Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Park of the 1st Battalion, 1st Detachment, 11th Advance Column, 5th War Zone

Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Park of the 1st Battalion, 1st Detachment, 11th Advance Column, 5th War Zone

The Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Park of the 1st Battalion, 1st Detachment, 11th Advance Column, 5th War Zone is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province and a classic red tourism attraction.

The Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Park of the 1st Battalion, 1st Detachment, 11th Advance Column, 5th War Zone is located in Xiaowu Group, Daming Village, Dashi Township, Taihu County, Anhui Province.

In 1939, the Anhui People's Self-Defense Army was reorganized into guerrilla columns, divided into seventeen columns under the command of the 5th War Zone. The 11th Advance Column fought across the Jianghuai region. In 1944, the remains of 674 officers and soldiers from this detachment who had fallen in various battles were all relocated and buried together, and the Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Park of the 1st Battalion, 1st Detachment, 11th Advance Column, 5th War Zone was built. It was completed in 1946, covering an area of about 5 mu, and originally featured a memorial square, the Hall of Loyalty, and other structures.

In January 1939, at the time, Anhui Provincial Chairman Liao Lei and Civil Affairs Director Chen Liangzuo reorganized the Anhui People's Self-Defense Army into guerrilla columns. By order of the 5th War Zone Command, the province was divided into seventeen columns. The 1st Detachment of the 11th Advance Column was formed from the self-defense forces of four counties—Fuyang, Woyang, Yingzhou, and Bozhou—with a total of 1,059 officers and soldiers. It consisted of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, an auxiliary battalion, and a machine-gun squadron. This detachment fought across the Jianghuai region and participated in dozens of major and minor anti-Japanese battles. Notable battles include the Battle of Shierlimiao in Bozhou, the Battle of Baishananbu, the Battle of Linhuan Sanji, the Battle of Shengjiaqiao in Lujiang, and the Battles of Dayangshan and Shiniusan in Wangjiang. These battles resulted in the annihilation of over ten thousand Japanese troops, the killing of two Japanese majors, and the seizure of numerous war spoils, delivering a heavy blow to the enemy.

In October 1944, with the approval of the 5th War Zone Command and the Anhui Provincial Government, the remains of 674 officers and soldiers from this detachment who had fallen in various battles were all relocated and buried together, leading to the construction of the Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Park of the 1st Battalion, 1st Detachment, 11th Advance Column, 5th War Zone. The park was completed in May 1946, covering an area of about 5 mu, and originally included a memorial square, the Hall of Loyalty, a martyrs' cemetery, a memorial tower, an octagonal memorial pavilion, and barracks for guards. Due to historical reasons, the martyrs' park was severely damaged. Today, only the martyrs' cemetery, tombstones, inscriptions, the martyrs’ epitaph stele, the battle casualty roster stele, the inscribed dedication on the memorial, and 13 inscriptions by local government officials and public figures from that time remain. The site has now been developed into a patriotic education base.

In June 2012, it was designated as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit by the Anhui Provincial People’s Government.

Protected area: the martyrs' cemetery, tombstones, and inscriptions.

Construction control zone: within 30 meters east, west, and north of the retaining wall of the martyrs' cemetery, and within 10 meters south of the memorial square.

Daming Village: Located at the southern end of Taihu County, west of the township government, adjacent to Xuqiao Town, and traversed by Provincial Highway Taihua, Daming Village in Dashi Township covers a total area of approximately 7.66 square kilometers. It consists of 24 villager groups, with 1,026 households and a population of 4,051. The village has a total arable land area of 7,015 mu (including 2,817 mu of paddy fields and 4,198 mu of dry land), mountainous land of 2,416 mu, and water surfaces of 300 mu. Over 1,800 villagers work outside the village. … Daming Village detailed information++

Further reading:

· The Fifth Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relic Protection Units in Anqing City