Wang Zhen Chronicle (Part 2)

Author: Writing Group of "Biography of Wang Zhen"
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-04-01
Features: Wang Zhen, a senior leader of the People's Liberation Army of China. Born in Liuyang, Hunan. Starting in 1922, he worked as a laborer in Changsha, served as the leader of the labor (vigilante team), and participated in the labor movement in Changsha. In 1927, he joined the Communist Youth League of China and soon afterwards joined the Communist Party of China. After the failure of the Great Revolution, he went underground and engaged in transportation and military movement work. In 1929, he joined the guerrilla unit and served as the commander of the guerrilla detachment and political commissar. From 1930 onwards, he successively held positions such as the political commissar of the third regiment of the independent division of Xiangdong Red Army, the political director of the independent division of Xiangjiang, the political commissar of the Xiangjiang independent division, the acting political commissar of the eighth army, and the acting commander of the Xiangjiang Military Region. He participated in leading the struggle to consolidate and develop the Xiangjiang revolutionary base and coordinated the anti-"encirclement and suppression" battles with the central revolutionary base. In January 1934, he was elected as a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Chinese Soviet Republic. In the same year, in August, he served as the political commissar of the sixth corps and led the troops on a westward expedition with Ren Bishi and Xiao Ke. After joining the second corps led by He Long, he participated in leading the creation of the Xiangxi, Hubei, Chuanxi revolutionary base and subsequent anti-"encirclement and suppression" battles, successively holding positions such as member of the Xiangxi, Hubei, Chuanxi Provincial Committee and member of the Military Commission. In November 1935, he began the Long March from Sangzhi, Hunan. In July 1936, he served as the political commissar of the sixth corps of the second Red Army. After uniting with the fourth Red Army, he fought against Zhang Guotao's separatist activities. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, he successively held positions such as the deputy division commander and division commander political commissar of the 359th Brigade of the second army of the Eighth Route Army, leading the troops to participate in the battle to recapture seven cities in northern Shanxi, and commanding battles such as Shaozhuang and Shangxiaxiyaojian. In October 1939, he led the troops back to the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region and successively held concurrent positions such as the secretary of the Suide Military and Political Committee, the commander of the Suide Garrison District, the secretary of the Yan'an Party Committee, and the commander of the Yan'an Military District and Garrison District. At the end of 1940, he led the 359th Brigade to Nanniwan to carry out land reclamation and the Great Production Movement. After two years of effort, the brigade achieved basic self-sufficiency in grain and funds, and was therefore hailed as a banner of the Great Production Movement in the anti-Japanese base areas. In November 1944, he served as the commander of the southward detachment of the Eighth Route Army, leading the troops to advance into the Xiangyue border area and serving as the commander of the Hunan People's Anti-Japanese Salvation Army, the commander of the Xiangjiang-Hunan-Jiangxi Military Region, and the deputy secretary of the Xiangjiang-Hunan-Jiangxi Border Region. After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan, he led the troops northward and served as the deputy commander of the Central Military Region and chief of staff. In June 1946, he participated in commanding the Central battle and later led the 359th Brigade back to the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia liberated area. After that, he successively held positions such as the commander of the second corps of the Northwest Field Army, concurrently serving as the political commissar, leading the troops to participate in the battle to defend Yan'an and battles such as Qinghuabian, Yangmaha, and Panlong. From February 1949 onwards, he successively held positions such as the commander and political commissar of the second army of the Field Army, the commander and political commissar of the Field Army Corps, leading the troops to participate in battles such as Shanzhong, Fucheng, and the liberation of Xining. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he led the troops to advance into Xinjiang, serving as the secretary of the Central Xinjiang Bureau, the acting commander of the military region, and the political commissar, implementing the Party's ethnic policies, strengthening ethnic unity, and leading the settlement and defense, making important contributions to the development of the frontier and the consolidation of the frontier defense. From February 1954 onwards, he successively held positions such as the commander and political commissar of the Railway Troops, the deputy chief of staff, and a member of the National Defense Committee. In 1955, he was awarded the rank of General. During the Cultural Revolution, he fought resolutely against Lin Biao and Jiang Qing's counter-revolutionary group. From 1977 onwards, he successively held positions such as member of the Central Military Commission and standing member of the Central Military Commission. In 1988, he was elected as the vice president of the People's Republic of China. Comrade Wang Zhen is an outstanding proletarian revolutionary, statesman, and military figure. In the war years, he was a renowned general with remarkable achievements, and in the period of peaceful construction, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to the country's prosperity. This book is a comprehensive biography that reflects the life of Comrade Wang Zhen. It is divided into two volumes, recording his great contributions to the socialist construction and development of China during the war years and the period of peaceful construction. The book also includes a large number of historical photographs of Comrade Wang Zhen. The content is comprehensive, rich in illustrations, and well-documented, vividly portraying the brilliant life of Comrade Wang Zhen in battle, making it highly educational and historically significant.