Visiting the Baoding Military Academy during the 2021 National Day Holiday

📍 Chiang Mai · 👁 5870 reads · ❤️ 32 likes

The Baoding Military Academy Memorial Hall is situated in Lianchi District, Baoding City, Hebei Province. On November 21, 1901 (the 27th year of the Guangxu reign), Yuan Shikai arrived in Baoding from Shandong by imperial decree, succeeding Li Hongzhang as Viceroy of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang. Once in Baoding, Yuan Shikai oversaw the training of the new Beiyang Army and established military academies. In 1912, it officially became known as the Baoding Military Academy.

The Baoding Military Academy is hailed as the 'cradle of generals' in China, producing a large number of revolutionary soldiers who fought against oppression, for national independence, and for the prosperity of the country and common prosperity of the people. It was the first regular army academy in modern Chinese history, and the earliest, largest, most fully equipped, and most systematic military education institution in modern China's military education history.

The Baoding Military Academy Memorial Hall was built on the original site of the Baoding Army Officers' School.

In June 1993, the preparatory office for the Baoding Military Academy Memorial Hall was established.

In May 1995, the first phase of the project was completed and opened to the public.

In June 2002, the expansion project was completed, covering an area of 8,000 square meters and a floor area of 3,000 square meters, including the main gate, the Shangwu Hall, east and west wings, classrooms, dormitories, and more.

In September 2005, it was officially named the Baoding Military Academy Memorial Hall.

In October 2015, the Baoding Military Academy Park was placed under the management of the memorial hall, expanding its total area to 317 mu.

On April 30, 2017, the memorial hall began offering free admission to visitors.

Today, it is a patriotic education base of Hebei Province, a party history education base of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, and a party history education base of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang.

The Baoding Military Academy is located at No. 585 Dongfeng East Road, Baoding City, Hebei Province.

1. From Baoding East Railway Station – Junxiao Square

Option 1: Take Tourist Bus 1 (direction: Gaoke Industrial Park) from Baoding East Station to Junxiao Square.

Option 2: Take Bus 10 (direction: Gaomancheng Weiyang Square) from Baoding East Station to Junxiao Square.

2. From Baoding Railway Station – Junxiao Square

Option 1: From the West Square of the train station, take Bus 9 to the Municipal Public Security Bureau stop, then transfer to Bus 10 / 101 / Tourist Bus 1 / Tourist Bus 5.

Option 2: From the East Square of the train station, take Bus K1 / 4 / 8 to the Ancient Lotus Pond stop, then transfer to Bus D1.

Option 3: From the East Square, take Bus 1 to the Provincial Hospital stop, then transfer to Bus 61.

3. From the Passenger Transport Center – Junxiao Square

Option 1: Take Tourist Bus 5 / 101 / D1 / 17 directly from the Passenger Transport Center.

Responding to the evolution of modern warfare, the Baoding Army Officers' School came into being. This was a modern military academy with a comprehensive range of military courses and a large scale. Relying on advanced military education concepts and rigorous training, over the 12 years from 1912 to 1923, it cultivated a large number of military and political talents who played extremely important roles on the modern Chinese military and political stage.

1. Establishment of the School

In March 1912, Yuan Shikai took the oath of office as Provisional President of the Republic of China in Beijing. In April, the provisional government moved from Nanjing to Beijing. Tang Shaoyi, a confidant of Yuan Shikai, became Prime Minister, and Duan Qirui became Minister of the Army, whereupon they began planning the establishment of an army officers' school.

At that time, 'with the establishment of the Republic, there was an urgent need for talent; a place to cultivate future military leaders could not be absent for even a single day.' Moreover, the cadets and students of the military middle schools and officer academies established by the previous Qing government were scattered across the country with their studies incomplete. If they were not called back to resume their education, it would result in a waste of talent. At the same time, the Republican government itself urgently needed to found an officers' school to train junior army officers. Therefore, on June 6, the Ministry of the Army formally announced that the former Qing Army Officers' Academy would be converted into an Army Officers' School. On June 10, the Ministry of the Army again notified all provinces, asking provincial governors to gather the scattered former officer cadets and students of military middle schools who had not yet graduated, and send them to Beijing between August 1 and 15 for enrollment. Meanwhile, Yuan Shikai ordered Zhao Litai to take charge of preparatory matters for the school, including determining the school's leadership, recruiting instructors and administrative staff, proposing the school's budget, preparing teaching equipment, weapons, horses, and so on, and set up a preparatory office in Beijing. On July 3, 1912, the Ministry of the Army decided to move the school to the site of the former Beiyang Army Crash Course Academy in Zhili Province, Baoding. Because of its location in Baoding, the school was called the 'Baoding Army Officers' School.'

The Baoding Army Officers' School was subordinate to the Military Education Department of the Ministry of the Army, with the aim of unified planning and training of junior military personnel. The 'Regulations on Army Officers' Schools' promulgated in September 1912 explicitly stated: 'The Army Officers' School is a place for producing junior officers, exclusively for officer candidates of all branches, teaching them the essential education required of junior officers.' Later, as military modernization deepened, other provinces also had ideas of founding similar schools, but all were blocked by the Ministry of the Army. Therefore, until the establishment of the Whampoa Military Academy, the Baoding Army Officers' School was the only central-level army officers' school established by the Republic of China.

2. Organizational Structure

The Baoding Military Academy was headed by a principal, who had overall authority and supervised the director of studies, branch chiefs, instructors, student company commanders, student platoon leaders, and the teaching staff. In the administrative system, under the principal there were the Head Office, Teaching Department, Discipline Department, and Horsemanship Department. The Head Office managed general civilian personnel, including supply, medical, veterinary, clerical staff, and other miscellaneous workers; the Teaching Department was responsible for educational tasks, with the curriculum mainly focused on military courses supplemented by general courses; the Discipline Department was a disciplinary guidance department, specifically charged with maintaining military discipline and morale among the students; the Horsemanship Department was responsible for equestrian instruction.

The principal usually held the rank of Major General, was responsible to the Ministry of the Army, and oversaw all school personnel and all school affairs. The successive principals were:

First: Zhao Litai (October 1912 – December 1912), courtesy name Kanghou, from Hefei, Anhui. Graduate of the Tianjin Beiyang Military Academy. Lieutenant General.

Second: Jiang Fangzhen (December 1912 – September 1913), courtesy name Baili, from Haining, Zhejiang. Graduate of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy. Lieutenant General.

