In the vast history of the Chinese revolution, the 34th Red Division has created a legend with its indomitable fighting spirit and profound sacrifices. This unit was formed in western Fujian, experienced countless battlefields filled with gunpowder, and was finally almost completely wiped out in the bloody battle of the Xiangjiang River. Chen Shuxiang, commander of the 34th Red Division, Cheng Cuilin, political commissar, and many other brave soldiers, what were their fates and stories? What role did they play in the cruel war? And how did those surviving generals spend the rest of their lives? These questions are all hidden in the thick dust of history, waiting for us to explore. So, what is the fate of the members of this heroic Red 34th Division?
The formation of the Red 34th Division and the first battle
In the mountains and mountains of western Fujian, the Red 34th Division, a new force, was quietly born in the spring of 1933. It was originally under the jurisdiction of the 12th Army of the Red 1st Army, and with the development of the revolutionary situation and the expansion of combat strength, the Red 34th Division gradually became an important part of the Red 5th Army Corps, shouldering the heavy task of defending the Soviet area and resisting the enemy.
Most of the soldiers of the 34th Red Division came from poor backgrounds, and they resolutely threw themselves into this great struggle under the call of the revolution. Some of the officers and men in the division were veterans of the Northern Expedition, peasants who had just risen from the land, and intellectuals who had a vision for a new world. Although they come from different backgrounds, they are united by a common behesitation.
At the beginning of its formation, the Red 34th Division began intense training. They weaved through the mountains and forests, climbed steep mountains, and trudged through endless jungles to improve the mobility and combat effectiveness of their troops. In the process, the soldiers of the 34th Red Division learned how to survive and fight under extreme conditions, and their will and physical strength were greatly tempered.
The tactical training of the Red 34th Division was no less rigorous. They had to master not only basic infantry tactics, but also how to conduct guerrilla warfare in the mountains and jungles. These trainings are often conducted after nightfall to simulate the complex environment of actual combat. In simulated battles again and again, the soldiers of the Red 34th Division gradually grew into an elite unit that can quickly respond to various battlefield changes.
In the first battle of the Red 34th Division, they showed extraordinary courage and tenacious will to fight. In the confrontation with the enemy, the soldiers of the 34th Red Division were not afraid of a strong enemy and dared to fight head-on, and they proved the heroism of the Red Army soldiers with their actions. In these battles, the Red 34th Division not only tempered itself, but also won the respect of both friends and foes.
However, the battle of the Red 34th Division was not all smooth sailing. In numerous engagements with the Kuomintang army, they also suffered heavy losses. After every battle, there were fighters who fell in pools of blood, but this did not break the will of the Red 34th Division. On the contrary, these sacrifices have strengthened their conviction that they are well aware of their historical mission, and even death cannot stop them from moving forward.
In the course of the Red 34th Division's fighting, there is another aspect that cannot be ignored, that is, logistical support and material supply. Due to the extremely limited resources of the Soviet area at that time, the supply of the Red 34th Division often faced difficulties. The shortage of ammunition, food, medicine and other materials made the battle of the Red 34th Division even more difficult. But even so, the soldiers of the Red 34th Division were still able to persist in fighting under extreme conditions, and they used extremely limited resources to create miracles of fighting again and again.
The formation and initial battle of the 34th Red Division is a microcosm of the history of the Chinese revolution. In that turbulent era, the soldiers of the Red 34th Division laid a solid foundation for the victory of the revolution with their blood and lives. Their stories will forever be engraved on the monuments of history.
Strategic deployment before the bloody battle of Xiangjiang
As the pace of 1934 drew closer, the situation faced by the Red 34th Division became increasingly severe. The encirclement and suppression of the Kuomintang army continued to intensify, and the living space of the Red Army was gradually compressed. In this context, the strategic deployment of the 34th Red Division is particularly crucial, not only to prepare for the upcoming bloody battle on the Xiangjiang River, but also to ensure that the strategic intentions of the Central Red Army can be effectively implemented.
