Site of the Shanxi New Industry Military Police Brigade Weapons Repair Workshop

Site of the Shanxi New Industry Military Police Brigade Weapons Repair Workshop

The Site of the Shanxi New Industry Military Police Brigade Weapons Repair Workshop is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Site of the Shanxi New Industry Military Police Brigade Weapons Repair Workshop is located 50 meters south of Gexugou Village, Miyazhen Township, Loufan County, covering a construction area of 1,368 square meters.

In April 1938, Song Xiangshan, head of the Ordnance Department of the Shanxi New Industry Military Police Brigade, was ordered to establish the repair workshop, which was entrusted to the rear service office stationed in Miyazhen for leadership and management. In October 1938, the repair workshop was relocated from Miyazhen to Wujia Valley in Jiaocheng County. In December, it moved again from Wujia Valley to Gexugou. The workshop flourished in Gexugou — its staff grew from just four at its inception to over a hundred, organized into forging, machine and fitting, carpentry, and bomb-making groups, taking on the tasks of repairing weapons, manufacturing guns, and making hand grenades. By July 1939, the workshop had successfully begun replicating the Type 79 Chiang Kai-shek rifle, producing around 30 per month. Monthly grenade production reached 5,000–6,000, peaking at over 9,000. In September 1939, the workshop moved from Gexugou to P楼沟 in Baode County. During its time in Gexugou, the machine room, fitting shop, and warehouse were housed in three stone-connected cave dwellings of a Catholic church, while the blacksmith’s shop was scattered across multiple locations in the village. Part of the bomb-making group was stationed in Yaogzhuang, and workers lived in cave dwellings vacated by local residents. Today, nine caves where weapons were produced and stored remain at the site, all in severely damaged condition.

Miyazhen Township: A township under the jurisdiction of Loufan County. Established in 1971, it is located southwest of the county seat, 19 kilometers from the county government. Covering an area of 212 square kilometers with a population of 10,000, it is traversed by a county-level highway. It administers 23 village committees: Miyazhen, Guojiazhuang, Yangjiazhuang Shang, Shiyu, Jinyangzhang, Caojiazhang, Xingwangzhuang, Cha'er Shang, Lou'er Shang, Xiashi, Baidiaoling, Guanta, Kangjiagou, Xigou, Kuanping, Dushihe, Chaichang, Guolian, Yaogzhuang, Donggou, Louzidao Gou, Qingyanggou, and Fanjia Village. Crops include potatoes, corn, and millet. … Miyazhen Township detailed information ++