Liao Yaoxiang
Encyclopedia
Liao Yiaoxiang was a high-ranking nationalist commander who successful fought against both the Imperial Japanese Army
and Chinese Communist forces. He was one of the few nationalist commanders who graduated from a western military academy besides General Sun Liren. After the end of Second Sino-Japanese War
in China, he served as a field commander in Manchuria until his capture by Marshal Lin Biao
's Manchurian Field Army in the Liaoshen Campaign
. http://www.mnd.gov.tw/English/ General Liao was held for 12 years as a prisoner of war until 1961 and died seven years later during the Cultural Revolution
.
, wife of Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong
. In 1926, He applied to enter the Whampoa Military Academy
and graduated with top remarks. Some of his famous classmates included Chen Cheng
, Xue Yue
, Fan Hanjie
, Dai Li
, Hu Zongnan
, Qiu Qingquan
, Du Yuming
, Zhang Lingfu
, Hu Lian
, Liu Yujian
, Huang Wei
, Li Mi
, Wang Yaowu
and Lin Biao
. In 1930 he was chosen by Generalissimo
Chiang Kai Shek as an exchange student to France
. In 1936 he graduated from the famed École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr
with best grades in the class. He returned home in the same year and with promoted as company commander of the Cavalry unit of the Whampoa Military Academy
with the rank of major.
broke out, Liao was promoted as chief of staff of the 2nd reserve brigade with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He saw action in the Battle of Shanghai
and Battle of Nanjing
. During the bloody street fighting in Nanjing, Liao became stranded in the city along with his classmates Sun Yuanliang
, Wang Yaowu
and Qiu Qingquan
; he escaped the Nanjing Massacre disguised as a Buddhist monk. After the Battle of Wuhan
, he was promoted to colonel and commander of officer training corps. He wrote a letter to President Chiang Kai Shek, suggesting making drastic changes in the National Revolutionary Army
and build a modern armored unit. Chiang was very pleased with this advice and had a very favorable impression on Liao. In 1938, Chiang promoted Liao as a major general and chief of staff of the 200th Division (National Revolutionary Army)
. Liao's division commander was Du Yuming
. In September 1938, the 200th division was expanded as the 5th corps; the only motorized unit in the Chinese nationalist army. Liao was again placed in charge of command of reserve officer corps and served as assistant division commander of the new 22nd division. Because his superior officer General Qiu Qingquan
was away on a mission, he also served as acting division commander. In September 1939, the new 22nd division was sent to Guangxi
to fight against Japanese 5th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
and scored an important field victory, Japanese commander Major General Masao Nakamura
was killed in action along with 8,000 men in the Battle of Kunlun Pass
. Afterward his unit was transferred to Yunnan
and guarding supplies that came from the Burma Road
. After the Japanese navy bombed Pearl Harbor
, Japanese conquest of Burma began on January 1942, the Fifteenth Army (Japan)
under General Shōjirō Iida
invaded British Crown colony of Burma. The British government sent for help to Chongqing
, Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek organized the Chinese Expeditionary Force (in Burma) under Chief of Staff General Joseph Stillwell, Lieutenant General Du Yuming
, deputy commander of the Chinese Expeditionary Force (in Burma) and General Sun Liren, commander of the new 38th division to rescue the British forces and prevent Japanese capture of Burma and their aim to severing the Burma Road. Although the Chinese commanders were able to score some victories in Battle of Yenangyaung
and Battle of Toungoo
, because the British forces failed to stop the Japanese advance on the battlefield, the Chinese forces were forced to retreat from Burma. When the 18th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
cut off their retreat route, the New 22nd Division was forced to go through the Kachin Hills
and many veterans died of disease, starvation and animal attacks and finally made it back to Ledo, Assam. While in India, the New 22nd Division and New 38th Division formed the Chinese Army in India, General Joseph Stillwell made sure these Chinese units received latest American weaponry and training. In 1943, the Chinese forces attacked the Burma Area Army under General Heitarō Kimura. General Liao won some major victories and his unit was expand into the New 6th Army
in 1944. In April 1945 General Liao's New 6th Army
flew home for the first time in 3 years and decisively defeated the Japanese forces in the Battle of West Hunan
, the deputy leader of the National War Council General He Yingqin
decorated him with the Order of Blue Sky and White Sun
, the highest honor a Chinese commander can achieve.
