaign
Pingjin Campaign , known as the Battle of Pingjin to the Nationalist Government, was part of the three major campaigns launched by the People's Liberation Army during the late stage of the Chinese Civil War. It began on November 29, 1948, and ended on January 31, 1949, lasted a total of 64 days...
, Hainan Campaign, and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. In 1955 he became Shang Jiang (上将), the highest rank in the People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
, and more commonly known as the Country Establishing General (开国上将).
Early life
Han was born in a farming village in Huang'an County (黄安), modern day Hong'an County (红安), HubeiHubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
Province in February, 1913 (Hong An is known for being the hometown of many Military Generals). He stopped schooling and joined the People's Liberation Army when he was 17 and fought his way up through countless battles and military campaigns. Han's early military background and tough childhood offered him a revolutionary mindset and a brave character.He had a nickname of " Tornado Commander" indicating his everchanging tactics in the battlefield and the quick moves like the storm.He was also known as the "Best Field Commander" of PLA.
Joining the party
Following Kuomintang's (Chinese Nationalist Party) purge of CommunistsApril 12 Incident
The April 12 Incident of 1927 refers to the violent suppression of Chinese Communist Party organizations in Shanghai by the military forces of Chiang Kai-shek and conservative factions in the Kuomintang...
in April 1927, peasant revolts broke out throughout China in the Ten Year's Civil War. Han joined his local Peasant's Committee and participated in the Huangma Uprising (黄麻起义). The following year, he joined the Grand Union of Anti-Imperialism (反帝大同盟) and in the year after, he joined a Communist youth group. In 1930, Han joined Communist guerrillas in Xiaogan
Xiaogan
Xiaogan is a prefecture-level city in Hubei province of the People's Republic of China. Its population is 5,060,000 residents.-Subdivisions:*Xiaonan District *Yingcheng City *Anlu City *Hanchuan City *Xiaochang County...
area and officially joined the Chinese Communist Party in October of the same year.
Soaring through the ranks
In 1931, Han led a squadSquad
In military terminology, a squad is a small military unit led by a non-commissioned officer that is subordinate to an infantry platoon. In countries following the British Army tradition this organization is referred to as a section...
and operated guerrilla warfare in Hubei. Han showed bravery and perseverance in numerous fights defending the local Communist powers, and proved to be an ardent supporter of the revolution. Han was assigned to the Red Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
25th Army, 75th Division, 225th Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 5th Company as a platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
commander in 1933. In November 1934, the Red 25th Army began a strategic retreat, known as the Long March
Long March
The Long March was a massive military retreat undertaken by the Red Army of the Communist Party of China, the forerunner of the People's Liberation Army, to evade the pursuit of the Kuomintang army. There was not one Long March, but a series of marches, as various Communist armies in the south...
to avoid annihilation by the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
. Han performed outstandingly against the pursuers and by the time his regiment arrived in Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
, the destination of the Long March, Han was already promoted to commanding a battalion in the 15th Corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
(rename of the 25th Army). Soon after arriving in Shaanxi, Han led his battalion in the Laoshan Campaign (劳山战役). His forces ambushed Nationalist forces and won. After the campaign in October 1935, Han was promoted to Colonel of the 78th Division, 223rd Regiment for efforts in the campaign. He was only 22 years old.
East and West March
In February, 1936, Han was transferred to the newly established Red 75th Division, 224th Regiment as Colonel, and participated in Mao ZedongMao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
's East March (东征). The purpose is to establish a Communist position in Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
(山西). In April, Han became Deputy Division Dommander of the 75th Division and one month later, the Division Commander. Soon after returning to Shanbei
Shanbei
Shanbei specifies the northern portion of Shaanxi province, Northwest China, and is a natural as well as cultural area, forming part of the Loess Plateau...
, Shaanxi, Han joined the West March (西征). Han's forces attacked and occupied Dingbian County (定边县) (disobeying Peng Dehuai
Peng Dehuai
Peng Dehuai was a prominent military leader of the Communist Party of China, and China's Defence Minister from 1954 to 1959. Peng was an important commander during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese civil war and was also the commander-in-chief of People's Volunteer Army in the Korean War...
