Martyrs' Cemetery of the 82 Heroes

Martyrs' Cemetery of the 82 Heroes

The Martyrs' Cemetery of the 82 Heroes is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Jiangsu Province.

The Martyrs' Cemetery of the 82 Heroes is located in Liulaozhuang, 30 kilometers northwest of Huaiyin County. It faces the ancient Huaiyin Guzhai Highway to the front and is close to Liulaozhuang Primary School to the east.

On March 18, 1940, over 3,000 Japanese troops comprising three infantry battalions and one cavalry battalion from the 65th Division stationed in the Huaiyin area, under the command of Division Commander Kawashima, launched a multi-pronged offensive, encircling the party, government, military leadership organs and main forces of our army stationed along the northern bank of the Liutang River near Zhangxu. The 4th Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 19th Regiment of the 3rd Division of the New Fourth Army rose to resist the enemy in Liulaozhuang, repelling five enemy assaults. Outnumbered and with their position destroyed, the soldiers engaged in hand-to-hand combat, killing more than 200 enemies, while 82 brave soldiers of the 4th Company sacrificed their lives heroically. After the battle, 82 outstanding local youths were selected to join the army, and the higher authorities named their unit the “Liulaozhuang Company.” At that time, local residents spontaneously collected the remains of the martyrs and built a large earthen tomb, naming it the “Tomb of the 82 Martyrs.” In 1945, the local government rebuilt the tomb with bricks and stones. On December 26, 1946, the Nationalist army shelled and destroyed the tomb. In 1955, the People’s Government allocated funds to rebuild the tomb, and in 1964, a perimeter wall was constructed and the cemetery was established. The cemetery covers an area of 80 mu, faces south with its back to the north, and features an arched gate inscribed with the seven characters “Martyrs' Cemetery of the 82 Heroes.” On both sides are elegiac couplets written by Li Yimang: “From Shaanxi to Northern Jiangsu, their heroic names spread through the enemy’s rear along the Eighth Route Army’s path; from dawn till dusk, the entire company fought hard and perished in Liuzhuang.” In the center of the cemetery stands an octagonal double-eaved “Ambition Pavilion,” inside which is a stone stele inscribed with a commemorative article written by Li Yimang, and on the back are six large characters “Tomb of the 82 Martyrs” written by Shu Tong. To the east of the pavilion is the Martyrs’ Public Tomb, a brick, stone, and cement structure in the shape of a square tower, 8 meters high, with the inscription “Tomb of the 82 Martyrs” written by Li Yimang on the front. On the left is an inscription by Huang Kecheng: “In memory of the 82 martyrs who died for their country, fought bravely, sacrificed gloriously, set an example for soldiers, and brought honor to the nation.” On the right is an inscription by Zhang Aiping: “The 82 Martyrs, who resisted 3,000 enemies, achieved victory against greater numbers, their illustrious names will last forever.” The tomb is surrounded by two layers of cement railings and ten steps, with a pair of stone lions in front. Opposite the tomb is the Martyrs’ Memorial Hall, a brick-and-wood structure 24 meters wide and 10 meters deep, with eaves 5 meters high. Inside the hall are displayed portraits and personal belongings of martyrs such as Company Commander Bai Sicai and Political Instructor Li Yunpeng of the 4th Company, excerpts from articles by Commander-in-Chief Zhu De and Commander Chen Yi praising the Battle of Liulaozhuang, as well as historical materials about the battle. Eighty-two pine trees are planted in the northwest corner of the memorial hall, symbolizing the undying spirit of the martyrs.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites Protected in Jiangsu Province