and General Sun Liren's New 1st Army
spearheaded nationalist advance into the Region. In order to dislodge communist-held cities in Manchuria, Chiang Kai Shek named General Du Yuming
as commander-in-chief of Manchuria, Defense Minister General Bai Chongxi
as Chief of Staff of the Manchurian Security Command. Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong
picked Marshal Lin Biao
in the Campaign to Defend Siping
. General Liao Yaoxiang succeeded in capture communist strongholds outside of Siping
and forced Communist commanders to abandon the city. The nationalist commanders started to capture most of the cities and towns south of the Songhua River
, But President Chiang Kai Shek issued an order to forbid them to cross the river because the Marshall Mission
was taken place in China proper. When President Chiang Kai Shek replaced Du Yuming
with General Chen Cheng
, the situation grew from bad to worse, because the success of the land reform movement in the region and the defection of the Manchukuo Imperial Army
to PLA
, Communist strength grew over to 1 million men. In 1947, President Chiang Kai Shek appointed General Liao as commander-in-chief of the 9th Army Group, his unit included: The New 1st Army
, New 3rd Army, New 6th Army
, the 49th Army, 52nd Army, 71st Army, the independent enhanced 207th division and three cavalry brigades. In September 1948, the Communist Manchurian Field Army under Marshal Lin Biao
launched the Liaoshen Campaign
. General Liao suggested to Nationalist High Command the 9th Army Group must retreat to Yingkou
, a nationalist-held seaport and leave Manchuria via sea. But instead President Chiang Kai Shek ordered him to rescue General Fan Hanjie
's besieged forces in Jinzhou
. But before General Liao could relieve Jinzhou
the city has fallen and Changchun
, another nationalist stronghold in Manchuria has changed hands as well. Finally General Du Yuming
persuaded Chiang Kai Shek to allow the 9th Army Group to retreat to North China, but they were unable to break through the PLA defensive line around Heshan
(黑山) and Dahushan (大虎山), and lost a considerable amount of time. During a surprise night raid, one communist unit destroyed General Liao's Army Group Headquarters, as a result his entire command structure was disrupted. Between October 20 to October 28, the PLA forces under General Han Xianchu
attacked at Liaoxi (辽西战役) in the area east of Heshan and Dahushan, and west of Raoyanghe(饶阳河). They destroyed twelve Nationalist divisions, including the elite New 1st Army
, New 6th Army
of 110,000 men, and captured Liao Yaoxiang. Only General Liu Yuzhang's 52nd Army was able to retreat to Shanghai
.
until his pardon in 1961. He was appointed as a commissioner in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
in charge of his historical data. He was still very bittered about those high-ranking communist moles in the KMT department of defense, such as director of war-planning board Guo Ruhuai (:zh:郭汝瑰) and Vice Chief of Staff Liu Fei (:zh:劉斐), who leaked vital military plans to the communist commanders that resulted his defeat. In 1968, General Liao was forced into a struggle session by the Red Guards
at the height of the Cultural Revolution
, he died of a heart attack at the scene at age 62.
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
and Chinese Communist forces. He was one of the few nationalist commanders who graduated from a western military academy besides General Sun Liren. After the end of Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
in China, he served as a field commander in Manchuria until his capture by Marshal Lin Biao
Lin Biao
Lin Biao was a major Chinese Communist military leader who was pivotal in the communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, especially in Northeastern China...
