Former Site of the Headquarters of the 1st Division of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army

Former Site of the Headquarters of the 1st Division of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army

The former site of the headquarters of the 1st Division of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, a classic red tourism attraction, and a patriotic education base.

The former site of the headquarters of the 1st Division of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army is located in Huangguban Village, Jianchanghe Township, Xin County. In the spring of 1930, with the growth and expansion of the 31st, 32nd, and 33rd Red Army Divisions and the establishment and development of the Eyu Border Base Area, the Southeastern Henan Base Area, and the Western Anhui Base Area, the revolutionary flames ignited across the Eyuwan region had spread like wildfire, initially establishing a worker-peasant armed stronghold centered around the Dabie Mountains. To unify the leadership of these three base areas and three Red Army divisions and integrate the revolutionary forces into a cohesive whole to further develop the base areas, in February, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China decided to designate the 18 counties across the three provinces of Eyuwan as a special district and establish the Eyuwan Special Committee. On March 18, an instruction letter was sent to the Special Committee and the three divisions, deciding to form the 31st, 32nd, and 33rd Red Army Divisions into the 1st Division of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, directly under the leadership of the Central Committee. In April, the 1st Red Army was established in Huangguban. The army commander was Xu Jishen, the political commissar was Cao Dajun, and the deputy army commander was Xu Xiangqian. It included a political department, staff office, quartermaster department, and army hospital. The 31st, 32nd, and 33rd Red Army Divisions were reorganized into the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Divisions of the 1st Red Army, with a total of over 2,100 troops, and the army headquarters was stationed in Huangguban. The establishment of the 1st Red Army unified the leadership and command of the three Red Army divisions, creating favorable conditions for consolidating and expanding the base areas. At this time, the "Central Plains War" between Chiang Kai-shek, Feng Yuxiang, and Yan Xishan had just begun. The 1st Red Army took advantage of this favorable objective situation, adopting a strategy of large-scale counterattacks, outward expansion, and offensive operations. It swept across the southern section of the Beijing-Hankou Railway, the Western Anhui region, and both sides of the Huai River, achieving continuous victories. The army rapidly expanded, and the base areas continued to grow. By October 1930, the Central Committee listed the Eyuwan Base Area as one of the six major base areas in the country.

The former site of the headquarters of the 1st Division of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army is a simple three-room brick-and-wood civilian house facing east and situated westward, with a small rectangular courtyard in front, covering a total area of 165 square meters. The middle room served as the army’s meeting room, the south room was the residence of Army Commander Xu Jishen, and the north room was the army headquarters dining hall. In 1979, the site was renovated, and exhibits were installed indoors. In the same year, it was designated as a key cultural relics protection unit of Xin County, and in 1986, it was announced as a provincial-level key revolutionary cultural relics protection unit by the People's Government of Henan Province. In 1996, the site was restored again to its original appearance.

On October 7, 2019, the former site of the headquarters of the 1st Division of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Huangguban Village: Overview of Huangguban Village

I. Village Land and Population Situation

Huangguban Village is located in the southern part of Jianchanghe Township, 3.5 kilometers from the township government, bordering Qiliping Town, Hong'an County, Hubei Province. The village covers a total area of 3.44 square kilometers, with 988 mu of arable land and over 3,100 mu of mountainous land. It administers 7 villager groups, with 356 households and a population of 1,508.

II. Historical and Cultural Background

Huangguban Village is a renowned red revolutionary holy site. In April 1930, the 1st Red Army was established in Huangguban. The army commander was Xu Jishen, the political commissar was Cao Dajun, the deputy army… More details about Huangguban Village++

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units