Third: Qu Tongfeng (September 1913 – September 1915), courtesy name Weiqing, from Fushan, Shandong. Graduate of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy. Lieutenant General.

Fourth: Wang Ruxian (September 1915 – June 1916), courtesy name Shaofu, from Miyun, Beijing. Graduate of the Tianjin Beiyang Military Academy. Lieutenant General.

Fifth: Yang Zude (January 1917 – February 1919), courtesy name Ziyin, from Weifang, Shandong. Graduate of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy. Lieutenant General.

Sixth: Jia Deyao (August 1919 – May 1921), courtesy name Kunting, from Hefei, Anhui. Graduate of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy. Lieutenant General.

Seventh: Zhang Hongxu (June 1921 – September 1922), courtesy name Shaoxian, from Tianjin, Zhili. Graduate of the Tianjin Beiyang Military Academy. Lieutenant General.

Eighth: Sun Shulin (October 1922 – August 1923), courtesy name Shaoquan, from Dacheng, Zhili. Graduate of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy. Lieutenant General.

The director of studies held the rank of Major General or Colonel, responsible to the principal for directing the branch chiefs and the officers of the Teaching, Discipline, and Horsemanship departments, bearing the responsibility for unified education. Under the director of studies, there were five branches: Infantry, Artillery, Cavalry, Engineering, and Logistics. Each branch had a chief with the rank of Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel, who supervised the branch officers of the Teaching, Discipline, and Horsemanship departments, formulated the branch's educational plan, compiled the curriculum, studied teaching methods, and sometimes taught classes directly. The successive directors of studies were: Mao Jicheng, Zhang Chengli, Jia Deyao, Cheng Changfa, Liu Ruxian, Sun Shulin, Zhao Xiezhang, and others.

The Head Office was directly under the principal and its main personnel were the adjutant, secretary, supply officer, medical officer, and veterinary officer. The Teaching Department was composed of instructors in various academic subjects, mainly in tactics and military systems, ordnance, topography and fortifications, administration, hygiene, equine science, and foreign languages. The Discipline Department was a guidance and management department, composed of student company commanders and platoon leaders. In each branch, students were divided into several companies according to their numbers, and each company was further divided into platoons. The Horsemanship Department was specifically responsible for equestrian instruction and the management of horses, with a chief riding instructor in charge. Under the school headquarters there were five specialized branches, namely Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Engineering, and Logistics. The Cavalry and Logistics branches each had a dean of studies; the Infantry, Artillery, and Engineering branches each had a branch chief, all held by officers of colonel rank, responsible for teaching and management of their branch. Below each branch were student companies, each with a company commander, an officer of major rank. Companies were divided into platoons, each with a platoon leader, a captain. The whole school had a total of 13 companies: 7 infantry, 2 cavalry, 2 artillery, 1 engineering, and 1 logistics.

The above was the initial organizational structure of the Baoding Army Officers' School. In 1919, the structure underwent changes, mainly in the following aspects: first, branch chiefs were abolished and military subject directors were newly established, with directors named after specialized military disciplines such as tactics director, ordnance director, fortifications director, etc. Each director was responsible to the director of studies for the education in their particular discipline. Second, student company commanders were changed to officer cadet commanders, and student platoon leaders to officer cadet section leaders. Third, the supply system became independent. Supply affairs, previously under the direct jurisdiction of the principal, came under the Supply Division of the Ministry of the Army. These partial adjustments further rationalized the internal management of the academy and laid a solid foundation for the Baoding Army Officers' School to become a well-known modern military academy at home and abroad.

3. Curriculum and Assessment

The curriculum was divided into three main categories: academic subjects, practical training, and foreign languages, along with general courses such as classical Chinese and mathematics. Military textbooks were mainly adapted from Japanese textbooks and uniformly issued by the Ministry of the Army. Academic subjects were divided into four major categories: tactics, weaponry, topography and fortifications, and transportation. Practical training included apparatus gymnastics, bayonet drill, saber fencing, and horsemanship. The Baoding Military Academy adopted the teaching methods of the German and Japanese military academies, which were the most advanced at the time, combining indoor theory with outdoor practice. Teaching progressed from simple to complex, step by step. Instruction was mainly delivered orally by instructors, or demonstrated through physical demonstrations. Generally, it was divided into indoor and outdoor training: indoors was for textbook instruction, outdoors for learning practical operations.

Tactical exercises were a very important subject. After the instructor explained the basic principles, they would pose a problem, imagining a certain enemy situation, and the students would apply the principles they had learned, using military symbols to mark the friendly and enemy situations on a map, draw up a plan, and submit it to the instructor for evaluation. It would start with the strength of an infantry company, and as the course progressed, gradually increase to a battalion, a regiment, a brigade, then from pure infantry to include cavalry, engineers, artillery, becoming a combined arms detachment, and finally up to the strength of a division. In addition, regular field exercises simulating tactical maneuvers were carried out to consolidate learning outcomes. At the end of each class's course of study, a joint arms practical exercise was also conducted. For topography and fortifications, after the basic principles were taught, students would take surveying instruments like surveying poles, measuring tapes, and levels, and go outdoors to conduct field surveys and construct various fortifications. The weaponry course mainly covered the performance of various weapons and included live-fire exercises. In their studies, each branch would also focus on more specialized military courses based on its characteristics. In the early days of the academy, there were also courses in the classics and history, with the aim of confining students' thinking. In addition to these courses, there were also hygiene classes, which were often not taken seriously by students.

Student assessment at the Baoding Military Academy mainly focused on conduct and academic performance. In terms of conduct, if a student violated school regulations warranting dismissal, the academy would expel him. In terms of academics, if a student's performance did not meet the standards for promotion or graduation, he would also be expelled. Academic assessment was overseen by the Teaching and Discipline departments, conducted once per semester. Initially, academic assessments were divided into entrance examinations, semester examinations, and graduation examinations. Later, ordinary examinations were added, and the entrance examination was renamed the qualifying examination. Ordinary examinations were divided into written notes and oral recitation, mainly assessing students' daily performance. The graduation examination was held in the final semester; those who failed two subjects were kept back a class, and after two such failures, they were expelled. In daily assessments, students who did not meet the requirements were often severely punished; some found it unbearable, for example, student Han Mingzhang suffered a nervous breakdown due to overly intense training.