, Marshall of the Army at the time, who ordered Han to march around Dingbian City), and Yanchi County (盐池县), destroying the Nationalist
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
's 2 cavalry battalions and 1 security regiment. Over 700 horses and a large quantity of supplies were gained for the Communist war effort.
Shanchengbao Campaign (山城堡战役)
Not only did Chiang Kai-shekChiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
refuse the Communist's plea to unite against the Japanese, he sent the Nationalist 1st, 3rd, 37th, Northeast 67th Armies, including a cavalry Army to destroy the new Communist base in Shaanxi. In the campaign, Han's 15th Corps was assigned to lure the Nationalist's 87th Division to Shanchengbao area. The Nationalist 87th Division took the bait, and was attacked from 3 sides by Red 15th Corps led by Han and several other corps on November 21, 1936. The battle continued until noon the next day when the Communists successfully destroyed over 1 brigade. Other Nationalist forces were in retreat as well. Shaanxi was successfully defended, and became the heartland of future Communist activities. The Nationalist's failures also promoted the 'Second United Front' against Japan. After the campaign in early 1937, Han went to the military academy in Yan'an
Yan'an
Yan'an , is a prefecture-level city in the Shanbei region of Shaanxi province in China, administering several counties, including Zhidan County , which served as the Chinese communist capital before the city of Yan'an proper took that role....
to learn strategies against the Japanese Imperial Army.
Second Sino-Japanese War
Following the full scale warTotal war
Total war is a war in which a belligerent engages in the complete mobilization of fully available resources and population.In the mid-19th century, "total war" was identified by scholars as a separate class of warfare...
between the two countries, and according to terms of the 'Second United Front', the 15th Corps was renamed to the National Revolutionary Army
National Revolutionary Army
The National Revolutionary Army , pre-1928 sometimes shortened to 革命軍 or Revolutionary Army and between 1928-1947 as 國軍 or National Army was the Military Arm of the Kuomintang from 1925 until 1947, as well as the national army of the Republic of China during the KMT's period of party rule...
's 8th Route Army, 115th Division, 344th Brigade. Han was assigned the 344th Brigade's 688th Regiment's Deputy Colonel.
Battle of Pingxingguan
In September 1937, Japanese 5th Division, under the command of Itagaki SeishiroItagaki Seishiro
was a General in the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II and a War Minister.-Overview:Itagaki was born in Morioka city, Iwate prefecture into a samurai class family formerly serving the Nanbu clan of Morioka Domain. He graduated from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1904...
, was advancing through Pingxingguan (平型关). Lin Biao's 115th Division, including Han, laid an ambush and defeated the Japanese. The battle resulted in a minor, morale-boosting victory in which the Communists were able to capture a cache of weapons and annihilate a Japanese brigade. After the battle, Han remained stationed at Pingxingguan to halt further Japanese advances.
Hainan Campaign
Because the disaster of the Battle of KuningtouBattle of Kuningtou
The Battle of Guningtou , also known as the Battle of Jinmen , was a battle fought over Kinmen in the Taiwan Strait during the Chinese Civil War in 1949...
, Chinese communist commanders were wary of Island Campaigns, Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
issued a stand down to frontline marshalls like Su Yu
Su Yu
Su Yu was a Chinese Communist military leader. He was considered by many to be among the best commanders of the PLA only next to Lin Biao and Liu Bocheng. Su Yu fought in the Sino-Japanese War and in the Chinese Civil War...
, Lin Biao
Lin Biao
Lin Biao was a major Chinese Communist military leader who was pivotal in the communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, especially in Northeastern China...
and Chen Yi
Chen Yi (communist)
Chen Yi was a Chinese communist military commander and politician. He served as the 2nd Mayor of Shanghai and the 2nd Foreign Minister of China.-Biography:Chen was born in Lezhi, near Chengdu, Sichuan, into a moderately wealthy magistrate's family....
, to halt all military operations until the Soviet aid arrives. Han, however convinced Marshal Lin Biao to give him a chance to attack Hainan Island and the battle was a success due to his superior intelligence, speedy deployment and nationalists' insurgency on the Island itself. Hainan island was the last location taken over by PLA during the civil war and the nationalists had to give it up and retreat to Taiwan Island with no other choices.