's Manchurian Field Army in the Liaoshen Campaign
Liaoshen Campaign
Liaoshen Campaign , literally the abbreviation of Liaoning-Shenyang Campaign, was part of the three major campaigns launched by the People's Liberation Army during the late stage of the Chinese Civil War. This engagement is known in the Nationalist government as the Battle of Liaoshi...
. http://www.mnd.gov.tw/English/ General Liao was held for 12 years as a prisoner of war until 1961 and died seven years later during the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
.
Early life and career
Liao Yiaoxiang was born into a rural gentry family in Hunan Province in 1906. He entered a local high school with Yang KaihuiYang Kaihui
Yáng Kāihuì , who was the second wife of Mao Zedong from 1920 to 1930, was born in a small village named Bancang, in Changsha, Hunan Province, on November 6, 1901. She had three children with Mao Zedong, named Mao Anying, Mao Anqing, and Mao Anlong...
, wife of Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
. In 1926, He applied to enter the Whampoa Military Academy
Whampoa Military Academy
The Nationalist Party of China Army Officer Academy , commonly known as the Whampoa Military Academy , was a military academy in the Republic of China that produced many prestigious commanders who fought in many of China's conflicts in the 20th century, notably the Northern Expedition, the Second...
and graduated with top remarks. Some of his famous classmates included Chen Cheng
Chen Cheng
Chen Cheng , was a Chinese political and military leader, and one of the main National Revolutionary Army commanders during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. After moving to Taiwan at the end of the Civil War, he served as the Governor of Taiwan Province, Vice President and...
, Xue Yue
Xue Yue
Xue Yue was a Chinese Nationalist military general, nicknamed by Claire Lee Chennault of the Flying Tigers as the Patton of Asia.-Early Life and Career:...
, Fan Hanjie
Fan Hanjie
Fan Hanjie , courtesy name Jie-ying, was a Chinese military general who served during the Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War...
, Dai Li
Dai Li
Major General Dai Li was born Dai Chunfeng with the courtesy name of Yunong in Baoan, Jiangshan, Zhejiang, China. He studied at the Whampoa Military Academy, where Chiang served as Chief Commandant, and later became head of Chiang's Military Intelligence Service.-Early life:At age four, his...
, Hu Zongnan
Hu Zongnan
Hu Zongnan , courtesy name Shoushan , native of Zhenhai, Ningbo, born May 16, 1896. A general in the National Revolutionary Army and then the Republic of China Army. Together with Chen Cheng and Tang Enbo, he formed the triumvirate of Chiang Kai-shek's most trusted generals during the Second...
, Qiu Qingquan
Qiu Qingquan
Qiu Qinquan , was a Kuomintang general who excelled himself in Northern Expedition, anti-communist Encirclement Campaigns, Second Sino-Japanese War, and Chinese Civil War...
, Du Yuming
Du Yuming
Du Yuming was a Kuomintang field commander active in the Sino-Japanese War theatre of World War II and in the Chinese Civil War from 1945 to 1949....
, Zhang Lingfu
Zhang Lingfu
Zhang Lingfu was a high-ranking general of the National Revolutionary Army. He successfully fought against the Chinese Communist army and the Imperial Japanese Army...
, Hu Lian
Hu Lian
Hu Lian was a Chinese Nationalist general, he participated the Northern Expedition, anti-communist Encirclement Campaigns, Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War.- Whampoa Military Academy :...
, Liu Yujian
Liu Yujian
Liu Yuzhang , nicknamed the bald general, was a well-known Chinese nationalist general. He was one of the very few KMT commanders who could defeat both the Imperial Japanese Army and PLA in the Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War....
, Huang Wei
Huang Wei
Huang Wei was a Chinese Nationalist military general who fought in the Encirclement Campaigns, Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War.-Early life and career:...
, Li Mi
Li Mi (ROC general)
Li Mi , was a high-ranking Nationalist general who participated in the anti-Communist Encirclement Campaigns, Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War. He was one of the few Kuomintang commanders to achieve notable victories against both Chinese Communist forces and the Imperial Japanese Army...
