Zhou Yuan

Zhou Yuan

Zhou Yuan (1894.12-1938.5.9) was born in Mingjiang, Guangxi, Zhuang nationality. In his early years, he joined the army, participated in the northern expedition, and successively served as platoon commander, company commander, battalion commander, regimental commander, etc. In 1934, he served as deputy division commander and studied in the fourth branch of the Central Army Academy of officers. After the outbreak of the Anti Japanese war in 1937, he served as the deputy division commander of the 173 division of the 48th army of the National Revolutionary Army, led the army to participate in the battle of Songhu, and was seriously injured when Chen Jiaxing was commanding the battle. In May 1938, he took part in the battle of Xuzhou and personally led the officers and soldiers to defend Mengcheng, Anhui Province, preventing the Japanese army from advancing westward. On May 7, more than 3000 Japanese troops besieged Mengcheng. The headquarters of Zhouyuan fought fiercely with the enemy and annihilated the Japanese troops entering the city. On May 9, the Japanese army gathered heavy troops to attack the city again. In the fierce battle, Zhou Yuan was wounded in many places, still led his troops to fight, and finally died. After the founding of the people's Republic of China, they were regarded as martyrs.

Life of the characters

Zhou Yuan, a native of Mingjiang, Guangxi, was born into a poor peasant family in 1894. He released cattle when he was young. In 1917, he followed Sun Yat Sen and took part in the law protection movement.

He followed Li Zongren in 1920 and joined the National Revolutionary Army in 1924 to participate in the northern expedition.

In 1930, he was the head of the Longzhou education group.

In 1934, he joined the fifth senior class of Huangpu Military Academy Nanning Branch. After graduation, he served as the deputy division commander of the 173rd division of the 48th army of the 21st group army of the National Revolutionary Army (commander-in-chief Huang Lei) and was awarded the rank of major general.

Main story

After the Lugouqiao Incident broke out in 1937, Zhou Yuan led his troops to take part in the Songhu Anti Japanese war. On October 17, when Chen Jiaxing was commanding the battle in Shanghai, he fought bravely. Although he was seriously injured, he still insisted on commanding the battle. His loyalty, bravery and patriotism were praised by the higher authorities, and he was promoted to the rank of deputy division commander and brigade commander of 517 brigade. After the defeat of Songhu battle, the 21st group was ordered to garrison in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province.

At the beginning of May 1938, after being defeated in Taierzhuang, the Japanese army mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops to besiege Xuzhou in an attempt to annihilate Li Zongren's troops in the fifth war zone. In order to avoid repeating the mistakes in the Beijing Shanghai battlefield, Li Zongren decided to give up Xuzhou and move to southern Henan and Western Anhui, and ordered Yang Junchang, commander of the 171st division of the 7th army of the 21st group army stationed in the middle and upper reaches of the Huaihe River, to lead a regiment to guard Suxian to stop the Japanese troops going north along the Jinpu line, and Zhou Yuan, deputy commander of the 173rd division of the 48th army, to lead a regiment to guard Mengcheng to stop the enemies advancing along the mengbeng road and the Wohe River to protect the city The main force retreated. Zhou Yuan led the troops to garrison in fangmengcheng on May 6 to arrange defense. At this time, Mengcheng County changgekunshan retreated to Wangting and gaohuang.

At this time, more than 3000 Japanese troops forced into the county town. After three days and nights of fierce fighting, the county town fell on May 9 without any help from the isolated army. Zhou Yuan led 2400 officers and soldiers to fight bravely, and most of them died for the country. When Zhou Yuan broke through to chengdongnan airport, he died for his country in a fierce battle with the Japanese army. The Japanese army also suffered more than 1000 casualties.

In memory of the general, the people of Mengcheng built a high mausoleum on the east side of Zhuangzi temple outside the east gate, and erected a monument to commemorate the sacrifice of officers and soldiers. At the same time, Chengguan town was changed into Zhouyuan Town, and Leyu primary school was changed into Zhouyuan primary school.

In the autumn of 1938, in the south of Guilin City, the second hometown of Zhou Yuan, Guangxi, there was also a memorial tower of Zhou Yuan, vice commander of the 73rd division of the former army general, which was 5 meters high and triangular in shape. On both sides of the tower were engraved with the words "Chengren Suiyi" written by Li Zongren, commander of the 5th war zone, and the words "tongshigancheng" written by Bai Chongxi, deputy chief of staff of the Military Commission of the national government inscription.

After the death of general Zhou Yuan, he was buried in the cemetery of Ningming martyrs. On May 21, 1985, the Ministry of civil affairs of the State Council recognized Zhou Yuan as a revolutionary martyr.