The movements of the Red 34th Division before the Battle of Xiangjiang were frequent and intense. As part of the Red 5 Corps, the Red 34 Division was entrusted with the important task of covering the transfer of the main forces. At this stage, the movement route of the Red 34th Division was frequently changed in order to avoid enemy reconnaissance and attacks. They often marched at night and took cover during the day, taking advantage of the terrain and night to cover their whereabouts.
In terms of strategic deployment, the commanders of the 34th Red Division displayed extremely high military wisdom and keen insight into the battlefield situation. Division Commander Chen Shuxiang and Political Commissar Cheng Cuilin paid close attention to the dynamics of both sides and constantly adjusted their tactics to adapt to the complex and ever-changing battlefield environment. They knew very well that once besieged by the enemy, the survival of the entire division would face a severe test.
In order to enhance the combat effectiveness of the Red 34th Division, the division headquarters also placed special emphasis on coordinated operations with other Red Army units. In many battles, the Red 34th Division worked closely with the Red 9th Army Corps and other fraternal units to resist the offensive of the Kuomintang Army. This synergy is not only reflected in the tactical level, but also in the mutual assistance of intelligence sharing and logistical support.
In the last months before the war, the officers and men of the Red 34th Division carried out a series of intense combat preparations. In addition to regular military training, they also underwent a comprehensive overhaul of their equipment to ensure maximum effectiveness in combat. At the same time, the division also organized a number of tactical discussions, so that each fighter could clearly understand the upcoming combat mission and the various situations that might be encountered.
In addition, the Red 34th Division paid special attention to the issue of logistics support during the battle. Due to the shortage of supplies, the division headquarters set up a special logistics group to collect and distribute all kinds of materials needed for the battle. This group is not only responsible for ensuring the supply of front-line fighters, but also for the treatment and transfer of the wounded, ensuring that the combat effectiveness within the division is maintained to the greatest extent.
In the strategic deployment before the bloody battle on the Xiangjiang River, the officers and men of the 34th Red Division showed extremely high organizational discipline and boundless loyalty to the revolutionary cause. They know that the road ahead is full of difficulties and challenges, but they are willing to pay everything, including their lives, for the victory of the revolution and for the sake of thousands of oppressed people. After all this was ready, the Red 34th Division greeted the arrival of the bloody battle of Xiangjiang with full will to fight.
Heroism and sacrifice in the bloody battle of the Xiangjiang River
In the cold wind of 1934, the Red 34th Division faced unprecedented challenges. The bloody battle of the Xiangjiang River, a major turning point in history, was not only a severe test of the Red Army's strategy, but also a test of the will and courage of every Red Army soldier. The Red 34th Division showed extraordinary bravery and great sacrifice in this battle, and their actions and choices have become an indelible memory in the history of the Chinese revolution.
The background of the Battle of Xiangjiang was that the Central Red Army, in order to break through the encirclement of the Kuomintang army, decided to go north and carry out the Long March. The Red 34th Division, as part of the Red 5 Corps, was given the task of covering the breakthrough of the main forces. In this battle, the Red 34th Division had to not only face the enemy's powerful firepower, but also have to overcome the harsh natural environment and the extreme lack of supplies.
At the beginning of the battle, the Red 34th Division, under the command of division commander Chen Shuxiang, quickly entered a combat state. They encountered a fierce attack by the Kuomintang army in the Fengshujiao area on the banks of the Xiangjiang River. In the face of heavy machine gun and artillery fire from the enemy, the fighters of the Red 34th Division showed amazing courage and unwavering fighting spirit. They took advantage of the terrain to build a defensive line and put up stubborn resistance to ensure the safe retreat of the main forces.