, Wang Yaowu
Wang Yaowu
Wang Yaowu was a high-ranking KMT general and the Governor of Shandong Province who successfully fought against both the Imperial Japanese Army and the Chinese Communists. In September 1948 Communist forces launched the Battle of Jinan and Wang was captured and held as a prisoner of war until his...
and Lin Biao
Lin Biao
Lin Biao was a major Chinese Communist military leader who was pivotal in the communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, especially in Northeastern China...
. In 1930 he was chosen by Generalissimo
Generalissimo
Generalissimo and Generalissimus are military ranks of the highest degree, superior to Field Marshal and other five-star ranks.-Usage:...
Chiang Kai Shek as an exchange student to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. In 1936 he graduated from the famed École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr
École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
with best grades in the class. He returned home in the same year and with promoted as company commander of the Cavalry unit of the Whampoa Military Academy
Whampoa Military Academy
The Nationalist Party of China Army Officer Academy , commonly known as the Whampoa Military Academy , was a military academy in the Republic of China that produced many prestigious commanders who fought in many of China's conflicts in the 20th century, notably the Northern Expedition, the Second...
with the rank of major.
Second Sino-Japanese War
In 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese WarSecond Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
broke out, Liao was promoted as chief of staff of the 2nd reserve brigade with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He saw action in the Battle of Shanghai
Battle of Shanghai
The Battle of Shanghai, known in Chinese as Battle of Songhu, was the first of the twenty-two major engagements fought between the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China and the Imperial Japanese Army of the Empire of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
and Battle of Nanjing
Battle of Nanjing
The Battle of Nanking began after the fall of Shanghai on October 9, 1937, and ended with the fall of the capital city of Nanking on December 13, 1937 to Japanese troops, a few days after the Republic of China Government had evacuated the city and relocated to Wuhan...
. During the bloody street fighting in Nanjing, Liao became stranded in the city along with his classmates Sun Yuanliang
Sun Yuanliang
Sun Yuanliang was a Chinese military general of the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China. Sun was the last surviving member of the first graduating class of the Whampoa Military Academy, as well as the last surviving army-level commander of the Second Sino-Japanese War...
, Wang Yaowu
Wang Yaowu
Wang Yaowu was a high-ranking KMT general and the Governor of Shandong Province who successfully fought against both the Imperial Japanese Army and the Chinese Communists. In September 1948 Communist forces launched the Battle of Jinan and Wang was captured and held as a prisoner of war until his...
and Qiu Qingquan
Qiu Qingquan
Qiu Qinquan , was a Kuomintang general who excelled himself in Northern Expedition, anti-communist Encirclement Campaigns, Second Sino-Japanese War, and Chinese Civil War...
; he escaped the Nanjing Massacre disguised as a Buddhist monk. After the Battle of Wuhan
Battle of Wuhan
The Battle of Wuhan, popularly known to the Chinese as the Defence of Wuhan, and to the Japanese as the Capture of Wuhan, was a large-scale battle of the Second Sino-Japanese War...
, he was promoted to colonel and commander of officer training corps. He wrote a letter to President Chiang Kai Shek, suggesting making drastic changes in the National Revolutionary Army
National Revolutionary Army
The National Revolutionary Army , pre-1928 sometimes shortened to 革命軍 or Revolutionary Army and between 1928-1947 as 國軍 or National Army was the Military Arm of the Kuomintang from 1925 until 1947, as well as the national army of the Republic of China during the KMT's period of party rule...
and build a modern armored unit. Chiang was very pleased with this advice and had a very favorable impression on Liao. In 1938, Chiang promoted Liao as a major general and chief of staff of the 200th Division (National Revolutionary Army)
200th Division (National Revolutionary Army)
The 200th Division was the first mechanised division in the National Revolutionary Army. It was created in 1938 by General Du Yuming, who was also its first commander...
. Liao's division commander was Du Yuming
Du Yuming
Du Yuming was a Kuomintang field commander active in the Sino-Japanese War theatre of World War II and in the Chinese Civil War from 1945 to 1949....
