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PLA 29th Army

The predecessor of the 29th Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army was the 11th Column of the East China Field Army. The column was developed by some troops of the Soviet Central Military Region of the New Fourth Army during the Anti-Japanese War.

In November 1945, the 55th, 57th, 59th, 61st, and 63rd Regiments of the 1st and 2nd Military Divisions of the Soviet Central Military Region of the New Fourth Army formed the 7th Column, which belonged to the Central China Field Army. Ji Pengfei served as commander and political commissar, Zhang Fan served as deputy commander, Du Ping served as chief of staff, and Lu Sheng served as director of the political department. In December, it participated in the Gaoyou campaign, conquered Shaobo, Guocun and other places, and destroyed a Japanese puppet army who refused to surrender. In May 1946, the 57th and 61st regiments were transferred out. In June, the 7th Column and the Central Soviet Military Region, Guan Wenwei served as commander, Ji Pengfei served as political commissar, Dai Xinkuan served as deputy commander, and Hu Bingyun served as deputy commander and chief of staff. It governs the 31st Brigade (composed of the 55th, 59th, and 63rd Regiments) and the 1st, 2nd, and 9th Army divisions. From July to December, it participated in the Soviet-Chinese campaign, the East-Taiwan defensive battle, and the Yancheng defense battle.

In late January 1947, the 7th column of the Central China Field Army was renamed the 11th column of the East China Field Army, and it still served as the Soviet Central Military Region. Guan Wenwei was the commander, Ji Pengfei was the political commissar, Hu Bingyun was the deputy commander and chief of staff, and Li Qianhui was the director of the political department. It administers the 87th, 89th, and 1st regiments transferred from the 3l brigade and the 12th column. The 2nd and 9th Army divisions, with a total of more than 31,000 people, insisted on fighting behind the enemy in Central Jiangsu and Northern Jiangsu. In April, participated in the battles of Huai Mu and Li Bao, and annihilated the Kuomintang army. In May, the 32nd Brigade was formed with the 87th, 89th Regiment and Column Special Agents. In August, it participated in the battle of Yancheng, cooperated with the comrades to conquer Yancheng, Funing and other towns, and wiped out more than 8,700 KMT troops. In November, the column was exempted from the Soviet Central Military Region and reorganized to the command of the newly formed Central China Headquarters. Together with the sibling forces, it was based in Fort Klee and Spell Tea. In late December, it participated in the Battle of Yannan and, with the cooperation of his comrades, annihilated more than 7,000 people from the Kuomintang in the south of Yancheng.

In March 1948, the 11th column was transferred to the North Jiangsu Corps. In April, the 33rd Brigade was formed with the 4th Regiment of the 2nd Army Division, the 7th Regiment of the 9th Army Division, and the Special Forces Regiment of the 1st Army Division. In late June, it participated in the battle of Lianshui and cooperated with his comrades to overcome Lianshui and wiped out more than 3,000 Kuomintang troops. In the winter of the same year, it participated in the Huaihai Battle and first attacked the Canal Station east of Xuzhou with his comrades to ensure that the main force was to annihilate the Huang Baitao Corps. Then it pursued and blocked the attack south of Xuzhou and participated in the battle to destroy the Du Yuming Group.

In February 1949, according to the Central Military Commission’s order to unify the army’s establishment and troop designation, the 11th column was renamed the 29th Army of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. Attached to the 10th Corps of the Third Field Army. Hu Bingyun served as military commander, Zhang Fan served as political commissar, Duan Huanjing served as deputy military commander, Liang Lingguang served as chief of staff, and Hui Yuyu served as director of the political department. The 31st Brigade was renamed the 85th Division, Zhu Yunqian was appointed as the division head and political commissar; the 32nd Brigade was renamed the 86th Division, Zhang Yiyou was the division chief, and Xu Guangyou was the deputy political commissar (the lack of a political commissar); the 33rd Brigade was renamed the 87th Division and Zhang Qiangsheng The division commander, Xu Jiatun, served as a political commissar, with a total of more than 33,000 people in the army. In April, it took part in the battle of crossing the river.

After landing east of Jiangyin, it seized Jiangyin, liberated Wuxi and Suzhou, cut off the Beijing (Nanjing) -Shanghai railway, and prevented the Kuomintang army from escaping eastward. In May, it participated in the Battle of Shanghai, captured Liuhe, Yuepu, Baoshan and other towns, and cooperated with the comrades to liberate Wusong. In July, entered Fujian. In August, it participated in the battle of Fuzhou. Lian Keyongtai, Fuqing and Changle cut off the Kuomintang army to escape south. From September to October, participated in battles such as Zhangxia, captured Maxiang, Jimei, and Aotou, and cooperated with the comrades to liberate Xiamen. In October, one participated in the Golden Gate battle and was defeated due to insufficient preparations for crossing the sea. On November 18, 1950, the 29th Army Headquarters was reorganized as the Railway Public Security Command of the Military Commission. The 86th Division was transferred to the Military Air Force. The 85th Division was changed to the Fujian Military Region.

After the 85th Division, it was changed to the 1st Marine Division of the Fujian Military Region. In 1954, the Marine Division was formed. In 1957, it was cancelled and changed to the Shanghai Guard District Force (now the 2nd Brigade of Coast Defense). The 87th Division was changed to the Fujian Military Region. In April 1952, the 87th Division was changed to the 13th Division of the Public Security.

In 1969, the 29th Army was rebuilt in Fujian with troops from the Fuzhou Military Region. Jurisdiction of the 85th Division, 86th Division (formerly 26th Army 76 Division), 87th Division. In 1985, the 29th Army was revoked, the 86th Division was changed to the 31st Army, and the 85th and 87th Divisions were changed to Coastal Defense Divisions.