Pan Hannian
Encyclopedia
Pan Hannian was a major figure in the Chinese Communist
intelligence by the early 1930s and until 1955. He began his work with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1926 as a propagandist
with the editorial department of the magazine "Oazo" (Huanzhou) and later with "Crossroads" (Shizi Jietou). Pan became a CCP member in February 1927 and was assigned as managing editor of the "Revolutionary Army Daily" (Gemingjun Ribao) in Nanchang. Ordered to Shanghai
for the entry of the KMT in April, Pan had barely arrived when the 12 April anti-communist coup forced him underground. This may have been the time when Pan was first assigned intelligence duties. Pan escaped Shanghai with Zhou Enlai
to Wuhan
, but eventually returned to Shanghai to take up a leadership position with their paramount intelligence organization, the CCP Central Committee Special Branch (Zhongyang Teke, CCSB). He became the head of CCSB's Second Section (intelligence) and later the Third Section (Red Squads), in 1931-33 stayed on in Shanghai as the rest of Central Committee was evacuated under intense pressure from KMT intelligence and police in the Shanghai International Settlement
and the Shanghai French Concession
. Pan eventually left Shanghai in 1933 and participated in the Long March
, but returned to Shanghai and regularly visited Hong Kong
after the 1935 Zunyi Conference.
In 1949 Pan was made a Deputy Mayor of Shanghai. On 3 April 1955 Pan was accused by the PRC Ministry of Public Security of "secretly seeking the assistance of the Japanese secret service organs and colluding with the major traitor Wang Jingwei". Pan was imprisoned until his death in 1977 but was posthumously rehabilitated. The charges made against him in 1955 are regarded by historians as bogus.
Sources: David P. Barnett and Larry Shyu, eds, Chinese Collaboration with Japan: 1932-1945 (Stanford University Press, 2001), pp. 5-6 and p.9; Quan Yanchi, Secrets and Insider Stories of China (Zhongguo Miwen Neimu; Lanzhou: Gansu Wenhua Chubanshe, p. 44); Warren Kuo, Analytical History of the Chinese Communist Party, Book 2 (Taipei: Institute of International Relations, 1969), pp. 285-287.
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
intelligence by the early 1930s and until 1955. He began his work with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1926 as a propagandist
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
with the editorial department of the magazine "Oazo" (Huanzhou) and later with "Crossroads" (Shizi Jietou). Pan became a CCP member in February 1927 and was assigned as managing editor of the "Revolutionary Army Daily" (Gemingjun Ribao) in Nanchang. Ordered to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
for the entry of the KMT in April, Pan had barely arrived when the 12 April anti-communist coup forced him underground. This may have been the time when Pan was first assigned intelligence duties. Pan escaped Shanghai with Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from October 1949 until his death in January 1976...
to Wuhan
Wuhan
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
, but eventually returned to Shanghai to take up a leadership position with their paramount intelligence organization, the CCP Central Committee Special Branch (Zhongyang Teke, CCSB). He became the head of CCSB's Second Section (intelligence) and later the Third Section (Red Squads), in 1931-33 stayed on in Shanghai as the rest of Central Committee was evacuated under intense pressure from KMT intelligence and police in the Shanghai International Settlement
Shanghai International Settlement
The Shanghai International Settlement began originally as a purely British settlement. It was one of the original five treaty ports which were established under the terms of the Treaty of Nanking at the end of the first opium war in the year 1842...
and the Shanghai French Concession
Shanghai French Concession
The Shanghai French Concession was a foreign concession in Shanghai, China from 1849 until 1946, and it was progressively expanded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The concession came to an end in practice in 1943 when the Vichy French government signed it over to the pro-Japanese puppet...
. Pan eventually left Shanghai in 1933 and participated in 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...
, but returned to Shanghai and regularly visited Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
after the 1935 Zunyi Conference.
In 1949 Pan was made a Deputy Mayor of Shanghai. On 3 April 1955 Pan was accused by the PRC Ministry of Public Security of "secretly seeking the assistance of the Japanese secret service organs and colluding with the major traitor Wang Jingwei". Pan was imprisoned until his death in 1977 but was posthumously rehabilitated. The charges made against him in 1955 are regarded by historians as bogus.
Sources: David P. Barnett and Larry Shyu, eds, Chinese Collaboration with Japan: 1932-1945 (Stanford University Press, 2001), pp. 5-6 and p.9; Quan Yanchi, Secrets and Insider Stories of China (Zhongguo Miwen Neimu; Lanzhou: Gansu Wenhua Chubanshe, p. 44); Warren Kuo, Analytical History of the Chinese Communist Party, Book 2 (Taipei: Institute of International Relations, 1969), pp. 285-287.