Even so, grading standards at the Baoding Military Academy varied among instructors, with leniency and strictness hard to unify. According to Huang Shaohong, a graduate of the third class of the Infantry Branch, 'As long as you didn't hand in a blank paper, you could always get a passing grade—their goal was merely to get through the curriculum. The scores on paper had no decisive significance for whether students truly mastered military skills.' Of course, not every instructor was like this, but as long as some were, student standards would be affected, and the purpose of examinations would be diminished. Overall, however, assessments at the Baoding Military Academy were still very strict.

4. Student Management

The academy established strict duty, inspection, examination, and leave systems. The duty system was divided into officer duty and student duty. Student duty mainly involved roll call, headcounts, maintaining classroom discipline, including weapons inspection, uniform inspection, physical inspection, and comprehensive inspections after parades. The leave system stipulated that Sundays were a day off, holidays were also off, and there was a summer vacation; otherwise, students had to study at the academy. The examination system consisted of five types: spot tests, monthly exams, quarterly exams, semester exams, and final exams. Exams were quite strict; for example, for the first class's graduation examination, the Ministry of the Army formed a 10-member examination committee to supervise at the academy.

The academy also formulated various punishment systems. For instance, during training, students who failed to meet requirements were often beaten with military rods, confined to barracks, or subjected to fatigue training. Those guilty of any of the following offenses were forced to leave: lacking academic ability with no hope of graduation; disrupting military discipline and repeatedly violating rules; having a bad character with no sign of reform; suffering from injury or illness rendering them unable to continue studies; failing examinations. Among these, for those who repeatedly violated military discipline and had poor conduct, there was a special provision that after expulsion, all tuition fees, allowances received over the years, issued uniforms, books, and even diplomas from military elementary and middle schools were to be confiscated.

The Baoding Military Academy explicitly stipulated that students were not allowed to 'irresponsibly discuss current politics, privately produce heretical doctrines, or form associations and gatherings,' and were forbidden from reading 'newspapers, miscellaneous books, or magazines.' It vigorously advocated that 'protecting the nation and obeying orders is a soldier's bounden duty' and that 'soldiers should regard non-involvement in politics as a virtue,' even publicly punishing students who 'dared to cross the line.' In 1916, Fang Qidao, a soon-to-graduate student of the third class who cared about current affairs, secretly read the Shuntian Times. The conservative principal Wang Ruxian, upon hearing of this, confined him, then made him kneel before the entire school and loudly scolded him: 'You were told not to read newspapers, yet you insisted on reading them. By disobeying orders, aren't you breaking the law?!' When Fang Qidao argued back, he was falsely branded a 'revolutionary' and severely beaten with 40 strokes of the military rod.

5. Historical Status

Although the Baoding Army Officers' School existed for just over a decade, the new military education concepts and training methods it pioneered were a milestone in the history of modern Chinese military education. The 6,574 graduates it produced stood at the center of China's military and political stage during modern Chinese development and played a significant role in the modernization of China's military. As the famous Republican-era scholar Jiang Tingfu said: 'To study modern history, especially the modern history of the Republic of China, one must first study the history of the Baoding Military Academy.'

The Baoding Army Officers' School produced numerous modern military figures. In the late Qing dynasty, since the military academies were founded by Yuan Shikai for his own purposes, graduates largely filled the ranks of the Beiyang Army, forming the talent base of the Beiyang clique, particularly the Zhili warlord faction. For instance, before the Zhili-Anhui War in 1920, among the 87 division and brigade commanders of the Beiyang Army, 32 were graduates of Baoding schools, including 21 Zhili faction generals. This was also a significant factor in the Zhili faction's ultimate victory in that war.

After the founding of the Republic, with the influx of new ideas, students of the Baoding Officers' School began to awaken to the retrogressive actions of the Beiyang clique, gradually sympathizing with and moving towards revolution. Thus, among high-ranking Kuomintang generals, graduates of the Baoding Officers' School formed the largest group, their influence even driving and shaping modern Chinese military and political processes. According to data from the 'Register of Commissioned Officers of the Army, Navy, and Air Force,' in 1936, Baoding graduates accounted for 25.8% of serving full generals, and 31.56% of lieutenant generals, both ranking first. By 1947, the proportion of Baoding graduates among full generals had risen to 37.84%, still first, while among lieutenant generals it dropped to 15.16%, second only to graduates of the Army University, a change closely related to many Baoding lieutenant generals being promoted to full general.

Moreover, in the highest military institutions of the Kuomintang, Baoding graduates held most key positions. Posts such as Minister of Military Affairs of the National Revolutionary Army General Headquarters, member of the Presidium of the National Government Military Affairs Commission, Director of the Training Directorate, Minister of Military Training, Director of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, Director-General of the Military Law Enforcement Directorate, Minister of Political Affairs, President of the Military Advisory Council, Chairman of the Strategic Advisory Committee, Chief of the National Government's Department of Adjutant General, Chief of the Presidential Palace's Adjutant General Office, as well as Minister of National Defense, Chief of the General Staff, Commander-in-Chief of the Army General Headquarters, Minister of Rear Area Services, and Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Service Forces, were mostly filled by Baoding graduates, such as Tang Shengzhi, Deng Yanda, Bai Chongxi, Chen Cheng, Qian Dajun, Zhang Zhizhong, Xue Yue, Li Hanhun, Gu Zhutong, Yu Hanmou, Zhou Zhirou, Huang Zhenqiu, Guo Qian, Qin Dechun, and others.

In the highest leadership positions of the Kuomintang army across different periods, Baoding graduates consistently held a large proportion. According to statistics, from the Northern Expedition in 1926 to the eve of the Liberation in 1949, although the top Kuomintang military positions changed more than ten times, the proportion of Baoding graduates remained between 28% and 50%, far higher than any other military academy. For example, on the eve of the Northern Expedition in 1926, among the 214 positions of army commanders, division commanders, regimental commanders, party representatives, and political department directors of the 8 armies of the National Revolutionary Army, Baoding graduates occupied 60 positions, or 28%. Before Chiang Kai-shek's 'April 12' anti-communist coup in 1927, among 102 positions of army commanders, deputy commanders, and division commanders of the 44 armies of the National Revolutionary Army, Baoding graduates held 56, or 54.9%. In 1929, before the national army reorganization, when the various group armies were reorganized into divisions, there were 56 division commanders, of whom 26 were Baoding graduates, or 46.5%. After the full-scale outbreak of the War of Resistance in August 1937, among 167 positions of corps commanders and chiefs of staff under the Military Affairs Commission, Baoding graduates held 52, or 32.1%. At the time of Japan's surrender in August 1945, among 117 positions of theater commanders, chiefs of staff, directors and deputy directors of various field headquarters, mobile commands, and pacification offices, Baoding graduates numbered 50, or 42.7%. When the Kuomintang retreated from the mainland in 1949, among 71 positions of director and chief of staff of various pacification offices and military-administrative governor's offices, Baoding graduates held 25, or 35.2%.