In this bloody battle, the commanders of the Red 34th Division also showed extraordinary military talent and a high sense of responsibility. Division commander Chen Shuxiang took the lead in the battle, and personally led the assault team to charge and destroy the enemy's positions many times. However, it was during such a charge that Chen Shuxiang was unfortunately wounded and captured. According to later records, after Chen Shuxiang was captured, in order not to divulge the whereabouts and information of the Red Army, he died heroically and became a martyr of the revolution.
Political commissar Cheng Cuilin also showed extremely high political consciousness and strong leadership in this battle. After Chen Shuxiang was captured, Cheng Cuilin took over the command and continued to organize the battle, doing his best to cover the retreat of the main force and the wounded. When organizing soldiers to break through, Cheng Cuilin was unfortunately shot and died, and his sacrifice greatly inspired the fighters of the Red 34th Division to fight.
In addition to the division commander and political commissar, many ordinary soldiers and junior commanders of the Red 34th Division also showed incredible bravery in this battle. They persisted in fighting under the extreme conditions of lack of ammunition and food, and built an impregnable line of defense for the revolutionary cause with their lives. Many warriors died heroically in battle, and although their names and deeds are not widely remembered by the world, their spirits live on.
Although the bloody battle of Xiangjiang brought huge losses to the Red 34th Division, through this battle, the Red 34th Division demonstrated the revolutionary spirit of the Red Army soldiers who were not afraid of strong enemies and sacrifices. Their bravery and sacrifice won precious time for the Central Red Army to successfully break through and laid a solid foundation for the final victory of the Chinese revolution.
The legacy of the Red 34th Division after the war and the fate of the survivors
After the bloody battle of the Xiangjiang River, the Red 34th Division almost existed in name only, and many brave soldiers lay forever on the land that had been baptized by the flames of war. However, despite the huge losses suffered by the Red 34th Division, its spirit and sacrifice were deeply imprinted in the history of the Chinese revolution. The surviving generals and soldiers will continue to be influenced by this period of history in the second half of their lives, and their fates are different, but each of them will continue to contribute to the construction and development of New China in their own way.
After the disbandment of the Red 34th Division, the surviving officers and soldiers were reintegrated into other Red Army units. Some of them continued to demonstrate outstanding military talent and firm revolutionary will during the Long March, and became the backbone of the new Red Army units. Some of these survivors became high-ranking generals during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation, while others held important political and military positions during the peace-building period.
For example, Han Wei, a regiment commander of the former Red 34th Division, was incorporated into the Eighth Route Army after the war, and his military talents were further developed. Han Wei performed well in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and later made many miraculous achievements in the War of Liberation. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Han Wei was awarded the rank of lieutenant general, held important military region positions, and made important contributions to national defense and military modernization.
Another survivor, Fan Shiying, was a political cadre of the 34th Red Division, who moved to the north and south in the post-war years and participated in many important battles. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Fan Shiying turned to the political field and held many important positions, contributing his wisdom and strength to socialist construction.
The legacy of the Red 34th Division is not only reflected in the personal achievements of these survivors, but also has a profound impact on the later construction of the Red Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army. The fighting spirit and sacrificial spirit of the 34th Red Division were inherited by later Red Army units and became a spiritual force that inspired countless fighters. The tactics and tactics of the 34th Red Division were also summarized and refined, and became an important part of the tactics textbooks of the Red Army and even later the People's Liberation Army.
In addition, the history and sacrifice of the Red 34th Division have also been widely recorded and disseminated, and have become a valuable spiritual wealth to inspire future generations. Countless books, film and television works and commemorative facilities are all in different forms and levels, telling people the story of the Red 34th Division and inheriting the history of blood and fire.
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Although the story of the Red 34th Division is full of suffering and sacrifice, the heroism and tenacity they show, as well as the later efforts and achievements of those survivors, together weave a magnificent historical picture. The spirit and stories of these witnesses of history, whether they are deceased heroes or surviving veterans, will always inspire the Chinese people to stay true to their original aspirations and continue to move forward.