Han Xianchu
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- This is a Chinese name; the family name is 韩 (Han).
Han Xianchu (韩先楚) (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).
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[edit] Early Life
Han was born in a poor farming village in Huang'an County (黄安), modern day Hong'an County (红安), Hubei province in February, 1913. He stopped schooling because he wasn't able to pay tuition, and since, held jobs to support his family. Han's background and poor childhood gave him a revolutionary mindset, which would propel him to join the Chinese Communist Party.
[edit] Early Involvements with the Chinese Communist Party
[edit] Joining the party
Following Kuomingtang's purge of Communists 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.
[edit] Soaring through the ranks
In 1931, Han led a squad and operated guerrilla warfare in Hubei. Han showed bravery and perserverance 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 Kuomingtang. Han performed outstandingly against the persuers 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.
[edit] 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 Zedong'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, 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.
[edit] Shanchengbao Campaign (山城堡战役)
Not only did Chiang Kai-shek 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 and several other corps on November 21. 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.
[edit] Second Sino-Japanese War
Following the full scale war 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.
[edit] Battle of Pingxingguan
- For more information on the battle itself, see: Battle of Pingxingguan
In September 1937, Japanese 5th Division, under the command of Itagaki Seishiro, 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.
[edit] Hainan Campaign
[edit] Korean War
[edit] Post-war
[edit] See also
- List of officers of the People's Liberation Army
- National Revolutionary Army
- Ranks of the People's Liberation Army
- People's Liberation Army
- Chinese Civil War
- Sino-Japanese War
- Korean War
[edit] References
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Zhang Zongxun (张宗逊) | Song Renqiong (宋任穷) | Zhao Erlu (赵尔陆) | Xiao Ke (萧克) | Wang Zhen (王震) | Zhou Chunquan (周纯全) | Xu Shiyou (许世友) | Liu Yalou (刘亚楼) | Deng Hua (邓华) | Chen Zaidao (陈再道) | Yang Dezhi (杨得志) | Peng Zhaohui (彭绍辉) | Wang Hongshen (王宏坤) | Li Kenong (李克农) | Chen Bojun (陈伯钧) | Li Jukui (李聚奎) | Li Da (李达) | Yang Chengwu (杨成武) | Li Tao (李涛) | Xiao Hua (萧华) | Gan Siqi (甘泗淇) | Lai Chuanzhu (赖传珠) | Chen Qihan (陈奇涵) | Song Shilun (宋时轮) | Su Zhenhua (苏振华) | Chen Xilian (陈锡联) | Chen Shiqu (陈士榘) | Wang Xinting (王新亭) | Xie Fuzhi (谢富治) | Ye Fei (叶飞) | Huang Yongsheng (黄永胜) | Zhu Liangcai (朱良才) | Yang Yong (杨勇) | Zhang Aiping (张爱萍) | Fu Qiutao (傅秋涛) | Han Xianchu (韩先楚) | Tang Liang (唐亮) | Hong Xuezhi (洪学智) | Li Zhimin (李志民) | Zhou Huan (周桓) | Li Tianyou (李天佑) | Liu Zhen (刘震) | Yang Zhicheng (杨至成) | Wang Ping (王平) | Zhong Qiguang (钟期光) | Guo Tianmin (郭天民) | Wei Guoqing (韦国清) | He Bingyan (贺炳炎) | Lü Zhengcao (吕正操) | Ulanhu (乌兰夫) | Bo Zhong (傅钟) | Zhou Shidi (周士第) | Tao Zhiyue 陶峙岳) | Dong Qiwu (董其武) | Chen Mingren (陈明仁) | Yan Hongyan (阎红彦) | Wang Jianan (王建安) |
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