The Baoding Army Officers' School cultivated talent in various fields for the establishment of modern military academies, and its graduates held important positions in those academies.

When the Whampoa Military Academy was first founded, Chiang Kai-shek served as chairman of the preparatory committee, with Wang Bailing, Lin Zhenxiong, Li Jishen, Deng Yanda, Shen Yingshi, and five others as preparatory members. Deng Yanda, Yan Zhong, Hu Shusen, Jian Zuozhen, Qian Dajun, and four others formed the entrance examination committee. After the academy was established, Chiang Kai-shek became commandant, Li Jishen vice-commandant, and under them there were six departments, one office, and one hall. Except for the Political Department, which was led by Zhou Enlai, the other departments and offices were mostly headed by Baoding graduates. Deng Yanda served as deputy director of the Training Department and education director of the academy; Wang Bailing and Yan Zhong successively served as directors of the Instruction Department; Lin Zhenxiong and Gu Zhutong successively served as directors of the Administration Department; Zhao Jinwen was head of the Administration Office; Qian Dajun was head of the Staff Office; Zhang Dingpan was director of the General Office; Chen Fu and Jin Fozhuang were executive members of the first special party headquarters of the academy. The first class's cadet regiment commander and deputy commander were Deng Yanda and Yan Zhong. Of the four company commanders of the first class cadet regiment, Jin Fozhuang, Lv Mengxiong, and Mao Yanzhen were Baoding graduates. For the third class cadet regiment, the commander and deputy acting commander were Wang Maogong and Zhang Zhizhong, both Baoding graduates. On November 20 and December 26, 1924, the 1st and 2nd Instruction Regiments were successively formed – the earliest units of the National Revolutionary Army. Apart from He Yingqin and Wang Bailing as regimental commanders, five of the six battalion commanders were Baoding graduates: Shen Yingshi and Chen Jicheng commanded the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 1st Instruction Regiment, while Gu Zhutong, Lin Dingqi, and Jin Fozhuang commanded the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions of the 2nd Instruction Regiment.

Many military academies were eager to hire Baoding graduates as teaching backbones. According to statistics, from the academy's founding in May 1924 to its relocation to Nanjing and renaming as the Central Military Academy in March 1928, as many as 327 Baoding graduates served at the Whampoa main campus, accounting for 80% of the academy's officers and instructors. Additionally, 534 Baoding graduates served at Whampoa branch schools. Combining the main campus and branches, the total reached 861, forming the famous 'Baoding-Whampoa clique' within the 'Whampoa clique' recorded in history.

The educational system and military curriculum of the Baoding Military Academy were also widely referenced and adopted by modern military academies.

When Zhang Zuolin re-established the Northeast Army Lecture Hall in February 1919, he largely modeled it after the Baoding Officers' School, with five branches: infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineering, and logistics. The military curriculum was similarly divided into academic and practical training, and most textbooks were from the Baoding Army Officers' School.

At the Whampoa Military Academy, although the organizational structure followed the model of Soviet military academies, with a Political Department, School Headquarters, and Training Department, and included political courses to propagate revolutionary ideas, the military education was essentially modeled after the Baoding Officers' School. Whampoa originally planned to have a cadet preparatory corps like Baoding, but due to urgent military needs, admitted students directly. The military courses and training at Whampoa were also similar to Baoding's. Whampoa largely continued to use Baoding's textbooks, though both class hours and content were far less comprehensive, essentially forming a crash course. On this point, Sun Yat-sen remarked at Whampoa's opening ceremony: 'We have only now come here to open this officers' school. The northern bureaucrats and warlords long ago established the Baoding Officers' School and the Beijing Army University. Compared with ours, their school has existed much longer, has many more students, and is better equipped. In many respects, our school is far behind theirs.'

In the early development of China's modern military, the model of Japanese military education was emulated, adopting a four-tier military education system: Army Elementary School, Army Middle School, Army Officers' Academy, and Army University. This laid the foundation for modern Chinese military education to get on the right track. However, in practice, the four-tier system had major problems, mainly: first, elementary school was a period of basic knowledge education; if military professional education was introduced too early, it would affect the cultivation of basic knowledge, and insufficient basic knowledge would ultimately hinder the advancement of military learning. Second, under the four-tier system, Army Elementary School took three years, Army Middle School two years, and after graduating from middle school, a period of cadet training was required. Thus, the preparatory education for army officers was excessively long and could not meet the demands of rapidly changing military situations. To speed up the training of army officers, the Republican government decided to shorten the preparatory education stage. Accordingly, it abolished the late Qing system of Army Elementary Schools and Army Middle Schools and implemented a three-tier system: Army Preparatory School, Army Officers' School, and Army University.

Following this concept, the Beiyang government established the 'First Army Preparatory School' on the original site of the Qinghe Army Middle School, and the 'Second Army Preparatory School' on the original site of the Wuchang Army Middle School. These two schools 'temporarily gathered students from across the country who had graduated from Army Elementary Schools and those from Army Middle Schools who had not yet completed their studies, providing them with general sciences and basic military knowledge in preparation for becoming officer candidates and entering the Officers' School,' with a two-year curriculum. At the same time, the former Officers' Academy in Baoding was renamed 'Army University' and moved to Beijing. In Baoding, a new 'Army Officers' School' was established on the model of the Japanese Imperial Army Academy, enrolling graduates of the Army Preparatory Schools.

With these adjustments, a three-tier military education system emerged: Army Preparatory School, Army Officers' School, and Army University, with the Baoding Army Officers' School occupying the crucial intermediate position, connecting the preceding and following stages. This initially shaped the modern Chinese military education layout and had a profound influence on Chinese military education.

In November 1901, Li Hongzhang died of illness, and Yuan Shikai arrived in Baoding to take over as Viceroy of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang. The training instructors from Xiaozhan, who were not allowed to be stationed near Tianjin under the Boxer Protocol, also moved to Baoding.

