Sun Dianying

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Sun Diangying (Traditional Chinese: 孫殿英; Simplified Chinese: 孙殿英; pinyin: Sun Dianying; Wade-Giles: Sun Tienying) (1887 - 1946) was one of the minor warlords during the Warlord Era.

Born in 1889 in Yongcheng, Henan, Sun was originally a bandit in the area of Henan Anhui. He gradually extended his influence and power through years. In 1925 Sun joined the National Revolutionary Army. In 1928, he plotted the notorious looting of the Eastern Mausoleum of the Manchu emperors. Latter with Feng Yuxiang and Yan Xishan, Sun participated in various anti-Chiang Kai-shek movements.

In 1932-33, when the Japanese forces of the IJA 4th Cavalry and 6th Division in Operation Nekka invaded Jehol/Rehe he commanded forces in opposition in the Battle of Rehe. This slightly rehabilitated his reputation, but he also seized the chance to expand his strength.

In 1933, with Feng Yuxiang in Chahar province he advocated opposition to Japan and Chiang Kai-shek's Central government. The national government feared Sun Dianying would cooperate with Feng's Anti-Japanese Allied Army, but Sun was also not willing to be involved in a conflict, and hoped to involved in northwest development, therefore Chiang sent his army to garrison and open up wasteland in Qinghai. Chiang intended the allied northwest Ma Sultanates would have the strength to cope with Sun Dianying and be weakened themselves. Additionally Chiang sent to the northwest Zhu Shaoliang as Gansu Pacification Director, who for his own benefit, secretly instructed the three Ma Sultanates to block and prevent Sun from entering his new post.

In January 1934, in Sun Dianying's 60,000 man army, marching west from Suiyuan province wanted to enter Ningxia, governed by Ma Hongbin. Supported by his fellow Ma Clan rulers Ma Hongkui in Gansu, and Ma Bufang with his younger brother Ma Buqing in Qinghai, Ma Hungpin refused and with the united Ma forces began the Four Ma Jusun Campaign. Both sides battled for three months, with heavy loss to both sides. At last in March Yan Xishan dispatched troops into the battle cutting Sun's avenue of retreat, while Chiang Kai-Shek seized the chance to publicly abolish Sun's various duties. Sun Dianying was compelled to retreat back to Baotou in the beginning of April, and latter went to Taiyuan to live in seclusion, the remnants of his defeated troops were incorporated by Yan Xishan in his forces.

In 1937, when the Second Sino-Japanese War erupted, he resurfaced once again commanding troops against the Japanese, taking command of the Hebei-Chahar Guerillas in 1938. In 1943 he became the General commanding 5th Army. However he surrendered to the Japanese soon after and was given command of 24th Group Army, a unit of Nanjing puppet troops. In August 1943 his command was defeated by PLA forces in the Linnan Campaign.

When the Second Sino-Japanese War was over, Sun participated in the Chinese Civil War on Nationalist's side. In 1947, he was defeated by People's Liberation Army and was taken prisoner. He died in a POW camp.