Tomb of Martyrs from the Zhujiagang Battle

Tomb of Martyrs from the Zhujiagang Battle

The Tomb of Martyrs from the Zhujiagang Battle is a national AA-level tourist attraction, a Jiangsu Provincial cultural relics protection unit, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

Tomb of Martyrs from the Zhujiagang Battle

Zhujiagang Martyrs' Cemetery

Zhujiagang Martyrs' Cemetery is located in Zhujiagang Village, Caomiao Township, Sihong County. It was built to honor the 73 martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the battle against Japanese invaders at Zhujiagang. The cemetery includes a memorial tower, memorial hall, exhibition hall, and stele corridor. It is a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit and a national AA-level tourist attraction.

Zhujiagang Martyrs' Cemetery is situated on the western shore of Hongze Lake. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, it was part of Zhujiagang Township, Caomiao District, Sihai County, Northern Jiangsu–Anhui Border Region, Huaibei. It is now Zhugang Village, Caomiao Township, Sihong County, Jiangsu Province, approximately 35 kilometers from the county seat of Sihong.

The Zhujiagang Martyrs' Cemetery is the final resting place of 73 revolutionary martyrs, embodying the spirit of the Chinese nation, whose noble integrity reaches the heavens. The cemetery also holds the remains of 13 Japanese soldiers that the invading forces failed to retrieve — an unprecedented event in the history of warfare worldwide. This act reflects the magnanimity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and has had a positive international impact.

On December 10, 1942, during the 33-day anti-"mopping up" campaign in the Northern Jiangsu–Anhui Border Region, a bloody, tragic, earth-shaking, and soul-stirring decisive battle took place — the Zhujiagang Defensive Battle, in which the 26th Regiment of the 9th Brigade of the New Fourth Army’s 4th Division fought to defend the town. This battle shattered the morale of the Japanese forces occupying northern Jiangsu.

On December 7, the 26th Regiment of the 4th Division, having fought continuously for over 20 days with significant casualties and depleted ammunition — each company reduced to just 70–80 men — was ordered to launch a surprise attack on Xiaojie, south of Qingyang Town. After completing the mission, they arrived at Zhujiagang by dusk on December 9. That night, a meeting of company-level officers and above was held to plan an attack on the enemy at Jinsuo Town for the night of December 10.

On December 9, three battalions of the Japanese Kinzi Regiment, along with about 1500 puppet troops, launched a surprise night attack on the 26th Regiment of the 9th Brigade stationed at Zhujiagang. The battle raged for 18 hours from morning till night, involving repeated hand-to-hand combat and ten advances and retreats. Our heroic 26th Regiment held their ground and achieved victory, terrifying the enemy and forcing them to flee in panic, abandoning weapons and leaving behind their dead.

In this battle, the enemy and puppet troops suffered nearly 300 casualties. The 26th Regiment lost 73 men, including 56 who died on the spot, while another 17 severely wounded soldiers were transported to the Yingshanji Rear Hospital by Hongze Lake, where they later succumbed to their injuries. The fleeing Japanese left behind 13 bodies, including that of their squad leader.

After suffering a heavy blow from the 26th Regiment, the morale of the anti-Japanese forces in Northern Jiangsu soared. The main forces of the 4th Division and local troops launched successive offensives, causing the Japanese invaders to retreat steadily. Soon, they were confined to major strongholds such as Xuzhou, Huaiyin, and Sixian. The 33-day anti-"mopping up" campaign of the Northern Jiangsu Anti-Japanese Democratic Base also ended in victory.

To commemorate the heroic Zhujiagang Battle and the martyrs who fell in the fight, in August 1943, the Suiyang County Committee of the Communist Party, the Suiyang County People's Government, and the Suiyang County Consultative Council decided to build a martyrs' cemetery at Zhujiagang. Due to shortages in manpower and funding, construction only began in early October 1943. The project was completed in 40 days, in December 1943. Such a construction effort was unprecedented in the Northern Jiangsu Anti-Japanese Democratic Base at the time.

Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit – Third Batch, March 1982 Tomb of Martyrs from the Zhujiagang Battle, 1943, Caomang, Sihong County

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units