In 1902, Viceroy of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang Yuan Shikai established the standing army (New Army) outside the eastern gate of Baoding and set up the Military Government Office (later renamed the Training Directorate), with three departments: Military Preparation, Staff, and Training, headed respectively by Liu Yongqing, Duan Qirui, and Feng Guozhang. In May, with imperial approval, Yuan Shikai established the 'Beiyang Field Officers' Academy' outside the eastern gate of Baoding, with Feng Guozhang as general supervisor (i.e., principal).

In February 1903, Yuan Shikai submitted a memorial requesting the establishment of Army Elementary Schools, Army Middle Schools, Officer Academies, and an Army University, to carry out formal military education and training. In 1903, the 'Beiyang Army Crash Course Military Academy' was completed outside the eastern gate of Baoding.

In August 1903, the academy began recruiting its first students.

In 1906, to unify the military system and centralize military authority, the Qing government established the Ministry of the Army. In August of the same year, the Beiyang Crash Course Military Academy was discontinued, and on its site, the National Army Crash Course Military Academy was founded, directly under the central government.

From 1906 to 1911, at the Baoding campus, the following were successively established: the Ministry of the Army's Army Crash Course Academy, the Army Officers' Academy, and the Army Preparatory University.

In 1912, after Yuan Shikai became President of the Republic of China, he appointed Duan Qirui as Minister of the Army. In July of that year, with the approval of the Ministry of the Army, the Army Preparatory University was relocated to Beijing and renamed the Army University. In October, the Army Officers' School was opened on the original Baoding site, with Duan Qirui's trusted associate Zhao Litai as the first principal.

In July 1913, the Second Revolution broke out. Military academy students from Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Fujian, Sichuan, and other provinces used the summer vacation to rush to Jiangxi and other places to participate in anti-Yuan combat, only making their way back to the academy by late March.

In 1920, the Zhili-Anhui War broke out. After the Zhili faction accepted the surrender of the Anhui faction's 15th Division troops, they quartered them at the Baoding Military Academy. Due to failure to receive pay promptly, the 15th Division mutinied, looting the academy clean and setting fire to the school buildings. When Cao Kun dispatched troops to suppress the mutiny, they took the opportunity to seize 2,000 rifles and 300 horses. As a result, the academy could not resume classes.

In August 1923, the Baoding Military Academy was closed.

After the closure, the military academy that Cao Kun had established at Caohe was moved to the Baoding academy site. After Cao Kun's downfall, that academy also closed. The site successively served as barracks for Zhili, Fengtian, Kuomintang, and other forces, and with each change of troops, the buildings suffered further damage.

After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in 1937, the site became an important base for the Japanese invading army in Baoding.

After Japan's surrender in 1945, the school buildings were demolished. After Baoding was liberated, the academy site was converted into a farm, then a livestock farm.

In 1993, the site of the Baoding Military Academy was declared a Protected Cultural Relic of Hebei Province. In June of the same year, the preparatory office for the Baoding Military Academy Memorial Hall was established.

In 1995, the first phase of the memorial hall, designed in the architectural style of the original academy, was completed on the site.

In 2002, the site was expanded to 12 mu, and the reviewing stand was restored.

In September 2002, with an investment of 140 million yuan, the Baoding Military Academy Square, the largest in North China, was completed and opened to the public.

In October 2003, the Baoding Military Academy Memorial Hall officially opened.

In May 2006, the former site of the Baoding Army Officers' School (1912–1923) was approved by the State Council as a 'Sixth Batch National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit.'

2. In Front of the Memorial Hall

Since the Opium War, the Qing government had repeatedly suffered invasions by imperialist powers, and unequal, humiliating treaties were signed one after another. The harsh reality forced the Qing government to reform the military system, train a new army, and open new-style military academies in Baoding to train military personnel for the New Army.

From 1902 to 1911, a total of 14 military academies were established in Baoding, with an enrollment of over 3,000 students, making Baoding the largest army training base in the country. After the Beiyang government was formed, the Army Officers' School was founded in 1912 on the existing Baoding foundation – the first officers' school in modern Chinese history that was the largest in scale, most complete in facilities, most systematic in academic regulations, and most comprehensive in course offerings.

By August 1923, it had run a total of 9 classes and trained more than 6,500 military personnel of various types, among whom over a thousand became senior generals of both the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, thus earning the reputation as the 'cradle of generals.' The exhibition uses photographs, objects, and documents to showcase the development of the academy and the achievements, contributions, and influence of its students in major modern and contemporary Chinese historical events. Through the exhibition, one can gain a systematic understanding and deep insight into the position, role, contribution, and value of the Baoding Military Academy in modern Chinese history.

4. First Exhibition Hall

The 1911 Revolution was a democratic revolution led by the bourgeoisie represented by Sun Yat-sen. It was marked by the Wuchang Uprising on October 10, 1911, launched by the revolutionary groups Literary Society and the Common Advancement Association in the Wuhan area, promoted by the Tongmenghui. Other provinces quickly responded. On January 1, 1912, the Provisional Government of the Republic of China was established in Nanjing. Yuan Shikai usurped the fruits of the revolution and became Provisional President, immediately moving to establish a dictatorial regime. In 1913, Sun Yat-sen advocated raising troops to punish Yuan and launched the war against Yuan Shikai's dictatorship, known as the Second Revolution, which ultimately failed.

In 1915, Yuan Shikai proclaimed himself emperor, drawing strong nationwide opposition. Sun Yat-sen issued a manifesto calling on the people to jointly 'slay this traitor' and actively launched armed anti-Yuan campaigns. Cai E, Li Liejun, and others first launched the punitive expedition in Yunnan, forming the National Protection Army. In the spring of the following year, Guizhou, Guangxi, and other provinces also declared independence. Under internal and external pressure, Yuan was forced to announce the abolition of the monarchy on March 22. From the Wuchang Uprising to the anti-Yuan National Protection Movement, teachers and students of the Baoding Military Academy actively participated in the struggle.

