In September 1955, in recognition of those generals who had made important contributions to the victory of the Chinese revolution and the founding of New China, our army held the first major award in history. The title was awarded on the basis of seniority, position and military merit. According to this standard, the generals of the military rank at that time were basically major generals, and some were also awarded lieutenant generals and admirals. But there are 5 generals of the military rank who are only awarded the rank of colonel, who are they? Why was it under-awarded?
Commander of the 16th Army, Yin Xianbing. Born in 1915 in Hanchuan, Hubei Province, Yin Xianbing joined the Red Army at the age of 15, serving as regimental chief of staff and participating in the Long March. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Yin Xianbing successively served as the brigade commander of the newly organized 11th Brigade of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army (the deputy brigade commander was Qin Jiwei) and the commander of the Huxi Subdistrict of the Jiluyu Military Region. During the Liberation War, his highest position was commander of the 16th Army of the 5th Corps of The Second Field. In December 1952, Yin Xianbing led the 16th Army into the Korean War. On the Korean battlefield, he made serious mistakes in his personal life style, which caused a very bad impact, so he was awarded the rank of colonel in 1955.
Zhang Lixiong, political commissar of the 13th Army. Zhang Lixiong, a native of Shanghang, Fujian Province, was born in 1913 and joined the revolution at the age of 16. During the Red Army period, he served as the political commissar of the regiment and participated in the Long March; the highest position during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was the director of the political department of the 7th Military Subdistrict of the Taihang Military Region, and the commander of the 7th Military Subdistrict at that time was Pi Dingjun; during the Liberation War, Zhang Lixiong's highest position was the political commissar of the 13th Army. When he was awarded the rank in 1955, Zhang Lixiong's qualifications and positions were enough to award major generals, but he had served as a political work cadre for a long time, and his military achievements were slightly insufficient, so he was awarded the rank of colonel, promoted to major general in 1961, and is still alive at the age of 108 this year.
General Zhang Lixiong
Liu Xuan, political commissar of the 60th Army. Liu Xuan, a native of Zouping, Shandong, was born in 1918 and joined the revolution at the age of 18. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, liu Xuan followed the 12th Army into korea and participated in the war, serving as the political commissar of the 31st Division, the 31st Division, the Autumn Counterattack, and the Battle of Shangganling, and was promoted to political commissar of the 60th Army in March 1955. When he was ranked in 1952, Liu Xuan was made a cadre at the level of a full division, and his junior seniority during the Red Army period was relatively shallow, so he was awarded the rank of colonel in 1955 and promoted to major general in 1961.
Liang Jinhua, commander of the 24th Army. Liang Jinhua, a native of Xiangyin, Hunan, was born in 1913 and joined the Red Army at the age of 18 as a battalion commander of a special service battalion. After the Long March, the main force of the Red Army, he and Chen Yi stayed in the south together and fought a three-year arduous guerrilla war. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Liang Jinhua entered the New Fourth Army, and the highest position was the detachment leader of the southern Anhui Detachment; during the Liberation War, his highest position was deputy commander of the 24th Army. After the outbreak of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, Liang Jinhua followed the troops into the Korean War and was soon promoted to the commander of the 24th Army of the Volunteer Army. The 24th Army fought very well on the Korean battlefield, killing, wounding, and capturing more than 16,000 enemy prisoners. Liang Jinhua had some excesses in dealing with prisoners of war, which had a bad impact at the time, so he was awarded the rank of colonel in 1955 and promoted to major general in 1961.
Xiao Feng, acting commander of the 28th Army. Xiao Feng, a native of Taihe, Jiangxi, was born in 1916, joined the revolution at the age of 11, joined the Red Army at the age of 12, served as the political commissar of the Third Regiment of the First Division of the Red First Army, and participated in the Long March with the troops. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, his highest position was deputy chief of staff of the First Military Subdistrict of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region; during the Liberation War, his highest position was acting commander of the 28th Army. According to Xiao Feng's seniority and position, he should have been awarded the rank of major general in 1955. However, the defeat at the Battle of Kinmen affected his rank, and he was eventually awarded the rank of colonel, and in 1961 he was promoted to major general.