Han Xianchu

Han Xianchu (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.

Han was born in a farming village in Huang'an County (黄安), modern day Hong'an County (红安), Hubei Province in February, 1913 (Hong An is known for being the hometown of many Military Generals).

He stopped schooling and joined the People's Liberation Army when he was 17 and fought his way through countless battles and military campaigns.

Han's early military background and tough childhood offered him a revolutionary mindset and a brave character.

He had a nickname of "Tornado Commander", indicating his ever-changing tactics in the battlefield and the quick moves like the storm.

He was also known as the "Best Field Commander" of PLA.

Following Kuomintang's (Chinese Nationalist Party) purge of Communists in April 1927, peasant revolts broke out throughout China in the Chinese 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.

In 1931, Han led a squad and operated guerrilla warfare in Hubei.

Han showed bravery and perseverance 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 Kuomintang.

Han was assigned the 344th Brigade's 688th Regiment's Deputy Colonel.

After the campaign in October 1935, Han was promoted to Colonel of the 78th Division, 223rd Regiment for efforts in the campaign.

He was only 22 years old.

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).

The Nationalist 87th Division took the bait, and was attacked from 3 sides by Red 15th Corps led by Han and several other corps on November 21, 1936.

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.

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.

After the campaign in early 1937, Han went to the military academy in Yan'an to learn strategies against the Japanese Imperial Army.

In September 1937, Japanese 5th Division, under the command of Itagaki Seishiro, was advancing through Pingxingguan (平型关).

In 1955 he was among the first group of military leaders to be awarded the Shang Jiang (Senior General) rank.

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, Marshall of the Army at the time, 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.

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.

Han performed outstandingly against the pursuers 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 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.

During the campaign, Han's 15th Corps was assigned to lure the Nationalist's 87th Division to the Shanchengbao area.

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.