Former Site of the Command Center of the Anti-Japanese Base in Southern Hubei

Former Site of the Command Center of the Anti-Japanese Base in Southern Hubei

The former site of the command center of the Anti-Japanese Base in Southern Hubei is a classic red tourism attraction and a patriotic education base.

The former site of the command center of the Anti-Japanese Base in Southern Hubei is located in Mayang’ao, Shawo Township, Echeng District, Ezhou City.

In early May 1942, to support the anti-Japanese battlefields in Central and South China and contain Japanese forces, the New Fourth Army’s 5th Division, according to instructions from the New Fourth Army Headquarters, ordered the 14th Brigade to cross the Yangtze River and advance into Southern Hubei to establish a guerrilla base there. In August 1942, the Jiangnan Corps Command and the Corps Party Committee were established in Tanjiaqiao, Echeng (now part of Daye City). By the end of August, the Corps Party Committee set up the Hubei (Cheng) - Daye (Shi) Working Committee, which led local working committees in areas along the Yangtze River, including Ezhou-Dayi, Dayi-Ezhou, Fanhu, and Yangxin-Dayi. The Ezhou-Dayi Working Committee operated centered around the Ezhou-Dayi Anti-Japanese Base in the enemy's rear, with its headquarters located in Mayang’ao—the central area of the Ezhou-Dayi Base where both the Ezhou-Dayi Working Committee and the Ezhou-Dayi Administrative Committee were stationed. In April 1943, the Hubei-Dayi Working Committee merged with the Xianning-Chongyang-Puqi County-level Party Committee to form the Hubei-Dayi County-level Party Committee, and the Hubei-Dayi Command was also established. The Hubei-Dayi County-level Party Committee and the Hubei-Dayi Command shared their headquarters in Mayang’ao. In April 1945, after the Hubei-Dayi County-level Party Committee was merged into the Hubei-Dayi Regional Party Committee, it was dissolved, and the Hubei-Dayi Command was also dissolved after being incorporated into the Hubei-Dayi Military Sub-district.

In March 1944, Ma Qinqiu’s and Liao Yihua’s forces from the Nationalist stubborn army’s Hubei-Southern Advance Column took advantage of the withdrawal of main New Fourth Army forces to the north bank of the Yangtze and the weakened defense of the Ezhou-Dayi Base to launch a joint attack with over 1,500 troops, heavily invading the Ezhou-Dayi Base and occupying Mayang’ao as well as nearby villages such as Yangsiai and Kangjiawan. Wang Biao, Secretary of the Ezhou-Dayi Working Committee, led local armed forces in fierce resistance and promptly sent messengers across the river to report to the 4th Military Sub-district and request reinforcements from the main forces. Upon receiving the report, Zhang Tixue, Commander and Political Commissar of the 4th Military Sub-district, immediately ordered Luo Tong to lead the 41st Regiment of the New Fourth Army to cross the river that very night, and he himself later led the 42nd Regiment to follow. When the 41st Regiment arrived at Chihu Port, they encountered a group of stubborn troops who were chasing several guerrilla operatives. The soldiers vied to land first and preemptively engaged the enemy. Seeing that they were facing the main force of the New Fourth Army, the stubborn troops turned and fled. The 41st Regiment pursued them to the vicinity of Kangjiawan. Before long, the 42nd Regiment arrived and recaptured the formerly occupied areas such as Yangsiai. At dawn, the two crossing forces joined up with the local Ezhou-Dayi armed forces and immediately launched a full-scale counterattack, which Zhang Tixue personally planned and commanded. They divided into two routes—one focusing on attacking Mayang’ao, the other on Kangjiawan. The stubborn troops retreated step by step and eventually withdrew to the main peak of Mayang’ao. Our army continuously intensified the offensive. Ma and Liao’s forces, trapped on the mountain, gradually lost their strength and collapsed before sunset, fleeing in disarray. After a day and a night of fierce battle, our army achieved a great victory, capturing two radios, two machine guns, other firearms, and a batch of ammunition. The stubborn troops suffered more than 100 casualties. Our army had over 30 casualties. After the battle, the Hubei-Dayi County-level Party Committee and the 4th Military Sub-district of the New Fourth Army held a military-civilian celebration assembly in Shangsongwan, Shawo, to commend those who fought bravely and civilians who supported the front.

In July 1995, it was designated as a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit and patriotic education base. In February 1999, it was designated as a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit and patriotic education base.

Shawo Township: A township under Echeng District, Ezhou City. Established in 1949 as Shawo Township, it became a commune in 1961 and was re-established as a township in 1984. It is located in the eastern part of the district, 13 kilometers from the district government. Covering an area of 54 square kilometers with a population of 31,000, it has road access to the Ezhou–Huangshi Highway. The township administers 11 village committees: Shawo, Zhaozhai, Baotuan, Huqiao, Pailou, Xinwan, Zouma, Jiajiang, Yuba, Caopo, and Huangshan. The township enterprises are mainly in construction. Agriculture focuses on rice cultivation. ... More detailed information about Shawo Township++