After the July 7 Incident, the Kuomintang and the Communists cooperated for the second time, and at that time the Red Army was reorganized into the Eighth Route Army, which had three main divisions under its jurisdiction: the 115th Division, the 120th Division, and the 129th Division, but few people knew that at that time, there were five columns at the same level as the three main divisions, and who were the column commanders?
The First Column of the Eighth Route Army
In July 1938, the first column of the Eighth Route Army was established in the Shandong region, which was mainly responsible for commanding the Eighth Route Army in Shandong, Northern Jiangsu and other areas north of the Yellow River. It has the headquarters of the 115th Division, the .343 Brigade and the Teaching Brigade.
Commander: Xu Xiangqian, Political Commissar: Zhu Rui (died in 48 years).
In May 1940, the number of the first column was cancelled, commanded by the Shandong Military Region, Zhu Rui had not sacrificed that year, the ironclad must be the marshal, because Grandpa Mao said that the artillery marshal of the new China had died, and Zhu Rui had always been Luo Ronghuan's superior.
The Second Column of the Eighth Route Army
On February 6, 1940, in order to unify the operational command of the anti-Japanese armed forces in the southern area of the Taihang Mountains, the Second Column of the Eighth Route Army was established.
Commander: Zuo Quan, Political Commissar: Huang Kecheng, Deputy Commander: Yang Dezhi
It administers the 344th Brigade of the 115th Division, the 3rd Column of the Shanxi Youth Anti-Enemy Death Squad, the Newly Organized 1st Brigade, the 1st Brigade of the Hebei Nationalist Army, and the Independent Guerrilla Detachment.
In July 1941, the second column was reorganized again, with Yang Dezhi as commander and political commissar Su Zhenhua.
In June 1942, the second column was abolished.
The Third Column of the Eighth Route Army
In April 1938, the Jizhong People's Self-Defense Army and the Hebei Guerrilla Army were merged into the Third Column of the Eighth Route Army.
Commander: Lü Zhengcao, Deputy Commander: Meng Qingshan
Under the jurisdiction of the Jizhong People's Self-Defense Army (the 691st Regiment of the 388th Brigade of the 53rd Army of the Nationalist Army) and the Hebei Guerrilla Army (led by Meng Qingshan), it grew to more than 60,000 people in 21 regiments in September 1938 and participated in the Battle of the Hundred Regiments.
On August 24, 1943, the third number was revoked.
The Fourth Column of the Eighth Route Army
In May 1938, the 4th Column was established, under the jurisdiction of the Song Shilun Detachment of the 120th Division and the Deng Hua Detachment. A total of more than 5,000 people.
Commander: Song Shilun, Political Commissar Deng Hua
In February 1939, based on the 4th Column, the Jirecha Advance Army was established.
Commander Xiao Ke, Chief of Staff Cheng Shicai. The fourth column was abolished.
In August 1939, the 344th Brigade (owed to the 687th Regiment) and the Sixth Detachment were merged into the Fourth Column of the New Eighth Route Army.
Commander and political commissar Peng Xuefeng.
After the Anhui Incident, the Fourth Column was reorganized into the 4th Division of the New Fourth Army, with division commander Peng Xuefeng and chief of staff Zhang Zhen.
The Fifth Column of the Eighth Route Army
In May 1940, the Fifth Column of the Eighth Route Army was established.
Commander and Political Commissar Huang Kecheng.
It has jurisdiction over the New Second Brigade, the 687th Regiment of the 344th Brigade, the Suyulu Detachment in Northeast Anhui, the Fourth General Brigade, and the LonghaiNanjin Detachment.
After the Anhui Incident, it was reorganized into the Third Division of the New Fourth Army, with division commander Huang Kecheng and deputy division commander Zhang Aiping.