Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army

Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army. It was the primary guerrilla force opposing the Japanese occupation of Manchuria following the 1931 Mukden Incident. Organized under the direction of the Chinese Communist Party as part of a united front strategy, it incorporated various anti-Japanese militias, including remnants of the Northeast Army and local volunteers. The force waged a protracted and bitter campaign against the Kwantung Army and the puppet state of Manchukuo throughout the 1930s and early 1940s.

Background and Formation

The invasion and subsequent establishment of Manchukuo by the Kwantung Army in 1931 was met with immediate but fragmented resistance. Initial opposition came from Northeast Army remnants, righteous armies, and local volunteers, with the Chinese Communist Party gradually organizing its own Red Army guerrilla units. Following the 1935 August 1st Declaration, which called for a national united front against Japan, the Comintern directed the Chinese Communist Party to consolidate these forces. This led to the formal establishment of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army in early 1936, unifying three main army groups under a common command.

Organization and Command Structure

The army was organized into three route armies, later expanded to eleven, operating across different regions of Manchuria. The First Route Army was active in southern Manchuria and eastern Jehol, commanded by Yang Jingyu and later Wei Zhengmin. The Second Route Army, led by Zhou Baozhong, operated in eastern Manchuria, while the Third Route Army, under commanders like Li Zhaolin and Feng Zhongyun, was based in northern Manchuria. Political commissars, such as Wei Zhengmin, played a crucial role, ensuring the Chinese Communist Party's leadership. Each route army was composed of several corps, which were often subdivided into smaller, mobile detachments suited for guerrilla warfare.

Major Campaigns and Military Actions

The forces engaged in continuous harassment of Japanese and Manchukuo targets, attacking railways, police outposts, and small garrisons. A significant early victory was the 1937 Battle of Boli led by Zhou Baozhong. The Battle of Mopan Mountain in 1938, involving Yang Jingyu's troops, was another notable engagement. However, from 1938 onward, the Kwantung Army initiated massive and brutal "mop-up" campaigns, employing tactics like the "Three Alls" policy and constructing "hamlets" to isolate guerrillas from the population. This led to devastating battles such as the 1940 Battle of Jingpo Lake and the death of commander Yang Jingyu in that same year.

Relationship with the Chinese Communist Party and Other Forces

Although a united front force, it was firmly under the political and military guidance of the Chinese Communist Party, with directives often relayed through the Comintern. Its relationship with the National Revolutionary Army forces of the Kuomintang in the region was complex and often strained, despite the nominal alliance. Some coordination existed with anti-Japanese Korean guerrillas, most notably units led by Kim Il Sung, who operated within the army's structure. The force received limited material support from the Soviet Union, with some cadres receiving training in the USSR.

Disbandment and Legacy

By 1941, after sustaining catastrophic losses, surviving units were forced to retreat across the Amur and Ussuri rivers into the Soviet Union. There, they were reorganized into the Red Army's 88th Separate Rifle Brigade for training and intelligence work. They re-entered Manchuria in August 1945 alongside the Soviet invasion of Manchuria, assisting in the rapid defeat of the Kwantung Army. The experience, personnel, and political legacy of the army were foundational to the Chinese Communist Party's subsequent control of Northeast China, providing critical veteran cadres for the People's Liberation Army during the Chinese Civil War. It is commemorated as a symbol of patriotic resistance in both the People's Republic of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Category:Military units and formations of the Second Sino-Japanese War Category:Chinese Communist Party Category:History of Manchuria