(I) Part One: The Rise and Development of Modern Chinese Military Education

Unit 1: The Path of Strengthening the Country through a Powerful Army in a Weak Nation

After the Opium War, the Qing government was repeatedly invaded by imperialist powers, and a series of unequal and humiliating treaties were signed. The harsh reality forced the emergence of a westernization faction within the Qing government, launching the Self-Strengthening Movement with the aims of 'self-strengthening and enriching the country,' reforming the military, establishing new-style armies, and building industries. In the seventh year of the Guangxu reign (1881), with imperial approval, Viceroy of Zhili and Beiyang Minister Li Hongzhang established the Beiyang Fleet. To cultivate modern military talent, he also successively founded a number of military schools, including the Tianjin Beiyang Naval Academy and the Tianjin Beiyang Military Academy.

After the First Sino-Japanese War in the 20th year of Guangxu (1894), the Qing government, recognizing the backwardness and incompetence of its old-style army from the disastrous naval defeat, resolved to 'consult and adapt the military systems of both China and foreign countries' and train a new army. In the spring of 1894, the Qing government began training the New Army at Xiaozhan, Tianjin, and opened schools such as the New Army Field Military Academy.

Unit 2: Establishing a Series of Modern Military Academies Based in Baoding

In November of the 27th year of Guangxu (1901), after Yuan Shikai took over as Viceroy of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang, he set up the 'Beiyang Military Administration' in Baoding (renamed the Training Directorate in 1904). Using Baoding as a base, he began training the Beiyang Standing Army. With the New Army as the backbone, he formed the six-division Beiyang Army totaling over 70,000 soldiers. The training process required large numbers of officers at all levels, so it was decided to open military academies to solve the talent needs. In the 28th year of Guangxu (1902), Yuan Shikai successively opened four military academies including the Beiyang Field Officers' Academy. In February of the 29th year of Guangxu (1903), with imperial approval, Yuan Shikai formulated a comprehensive plan for establishing military academies and opened the Beiyang Army Crash Course Military Academy, the Ministry of the Army's Army Crash Course Academy, and the Army Officers' Academy (renamed Army Preparatory University in July 1911) in Baoding. From the 28th year of Guangxu (1902) to the third year of Xuantong (1911), Yuan Shikai opened a total of 14 modern military academies in Baoding.

Unit 3: The Establishment of the Baoding Officers' School – Pioneering Modern Regular Military Education in China

In January 1912, the Provisional Government of the Republic of China was established. On February 12, the Qing emperor abdicated, ending the rule of China's last feudal dynasty. However, relying on the strength of the Beiyang Army and the support of the imperialists, Yuan Shikai usurped the fruits of the 1911 Revolution. On February 13, he was sworn in as Provisional President of the Republic of China. To control military power, he renamed the Beiyang Army Preparatory University in Baoding as the Army University and moved it to Beijing, while deciding to open the 'Army Officers' School' (abbreviated 'Baoding Military Academy') at the original site of the Baoding Officers' Academy. It officially opened on October 20, the first year of the Republic (1912). The Baoding Military Academy had a formal and complete teaching system, advanced teaching methods, and comprehensive regulations, setting a precedent for modern Chinese military science education. From its opening in 1912 to its closure in 1923, over eleven years it trained more than 6,500 military talents, becoming the cradle of generals in modern China and making a significant contribution to modern China.

Unit 4: Modern Military Theorist – Jiang Fangzhen

Jiang Fangzhen (1882–1938), courtesy name Baili, was from Haining County, Zhejiang. He graduated from the third class of the Infantry Branch of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1905, then went to Germany for military internships, returning to China in 1911. In December 1912, he became the Major General principal of the Baoding Army Officers' School. After 1914, he served as a military councilor in the Grand Marshal's Command Office and as advisor to President Li Yuanhong. In 1935, he became a Lieutenant General senior advisor to the National Government's Military Affairs Commission. The following spring, he toured Europe and America, advocating the development of the air force and the building of modern national defense. In 1937, he published his representative work 'On National Defense.' After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, he published 'The Basic Concept of the War of Resistance,' asserting that Japan would lose and China would win. In August 1938, he became acting Lieutenant General commandant of the Army University, but died of illness on November 4 of the same year. The National Government posthumously promoted him to General. He was a prolific writer, and most of his military works are collected in the 'Complete Works of Mr. Jiang Baili.' He was an outstanding modern Chinese military and political thinker, acclaimed as a 'master of military studies.'

(II) Part Two: Baoding Military Academy Students during the 1911 Revolution

(Content same as earlier description of 1911 Revolution, Second Revolution, and National Protection Movement; for brevity, it repeats the earlier paragraphs. I'll condense slightly but keep all facts.)

The 1911 Revolution was a democratic revolution led by the bourgeoisie represented by Sun Yat-sen... (same as above). In 1915 Yuan Shikai proclaimed himself emperor, provoking strong opposition across the country. Sun Yat-sen issued a manifesto calling on the people to 'slay this traitor' and actively launched armed anti-Yuan campaigns. Cai E, Li Liejun, and others first launched the punitive expedition in Yunnan, forming the National Protection Army. In the spring of the following year, Guizhou, Guangxi, and other provinces declared independence. Under internal and external pressure, Yuan was forced to announce the abolition of the monarchy on March 22. From the Wuchang Uprising to the anti-Yuan National Protection Movement, Baoding Military Academy teachers and students actively threw themselves into the struggle.

5. Second Exhibition Hall

(I) Part One: Baoding Military Academy Teachers and Students during the Northern Expedition

Unit 1: Main Force in the Northern Expedition

After the first Kuomintang-Communist cooperation was formed in January 1924, with the help of the Soviet Union and the Chinese Communist Party, Sun Yat-sen founded the 'Chinese Kuomintang Army Officers' School' near Huangpu, Guangzhou, in May of the same year, commonly known as the Whampoa Military Academy. Some Baoding Military Academy graduates contributed to the founding and development of Whampoa.

In July 1925, the National Government based on KMT-CCP cooperation was established in Guangzhou. In July 1926, influenced and propelled by the Chinese Communist Party, the Guangzhou National Government decided to launch the Northern Expedition, forming the National Revolutionary Army of eight corps totaling 100,000 men, advancing in three columns. Thanks to the backbone role of Communist Party members and Youth League members and the valiant fighting of some Baoding graduates, the National Revolutionary Army achieved phased victory in the Northern Expedition.

Unit 2: Vanguard of the Revolution

Due to Chiang Kai-shek's 'April 12' coup, the Northern Expedition failed. To save the revolution, on August 1, 1927, Zhou Enlai, He Long, Ye Ting, Zhu De, Liu Bocheng, and others led more than 30,000 troops under the influence of the Communist Party in a armed uprising in Nanchang, Jiangxi. The Nanchang Uprising fired the first shot of armed resistance against the Kuomintang reactionaries and marked the beginning of the Communist Party's independent leadership of revolutionary warfare and the creation of a revolutionary army. On July 11, 1933, the Central Soviet Government adopted a resolution designating 'August 1' as Army Day.