. In September 1938, the 200th division was expanded as the 5th corps; the only motorized unit in the Chinese nationalist army. Liao was again placed in charge of command of reserve officer corps and served as assistant division commander of the new 22nd division. Because his superior officer General Qiu Qingquan
Qiu Qingquan
Qiu Qinquan , was a Kuomintang general who excelled himself in Northern Expedition, anti-communist Encirclement Campaigns, Second Sino-Japanese War, and Chinese Civil War...
was away on a mission, he also served as acting division commander. In September 1939, the new 22nd division was sent to Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
to fight against Japanese 5th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
5th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
The was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call-sign was the .-History:The 5th Division was formed in Hiroshima in January 1871 as the , one of six regional commands created in the fledgling Imperial Japanese Army. The Hiroshima Garrison had responsibility for western region...
and scored an important field victory, Japanese commander Major General Masao Nakamura
Masao Nakamura
- Notes :...
was killed in action along with 8,000 men in the Battle of Kunlun Pass
Battle of Kunlun Pass
The Battle of Kunlun Pass was a series of struggles between the Japanese and the Chinese in contention for Kunlun Pass, a stragetically important position in Guangxiprovince, which the Imperial Japanese Army hoped to cut off aid through China from French-controlled Vietnam and resulted in a...
. Afterward his unit was transferred to Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
and guarding supplies that came from the Burma Road
Burma Road
The Burma Road is a road linking Burma with the southwest of China. Its terminals are Kunming, Yunnan, and Lashio, Burma. When it was built, Burma was a British colony.The road is long and runs through rough mountain country...
. After the Japanese navy bombed Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, Japanese conquest of Burma began on January 1942, the Fifteenth Army (Japan)
Fifteenth Army (Japan)
The was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army during the World War II.-History:The Japanese 15th Army was formed on November 9. 1941 as a component of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group for the specific task of invading the British colony of Burma....
under General Shōjirō Iida
Shojiro Iida
- Notes :...
invaded British Crown colony of Burma. The British government sent for help to Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
, Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek organized the Chinese Expeditionary Force (in Burma) under Chief of Staff General Joseph Stillwell, Lieutenant General Du Yuming
Du Yuming
Du Yuming was a Kuomintang field commander active in the Sino-Japanese War theatre of World War II and in the Chinese Civil War from 1945 to 1949....
, deputy commander of the Chinese Expeditionary Force (in Burma) and General Sun Liren, commander of the new 38th division to rescue the British forces and prevent Japanese capture of Burma and their aim to severing the Burma Road. Although the Chinese commanders were able to score some victories in Battle of Yenangyaung
Battle of Yenangyaung
The Battle of Yenangyaung was fought in Burma, now Myanmar, during the Burma Campaign in World War II. The battle of Yenaungyaung was fought in the vicinity of Yenangyaung and its oil fields.-Background:...
and Battle of Toungoo
Battle of Toungoo
Battle of Toungoo, was one of the key battles in the Battle of Yunnan-Burma Road in the Burma Campaign of World War II and Second Sino-Japanese War.- Prelude :...
, because the British forces failed to stop the Japanese advance on the battlefield, the Chinese forces were forced to retreat from Burma. When the 18th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
18th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the .-History:The 18th Division was formed in Kurume, Kyūshū on 13 November 1907, together with the 17th Division, as part of the post Russo-Japanese War expansion of the standing Japanese military...
cut off their retreat route, the New 22nd Division was forced to go through the Kachin Hills
Kachin Hills
The Kachin Hills are a heavily forested group of highlands in the extreme northeastern area of the Kachin State of Burma. It includes the Kumon Bum Mountains of which the highest peak is Bumhpa Bum with an elevation of .-Geography:...
