• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

PLA 25th Army

The predecessor of the 25th Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army was the 7th column of the East China Field Army. The column was developed by the third detachment of the New Fourth Army and other departments.

In the spring of 1938, the Northern Fujian, Eastern Fujian Red Army guerrillas and the Western Fujian guerrillas were organized as the third detachment of the New Fourth Army. The commander was the Chief of the New Fourth Army Zhang Yunyi and the Deputy Commander Tan Zhenlin, the Chief of Staff Zhao Lingbo, and the Director of the Political Department Hu Rong. Under the jurisdiction of the 5th Regiment composed of North Fujian guerrillas, the 6th Regiment composed of Mindong guerrillas and Minxi guerrillas, a total of more than 2,500 people. From March to April, the 5th and 6th regiments successively arrived in Yansi Town, She County, South Anhui Province. In July, the third detachment went to the front line of southern Anhui. In September, it held to the Qingyi River position and fought with the Japanese army many times. In December, it was responsible for the defense of Tongling and Fanchang along the river. At this time, the 1st Regiment of the 1st Detachment of the New Fourth Army was transferred to South Anhui to be commanded by the 3rd Detachment, and the 6th Regiment of the 3rd Detachment was transferred to South Jiangsu to be the 1st Detachment. In 1939, the third detachment successfully fought five times to defend the prosperity.

In 1940, the 3rd detachment was renamed the 3rd Detachment of the New Fourth Army, under the jurisdiction of the 5th Regiment and the Special Envoy of the Ministry of Military Affairs. In May 1941, the third division of the New Fourth Army, the Wuwei Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Army, and some of the troops that broke out of the Anhui Incident were combined into the 7th Division of the New Fourth Army. Lord Anywei, under the jurisdiction of the 19th Brigade and Advance Group. By the end of 1942, the divisions of the 7th Division built the nest (lake) Wu (wei) base and opened up the (gu) and (county) Tong (cheng) guerrilla bases. In 1943, the 7th Division and Wanjiang Military Region, the subordinate troops were organized into 4 detachments and independent regiments including Hanhe, Yanjiang, Southern Anhui, and Chaohu. In September 1943, the 16th Regiment of the 6th Brigade of the 2nd Division of the New Fourth Army was transferred to strengthen the 7th Division.

Since then, under extremely difficult conditions, it persisted in its struggle against the "sweeping" and "nibbling" of the Japanese puppet army and against the friction created by the Kuomintang's stubborn army. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, in September 1945, the 7th Division was exempted from the Wanjiang Military Region. In October, nearly 20,000 people from the 19th, 20th, and 21st brigades of the 7th Division evacuated from the Wanjiang area, led by division head Tan Xilin, political commissar Zeng Xisheng, deputy political commissar and director of the Political Department Li Buxin, and chief of staff Sun Zhongde. South, part of the frontline field army of Jinpu (later renamed the Shandong Field Army), blocked the Kuomintang army along the Jinpu Road north and cleared the Japanese puppet army who refused to surrender, and participated in the battles of Lincheng and Zaozhuang.

In January 1946, the 7th Division of the New Fourth Army was renamed the 7th Division of the Shandong Field Army. In June, after the outbreak of the Liberation War, the 7th Division moved to Huaibei to participate in the operations of Chaoyangji, Sixian, and the defense of Huaiyin. In September, the 21st Brigade was cancelled, and the troops were merged into the 20th Brigade. In October, the formation was adjusted, and the 20th Brigade was dismantled and added to the 1st, 6th, and 7th Divisions of the Central China Field Army. The 19th Brigade was merged with the 11th Column of the Central China Field Army, and was still called the 7th Division. Division Chief Cheng Jun, Political Commissioner Zhao Qimin, Deputy Division Chief Lin Weixian, Chief of Staff Hu Dingqian, and Director of the Political Department Huang Huoxing. Under the jurisdiction of the 5th, 19th Brigade and Special Regiment (renamed from the original 5th Regiment of the Huainan Military Region). After regrouping, participate in the battles of Lianshui and Subei.

In February 1947, the 7th Division of the Shandong Field Army was reorganized as the 7th Column of the East China Field Army. Commander Cheng Jun, political commissar Zhao Qimin, deputy commander Lin Weixian, director of the Political Department Huang Huoxing. The 19th and 5th Brigade were renamed to the 19th and 20th Divisions respectively, and the 4th and 6th Regiments of the Luzhong Military Region formed the 21st Division with a total of more than 25,000 people. After March, it moved to the mountainous area of Luzhong and participated in the battles of Laiwu, Menglianggu and Linqu. After August, it returned to the Eastern Front Corps (later renamed the Shandong Corps) to command and move to the Jiaodong area. Together with his comrades, it achieved victory in the Battle of Jiaohe, the Gao (Dense) blockade in Jiao (county) and the Battle of Laiyang.

In March 1948, the 7th Column conducted a new army consolidation campaign, participated in the western section of Jiaoji Road, and conquered Zhangdian and Zichuan. From April to May, fighting in the middle section of Jiaoji Road and blocking the east aid of Jinan Kuomintang for 8 consecutive days on the Western Front played an important role in ensuring the victory of the Battle of Weixian. From June to July, transfer to the middle section of Jinpu Road, together with the 13th column and other departments to conquer Yanzhou, Qufu, Zou County and other cities. In September, it was ordered to join forces with comrade troops in Teng County to prevent the Kuomintang army in Xuzhou from daring to aid in the north, ensuring the victory of the Jiji (South) operation. Joined the Huaihai Battle in the winter, cut off the Huang Baitao Corps to escape west to the east of Xuzhou, and then participated in the Kuomintang army that blocked Xuzhou East aid, and then participated in the siege of the Huangwei Corps, annihilating more than 20,000 KMT troops.

In February 1949, in accordance with the Central Military Commission’s order to unify the army’s establishment and troop designation, the 7th Column of the East China Field Army was renamed the 25th Army of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and was affiliated with the 8th Regiment of the 3rd Field Army. Cheng Jun served as the commander-in-chief, Huang Huoxing as the political commissar, Zhan Huayu as the deputy commander, Deng Shaodong as the deputy political commissar and director of the Political Department, and Xiong Yingtang as the chief of staff. The 19th Division was renamed to the 73rd Division, Wang Peichen was the division, and Xiao Xuelin was the Political Committee; the 20th Division was renamed the 74th Division, Zhang Huaizhong was the division, Deng Qinghe was the Political Committee; the 21st Division was renamed the 75th Division, Xie Rui was the division, and He Zhiyuan was the Political Committee

There were more than 30,000 people in the army. In April, after participating in the battle of crossing the river, after breaking through the river defense, rushed to the Langxi and Guangde areas, intercepted the enemy who fled south from Nanjing and other places, and won the victory of the 1st army of the Kuomintang army. In May, it participated in the Battle of Shanghai, conquered Wu Song, cut off the Kuomintang army's sea escape, and captured more than 8,000 enemies. On June 2, Chongming was captured. From September to December, they went to the bandits in southern Anhui and wiped out more than 4,000 people from the Kuomintang. They laid the foundation for consolidating the new district in southern Anhui.

On July 20, 1952, the Central Military Commission decided to transfer the 25th Army Headquarters and 75th Division Division to the Air Force, the 73rd Division to the 23rd Army, the 74th Division to the 24th Army, and the 75th Division to the various regiments. In the Jiangsu Military Region, the 25th Army was revoked.