After Chiang Kai-shek and Wang Jingwei betrayed the revolution in 1927, Soong Ching-ling, Deng Yanda, and others issued a manifesto in Moscow under the name of the Provisional Action Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, pledging to carry on Sun Yat-sen's behest and persist in the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal struggle. In August 1930, the 'Provisional Action Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang' was formally established in Shanghai. In 1935, it was renamed the 'Chinese National Liberation Action Committee,' and in 1947, it became the 'Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party.'

(II) Part Two: Baoding Military Academy Students during the Anti-Japanese and Anti-Chiang Struggle

Unit 1: Bloody Battle of 'September 18'

On the night of September 18, 1931, the Japanese Kwantung Army blew up a section of the South Manchuria Railway near Liutiaohu in the northern suburbs of Shenyang, falsely accusing the Chinese army of the act. Using this as a pretext, they began shelling Shenyang city and dispatched troops to launch a surprise attack on the Beidaying barracks and other Chinese garrison posts. Although the Chinese forces fought back, under the influence of the 'non-resistance' policy, the Japanese easily occupied Shenyang overnight. Subsequently, Japanese forces attacked various points in Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces. In early January 1932, the Japanese occupied Jinzhou. Chiang Kai-shek ordered hundreds of thousands of Northeast Army troops to withdraw into Shanhaiguan Pass without resistance, leaving only a few patriotic officers and soldiers to remain in the Northeast, conducting guerrilla warfare amid the white mountains and black waters. The entire Northeast fell as a colony under Japanese imperialism.

Unit 2: Ningdu Uprising

In December 1931, Zhao Bosheng, Dong Zhentang, Ji Zhentong, and Bian Zhangwu led over 17,000 troops of the Kuomintang's 26th Route Army in the Ningdu Uprising. The 26th Route Army had originally been the Northwest Army under Feng Yuxiang. After the Central Plains War in 1930, it was reorganized by Chiang Kai-shek. To eliminate dissident forces, Chiang transferred the 26th Route Army to Jiangxi in the spring of 1931 for 'communist suppression.' By July, it had garrisoned Ningdu. After the fall of the Northeast, the army's officers and soldiers grew increasingly resentful of Chiang Kai-shek's policy of non-resistance externally, 'communist suppression' internally, and elimination of rival forces. Under the leadership of a secret Communist Party organization, Chief of Staff Zhao Bosheng (a Communist Party member), together with Brigade Commanders Dong Zhentang of the 73rd Brigade, Ji Zhentong of the 74th Brigade, and Chief of Staff Bian Zhangwu of the 75th Brigade, staged an uprising in Ningdu on December 14. After the uprising, the troops went to the Central Soviet Area, joined the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, and were reorganized into the Red Army's Fifth Army Corps.

Unit 3: Shanghai (Songhu) Resistance and the Fujian Incident

After the 'September 18' Incident in 1931, Japan occupied the Northeast and intensified preparations to seize Shanghai as a base for attacking the Chinese interior. On the night of January 28, 1932, Japanese forces attacked Chinese garrisons in the Zhabei area from the International Settlement. The 19th Route Army led by Cai Tingkai and Jiang Guangnai, driven and supported by the nationwide upsurge of anti-Japanese sentiment, put up a heroic resistance, inflicting over ten thousand casualties on the Japanese. After the Kuomintang government signed the 'Songhu Armistice Agreement' with Japanese imperialism in May 1933, the 19th Route Army, which had fought bravely in Shanghai, was transferred by Chiang Kai-shek to Fujian for 'communist suppression.' Influenced by the Communist Party's anti-Japanese propositions and pushed by the widespread demand of officers and men within the 19th Route Army to oppose civil war and resist Japan, Cai Tingkai, Chen Mingshu, and Jiang Guangnai, in alliance with Li Jishen, Huang Qixiang, and other anti-Chiang forces, launched the Fujian Incident on November 20, 1933, and established the 'People's Revolutionary Government of the Republic of China.'

Unit 4: Great Wall Resistance and Chahar (North) Resistance

After occupying the three northeastern provinces, the Japanese imperialists, in order to sever the connection between the anti-Japanese forces in the Northeast and inner China, and to expand and consolidate the borders of the puppet state of Manchukuo before further occupying North China, decided to attack Rehe and the Great Wall line east of Gubeikou. They committed over 40,000 Japanese troops and 30,000 puppet forces under the command of Kwantung Army Commander Mutō Nobuyoshi. From January to May 1933, Chinese forces put up a fierce resistance against the Japanese invaders in Rehe, Lengkou, Gubeikou, Xifengkou, and Luandong on the Great Wall.

In May 1933, Communist Party member Ji Hongchang joined with Feng Yuxiang, Fang Zhenwu, and others to form the Chahar People's Anti-Japanese Allied Army in Zhangjiakou. Baoding graduates Zhang Kexia, Ruan Xuanwu, and Qiao Mingli served respectively as deputy commandant of the Allied Army's Cadre School, commander of the 5th Army, and deputy commander of the 2nd Army. In mid-June, the Allied Army held its first congress in Zhangjiakou, adopting the army's program and specific anti-Japanese plans. It then advanced northward in three columns to fight the Japanese and puppet forces invading Chahar Province, successively retaking Kangbao, Baochang, Guyuan, and other counties. In mid-July, they recovered Duolun, greatly boosting the Allied Army's prestige. The Great Wall Resistance and Chahar Resistance received warm support and endorsement from people nationwide.

