Site of the Chen Village Annihilation Battle

Site of the Chen Village Annihilation Battle

The Site of the Chen Village Annihilation Battle is a cultural relics protection unit of Hebei Province and a patriotic education base.

The Site of the Chen Village Annihilation Battle is now a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit, a patriotic education base of Hebei Province, and a Party history education base of Hebei Province. It comprises the Chen Village Annihilation Battle Monument, the Martyrs’ Tombstone of the Chen Village Annihilation Battle, the Martyrs’ Tomb Cluster of the Chen Village Annihilation Battle, the Headquarters of He Long, the Ash Scattering Site Monument of Sun Yi (former president of the Second Branch of the Counter-Japanese Military and Political University), and an exhibition hall currently under construction, covering a total area of approximately 37,000 square meters.

The site is located within the Hengshan Lake Tourist Resort in Chen Village Town, Lingshou County. To the northeast lies the former site of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border Region Government, a national-level patriotic education base in Fuping County, while to the southwest is Xibaipo, the revolutionary holy land and another national-level patriotic education base in Pingshan County. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, Chen Village was a political, economic, and cultural hub as well as a military stronghold of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border Region. Many rear-area institutions were stationed here, including the Border Region Government, the Second Branch of the Counter-Japanese Military and Political University, the Border Region Public Security Bureau, the Grain Bureau, and the Border Region Bank.

The Chen Village Annihilation Battle Exhibition Hall covers an exhibition area of 1,400 square meters and is divided into three sections. The first section focuses on the Chen Village Annihilation Battle. In September 1939, in an attempt to annihilate China’s anti-Japanese forces and destroy the party and government offices located there, Japanese invaders assembled over 1,500 puppet troops to besiege Chen Village. He Long, commander of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army, led his troops overnight to engage the enemy. Coordinating with Nie Rongzhen’s forces from the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border Region, they fought fiercely for five days and nights, completely wiping out the enemy and killing the brigade commander, Suiyuan. The battle was hailed by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China as a “model annihilation battle” during the stalemate phase of the War of Resistance in the enemy’s rear areas. The then Nationalist Government sent a telegram to He Long, stating: “Your heroic battle at Chen Village completely annihilated the enemy, dealt a heavy blow, set an example for resistance in North China, and boosted military morale in Hebei and Shanxi. Special commendation is hereby awarded.” The second section covers the Second Branch of the Counter-Japanese Military and Political University in Lingshou. From January 1939 to March 1944, the Second Branch operated in Lingshou for five years and three months. During this period, students lived and fought alongside the people of Lingshou, participating in dozens of major battles such as the Chen Village Annihilation Battle, the Huangtuling Encirclement Battle, and the Hundred Regiments Offensive. They trained 20,000 outstanding individuals, produced 76 generals, and nurtured 60 provincial- or ministerial-level leaders. Marshal Nie Rongzhen praised the Second Branch as “a pioneer in running schools in the enemy’s rear and a base for cultivating talent.” The third section introduces the history of Lingshou, covering its major historical events and notable figures from ancient times to the present. The final hall highlights the major achievements in Lingshou’s economic and social development today and outlines a bright vision for the future.

The museum houses a rich collection of artifacts, including the schoolbag and photo album used by He Long, captured weapons and ammunition, as well as inscriptions by -, Zhang Zongxun, Liu Daosheng, Sun Yi, Huang Xinting, Lü Chuanzan, Hong Yi, and Zhang Min dedicated to the Chen Village Annihilation Battle. It also features an inscription by Comrade He Long for the Hengshanling Reservoir.

The site receives visitors—cadres and civilians from across the country—each year for educational purposes. In the past three years, it has received an average of over 200,000 visitors annually. Nie Li, daughter of Marshal Nie Rongzhen; He Xiaoming, daughter of Marshal He Long; Hong Hu, son of General Hong Xuezhi; and Generals Li Zhongquan and Tao Hanzhang have all visited the site. Three institutions, including the Shijiazhuang Army Command College, have designated it as an educational base. It has become an important site for patriotic and revolutionary tradition education for the general public.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units of Hebei Province