Korean War
Han was the Commander of 40th Army under 15th Army Group during the Korean War. After Hainan Campaign on May 1950, 40th Army40th Army (People's Republic of China)
The 40th Army was a military formation of the People's Volunteer Army during the Korean War. It was composed of the 118th, 119th, and 120th Divisions.-History:In the morning of Oct...
was assigned as one of the four strategic armies deployed at Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
Province. Soon after the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
broke off, 40th Army was sent to Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
as one of the four armies firstly entering Korea. Han was promoted as the Vice Commander in chief of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army
People's Volunteer Army
The Chinese People's Volunteer Army was the armed forces deployed by the People's Republic of China during the Korean War. Although all units in the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army belonged to the People's Liberation Army , the People's Volunteer Army was separately constituted in order to...
. On October 25, 1950, 40th Army fired the first shot of Sino-US military conflict in Korea. China claimed it was the first day of its involvement in Korean War. 40th Army participated 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Phase Offensives. It was the campaign at the West Front that Han was in charge of by heading a small commanding headquarter. For most of the time, his commanding headquarter consisted of only three people and always on the road. Under his command, 116th Division of the 40th Army was the first to capture Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
on January 6, 1951.
Post-war
Han served as the first Military Chief of Staff of People's Liberation Army, Deputy Chief of Staff and commander of Military Region, Fuzhou, party first secretary, first secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, Lanzhou military commander in chief and party's second secretary of the CPC Central Military Commission members and is on the Standing Committee.In 1955, Han was awarded the rank of General, an independent Medal of Freedom, a Liberation Medal. He was elected to be on the first session of the CPPCC National Committee and the Fourth National People's Congress, he was on the first, second and third National Defense Commission. In 1958, on the eighth Session of the CPC, Han was the first to be elected to be the alternate member.In February 1967, Han chaired the committee of Fujian front-line troops, the CPC Central Military Commission. In l983, Han was elected as the Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, the Chinese Communists ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth session of the Central Committee.
On October 3, 1986, General Han died in Beijing. Marshal Xu Xiangqian complimented General Han as "a heroic warrior." The first President Li Xiannian praised General Han as "a candor, straightforward, righteousness leader." On May 18, 1987, the city Hongan held a grand ceremony for him, and placed his ashes in Hungan military memorial cemetery.
Summary
Han Xianchu (1913 02—1986 10.03), Hubei Province, Huangan (now Hongan) County. In 1929, He joined the Chinese Communist Youth League, in 1930 joined the Communist Party of China. During Agrarian Revolutionary War, he served as the Red Army troops-two hundred twenty-five twenty-fifth mission's squad leader, platoon leader, company commander, battalion commander, Red Army fifth regiment, twenty-four, seventy-eighth army commander. He also participated in the Long March. During the Anti-Japanese War, he served as the Deputy Head of Division, at 689 Regiment, Deputy Brigade Commander at 344 Brigade; the Brigade Commander at the 3rd Brigade and Chairman of the new Shandong and Henan Military commander of the Third Military Region of the China People's Anti-Japanese Military. During the Liberation War, he served as the deputy commander of the fourth column at the Northeast Democratic coalition, third column commander of twelve and forty-second of the Fourth Field Army Corps; Deputy commander of the Thirteenth Corps; Deputy commander in chief of the Chinese People's Volunteers Troops, Nineteenth Corps's Commander, Chief of Staff of People's Liberation Army Southeast Military Region, Fuzhou; Deputy Chief of Staff and chief military commander of People's Liberation Army Central Military Region, Lanzhou;He also served as Standing Committee of the CPC Central Military Commission. In 1955,he was awarded the rank of General, a Military Hornorable Medal, Medal of Independence and Freedom, Medal of Liberation; he was also on the Standing Committee serving as Vice Chairman for the Chinese Communist Party National Congress,and was on behalf of the Seventh, Eighth Standing Committee of the Central Committee, ninth, tenth, XI, XII session of the Central Committee.- List of officers of the People's Liberation Army
- Ranks of the People's Liberation ArmyRanks of the People's Liberation ArmyThe People's Liberation Army has not always used ranks or insignia. In common with the practice of the Red Army at the time of its founding in 1927, neither were used until 1955 when a system of ranks was established. As a result of the Cultural Revolution, ranks were abolished in May 1965...
- Chinese Civil WarChinese Civil WarThe Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...