and many veterans died of disease, starvation and animal attacks and finally made it back to Ledo, Assam. While in India, the New 22nd Division and New 38th Division formed the Chinese Army in India, General Joseph Stillwell made sure these Chinese units received latest American weaponry and training. In 1943, the Chinese forces attacked the Burma Area Army under General Heitarō Kimura. General Liao won some major victories and his unit was expand into the New 6th Army
New 6th Army
New 6th Army was a Chinese combat command involved in the Burma Campaign of World War II, and later, the Chinese Civil War.They operated in the Shan States and the Karen State of eastern Burma...
in 1944. In April 1945 General Liao's New 6th Army
New 6th Army
New 6th Army was a Chinese combat command involved in the Burma Campaign of World War II, and later, the Chinese Civil War.They operated in the Shan States and the Karen State of eastern Burma...
flew home for the first time in 3 years and decisively defeated the Japanese forces in the Battle of West Hunan
Battle of West Hunan
The Battle of West Hunan , also known as the Zhijiang Campaign was the Japanese invasion of west Hunan and the subsequent Chinese counterattack that occurred between 6 April and 7 June 1945, during the last months of the Second Sino-Japanese War...
, the deputy leader of the National War Council General He Yingqin
He Yingqin
He Yingqin , also spelled Ho Ying-chin, was one of the most senior generals of the Kuomintang during Republican China, and a close ally of Chiang Kai-shek.-Early years:A native of Guizhou, He was healthy and bookish in his childhood...
decorated him with the Order of Blue Sky and White Sun
Order of Blue Sky and White Sun
The Order of Blue Sky and White Sun with Grand Cordon is the Republic of China's second highest military award. Created in 1929, it is awarded for "outstanding contributions to national security under foreign invasion" and is second only to the Order of National Glory...
, the highest honor a Chinese commander can achieve.
Chinese Civil War
When the Chinese Civil War broke out in Manchuria, President Chiang Kai Shek was determined to recover Manchuria for the Nationalist Government. General Liao's New 6th ArmyNew 6th Army
New 6th Army was a Chinese combat command involved in the Burma Campaign of World War II, and later, the Chinese Civil War.They operated in the Shan States and the Karen State of eastern Burma...
and General Sun Liren's New 1st Army
New 1st Army
New 1st Army was reputed as the most elite Chinese military unit of the Kuomintang. Nicknamed the "1st [Best] Army Under the Heaven" during the Chinese Civil War, it caused the most Japanese Army casualties during the Sino-Japanese War ....
spearheaded nationalist advance into the Region. In order to dislodge communist-held cities in Manchuria, Chiang Kai Shek named General Du Yuming
Du Yuming
Du Yuming was a Kuomintang field commander active in the Sino-Japanese War theatre of World War II and in the Chinese Civil War from 1945 to 1949....
as commander-in-chief of Manchuria, Defense Minister General Bai Chongxi
Bai Chongxi
Bai Chongxi , , also spelled Pai Chung-hsi, was a Chinese general in the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China and a prominent Chinese Nationalist Muslim leader. He was of Hui ethnicity and of the Muslim faith...
as Chief of Staff of the Manchurian Security Command. Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
picked Marshal Lin Biao
Lin Biao
Lin Biao was a major Chinese Communist military leader who was pivotal in the communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, especially in Northeastern China...
in the Campaign to Defend Siping
Campaign to Defend Siping
The Campaign to Defend Siping was a struggle between the Nationalists and the communists for the control of Siping during the Chinese Civil War in the post World War II era...
. General Liao Yaoxiang succeeded in capture communist strongholds outside of Siping
Siping
Siping is a process of cutting thin slits across a rubber surface to improve traction in wet or icy conditions.Siping was invented and patented in 1923 under the name of John F. Sipe The story told on various websites is that, in the 1920s, Sipe worked in a slaughterhouse and grew tired of...
and forced Communist commanders to abandon the city. The nationalist commanders started to capture most of the cities and towns south of the Songhua River
Songhua River
The Songhua or Sunggari River is a river in Northeast China, and is the largest tributary of the Heilong River , flowing about from Changbai Mountains through Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces. The river drains of land, and has an annual discharge of .As the Second Songhua River, it joins the...
, But President Chiang Kai Shek issued an order to forbid them to cross the river because the Marshall Mission
Marshall Mission
The Marshall Mission was a failed diplomatic mission undertaken by United States Army General George C. Marshall to China in an attempt to negotiate the Communist Party of China and the Nationalists into a unified government.-Historical background:The end of the Second World War on 15 August...
was taken place in China proper. When President Chiang Kai Shek replaced Du Yuming
Du Yuming
Du Yuming was a Kuomintang field commander active in the Sino-Japanese War theatre of World War II and in the Chinese Civil War from 1945 to 1949....
with General Chen Cheng
Chen Cheng
Chen Cheng , was a Chinese political and military leader, and one of the main National Revolutionary Army commanders during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. After moving to Taiwan at the end of the Civil War, he served as the Governor of Taiwan Province, Vice President and...
, the situation grew from bad to worse, because the success of the land reform movement in the region and the defection of the Manchukuo Imperial Army
Manchukuo Imperial Army
The Manchukuo Imperial Army was the armed force of the Japanese dominated puppet state of Manchukuo, serving as the land forces, along with the Manchukuo Imperial Guards...
to PLA
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
, Communist strength grew over to 1 million men. In 1947, President Chiang Kai Shek appointed General Liao as commander-in-chief of the 9th Army Group, his unit included: The New 1st Army
New 1st Army
New 1st Army was reputed as the most elite Chinese military unit of the Kuomintang. Nicknamed the "1st [Best] Army Under the Heaven" during the Chinese Civil War, it caused the most Japanese Army casualties during the Sino-Japanese War ....
, New 3rd Army, New 6th Army
New 6th Army
New 6th Army was a Chinese combat command involved in the Burma Campaign of World War II, and later, the Chinese Civil War.They operated in the Shan States and the Karen State of eastern Burma...
, the 49th Army, 52nd Army, 71st Army, the independent enhanced 207th division and three cavalry brigades. In September 1948, the Communist Manchurian Field Army under Marshal Lin Biao
Lin Biao
Lin Biao was a major Chinese Communist military leader who was pivotal in the communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, especially in Northeastern China...
launched the Liaoshen Campaign
Liaoshen Campaign
Liaoshen Campaign , literally the abbreviation of Liaoning-Shenyang Campaign, was part of the three major campaigns launched by the People's Liberation Army during the late stage of the Chinese Civil War. This engagement is known in the Nationalist government as the Battle of Liaoshi...
. General Liao suggested to Nationalist High Command the 9th Army Group must retreat to Yingkou
Yingkou
Yingkou is located in the northwestern portion of the Liaodong Peninsula, and on the left bank of the Daliao River, which enters the sea in the city. To the west is the Liaodong Bay of the Bohai Gulf, and the city thus looks across to Jinzhou and Huludao...
, a nationalist-held seaport and leave Manchuria via sea. But instead President Chiang Kai Shek ordered him to rescue General Fan Hanjie
Fan Hanjie
Fan Hanjie , courtesy name Jie-ying, was a Chinese military general who served during the Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War...
's besieged forces in Jinzhou
Jinzhou
Jinzhou , is a prefecture-level city of Liaoning province, China. It is a geographically strategic city located in the "Liaoxi Corridor" , which connects land transportation between North China and Northeast China. Jinzhou is China's northernmost seaport and the coastal economic center of West...
. But before General Liao could relieve Jinzhou
Jinzhou
Jinzhou , is a prefecture-level city of Liaoning province, China. It is a geographically strategic city located in the "Liaoxi Corridor" , which connects land transportation between North China and Northeast China. Jinzhou is China's northernmost seaport and the coastal economic center of West...
the city has fallen and Changchun
Changchun
Changchun is the capital and largest city of Jilin province, located in the northeast of the People's Republic of China, in the center of the Songliao Plain. It is administered as a sub-provincial city with a population of 7,677,089 at the 2010 census under its jurisdiction, including counties and...
, another nationalist stronghold in Manchuria has changed hands as well. Finally General Du Yuming
Du Yuming
Du Yuming was a Kuomintang field commander active in the Sino-Japanese War theatre of World War II and in the Chinese Civil War from 1945 to 1949....
persuaded Chiang Kai Shek to allow the 9th Army Group to retreat to North China, but they were unable to break through the PLA defensive line around Heshan
Heshan
Heshan also known as Hok San in Cantonese is a county-level city of Siyi prefecture administered from Jiangmen city in the southern part of Guangdong province of the People's Republic of China....
(黑山) and Dahushan (大虎山), and lost a considerable amount of time. During a surprise night raid, one communist unit destroyed General Liao's Army Group Headquarters, as a result his entire command structure was disrupted. Between October 20 to October 28, the PLA forces under General Han Xianchu
Han Xianchu
Han Xianchu 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...
attacked at Liaoxi (辽西战役) in the area east of Heshan and Dahushan, and west of Raoyanghe(饶阳河). They destroyed twelve Nationalist divisions, including the elite New 1st Army
New 1st Army
New 1st Army was reputed as the most elite Chinese military unit of the Kuomintang. Nicknamed the "1st [Best] Army Under the Heaven" during the Chinese Civil War, it caused the most Japanese Army casualties during the Sino-Japanese War ....
, New 6th Army
New 6th Army
New 6th Army was a Chinese combat command involved in the Burma Campaign of World War II, and later, the Chinese Civil War.They operated in the Shan States and the Karen State of eastern Burma...
of 110,000 men, and captured Liao Yaoxiang. Only General Liu Yuzhang's 52nd Army was able to retreat to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
.
Release and death
After his capture, General Liao was held as a prisoner in Beijing's war criminal camp with his former commander Du YumingDu Yuming
Du Yuming was a Kuomintang field commander active in the Sino-Japanese War theatre of World War II and in the Chinese Civil War from 1945 to 1949....
until his pardon in 1961. He was appointed as a commissioner in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [], shortened as 人民政协, Rénmín Zhèngxié, i.e. "People's PCC"; or just 政协, Zhèngxié, i.e. "The PCC"), abbreviated CPPCC, is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China...
in charge of his historical data. He was still very bittered about those high-ranking communist moles in the KMT department of defense, such as director of war-planning board Guo Ruhuai (:zh:郭汝瑰) and Vice Chief of Staff Liu Fei (:zh:劉斐), who leaked vital military plans to the communist commanders that resulted his defeat. In 1968, General Liao was forced into a struggle session by the Red Guards
Red Guards (China)
Red Guards were a mass movement of civilians, mostly students and other young people in the People's Republic of China , who were mobilized by Mao Zedong in 1966 and 1967, during the Cultural Revolution.-Origins:...
at the height of the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
, he died of a heart attack at the scene at age 62.
See also
- Sun Liren
- New 1st ArmyNew 1st ArmyNew 1st Army was reputed as the most elite Chinese military unit of the Kuomintang. Nicknamed the "1st [Best] Army Under the Heaven" during the Chinese Civil War, it caused the most Japanese Army casualties during the Sino-Japanese War ....
- New 6th ArmyNew 6th ArmyNew 6th Army was a Chinese combat command involved in the Burma Campaign of World War II, and later, the Chinese Civil War.They operated in the Shan States and the Karen State of eastern Burma...
- Du YumingDu YumingDu Yuming was a Kuomintang field commander active in the Sino-Japanese War theatre of World War II and in the Chinese Civil War from 1945 to 1949....
- Liaoshen CampaignLiaoshen CampaignLiaoshen Campaign , literally the abbreviation of Liaoning-Shenyang Campaign, was part of the three major campaigns launched by the People's Liberation Army during the late stage of the Chinese Civil War. This engagement is known in the Nationalist government as the Battle of Liaoshi...