Unit 5: Xi'an Incident – Forcing Chiang to Resist Japan

In 1936, Japanese imperialism intensified its aggression against China, and the Chinese nation faced a crisis of national subjugation and racial extinction. The Northeast Army under Zhang Xueliang and the Northwest Army under Yang Hucheng, moved by the Communist Party's policy of an anti-Japanese national united front and the nationwide movement for resistance and national salvation, halted 'communist suppression' and reached a ceasefire agreement with the Red Army, demanding that Chiang Kai-shek end the civil war and unite with the Communists to resist Japan. Chiang rejected their demands, massed large numbers of troops in Shaanxi, came to Xi'an to personally supervise operations, and threatened to strip Zhang and Yang of their commands, pressing them to continue attacking the Red Army. Left with no choice, Zhang and Yang launched the Xi'an Incident early on the morning of December 12, detaining Chiang Kai-shek and issuing a nationwide telegram calling for the reorganization of the Nanjing government, an end to the civil war, and joint resistance against Japan. The Chinese Communist Party correctly analyzed the complex political situation, determined a policy of peaceful resolution of the Xi'an Incident, and sent Zhou Enlai and others to Xi'an to assist Zhang and Yang in handling the matter. Thanks to the efforts of the Communist Party and the struggle of the people nationwide, Chiang Kai-shek accepted the terms of ending the civil war and uniting with the Communists to resist Japan. The peaceful resolution of the Xi'an Incident became a turning point, facilitating the initial formation of the anti-Japanese national united front.

6. Third Exhibition Hall

Unit 1: The 'July 7' Incident and Battles around Beiping and Tianjin

From June 1937, the Japanese invaders continuously held provocative military maneuvers in the Fengtai and Wanping areas of Beiping. On the night of July 7, using the pretext of a missing soldier, the Japanese forcefully demanded to search Wanping County, and when the Chinese garrison firmly rejected this unreasonable demand, the Japanese brazenly shelled Wanping County and attacked Lugou Bridge. Under the influence of the Chinese people's anti-Japanese upsurge, the local Chinese garrison, the 37th Division of the 29th Army under Ji Xingwen's regiment, ignored the Kuomintang government's non-resistance orders and rose in self-defense. On July 8, the Communist Party of China issued a nationwide call for total resistance and the formation of an anti-Japanese national united front. The Chinese nation's War of Resistance Against Japan officially began. After the 'July 7' Incident, the Japanese massed heavy troops and engaged the Chinese army in a struggle for control of the Beiping and Tianjin areas.

Unit 2: 'August 13' Shanghai (Songhu) Resistance

On the evening of August 9, 1937, two Japanese naval landing force officers, Oyama Isao and driver Saito Yozo, driving a military vehicle and armed, broke into Hongqiao military airfield to spy on Chinese troop dispositions. They were shot dead on the spot by airfield guards. Using this as an excuse, the Japanese invaders launched a large-scale military assault on Shanghai on August 13. Driven by the people's anti-Japanese fervor, Chinese forces fought a bloody battle lasting three months, killing and wounding over 50,000 Japanese troops, shattering the Japanese delusion of conquering China in three months and greatly bolstering the Chinese people's confidence in the victory of the War of Resistance.

Unit 3: Defense of Nanjing

Following the Songhu campaign, the commander of the Japanese Central China Area Army, Iwane Matsui, directed seven divisions and two brigades totaling about 200,000 men to pursue the Chinese army in two columns, bearing down on Nanjing. The Chinese government was indecisive about whether to defend Nanjing, holding three senior staff meetings to debate the strategy. Chiang Kai-shek eventually decided to hold Nanjing. On November 20, the government officially announced the relocation of the capital to Chongqing and established the Nanjing Garrison Headquarters, appointing Tang Shengzhi as commander on November 24. A garrison force of 14 divisions with over 110,000 men was formed. By December 6, the Japanese forces had approached Qixia Mountain, Tangshan, Chunhua Town, and Moling Town, completing a three-sided encirclement of Nanjing and launching attacks. The Chinese forces put up a stubborn resistance, and both sides suffered heavy casualties. Eventually, due to the disparity in strength, the Japanese occupied Nanjing on December 13 and carried out days of massacres, killing over 300,000 Chinese soldiers and civilians, known as the 'Nanjing Massacre.'

Unit 4: Battle of Xuzhou and Battle of Wuhan

In March 1938, the main force of the Japanese Isogai Division advanced south along the Tianjin-Pukou Railway, aiming to capture Tai'erzhuang and then outflank and attack Xuzhou. Under the command of Li Zongren, Commander of the Fifth War Zone, the Kuomintang concentrated a superior force of 400,000 men near Tai'erzhuang. From March 4, Chinese and Japanese forces engaged in a fierce seesaw battle for Tai'erzhuang. The Chinese troops fought heroically, vowing to kill the enemy. On April 7, the Japanese were forced to break through, and Chinese forces pursued and annihilated them, killing about 10,000 enemy troops and capturing a large quantity of spoils. The Tai'erzhuang victory was the first major victory on the frontal battlefield, dealing a heavy blow to the Japanese and boosting Chinese military and civilian morale.

In late May 1938, the Japanese successively massed nearly 250,000 naval, ground, and air forces. From early June, they formally launched an offensive aimed at capturing Wuhan. The campaign lasted four and a half months, inflicting over 30,000 casualties on the Japanese. It exhausted the enemy to such an extent that they were never again able to mount large-scale strategic offensives, and the War of Resistance entered a strategic stalemate.

Unit 5: Battles of Changsha and the Henan-Hunan-Guangxi Campaign

From September 1939 to January 1942, to secure Changsha, the Chinese army concentrated hundreds of thousands of main-force troops in the Changsha area and fought three battles for Changsha. Chiang Kai-shek designated Xue Yue as the battlefield commander. He gathered forces around Changsha, used the mountainous and riverine terrain for defense, resisted step by step, drew the enemy deep, encircled and annihilated them, mobilized military and civilian forces behind enemy lines to disrupt Japanese supply lines, and dealt severe blows to the Japanese, causing heavy casualties. However, due to Chiang Kai-shek's 'scorched-earth resistance,' the great fire of Changsha inflicted huge losses on Chinese soldiers and civilians.

From April to late November 1944, to open a land corridor from Northeast China through North China to Southeast Asia, the Japanese launched the Henan-Hunan-Guangxi Campaign, the so-called 'Operation Ichi-Go.' During the ten months of this campaign, because of strategic command errors and poor preparation by the Chinese military authorities, large swathes of territory in Henan, Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Guizhou were lost.

Unit 6: Chinese Expeditionary Force

After the outbreak of the Pacific War, in order to swiftly occupy Southeast Asian countries and western Pacific islands, the Japanese invaded Burma from Thailand and advanced into northern Burma along multiple routes. To keep the China-India road (Kunming, China – Rangoon, Burma), China's international supply line, open, the Chinese government, under the 'Sino-British Agreement for the Common Defense of the Burma Road,' formed the Chinese Expeditionary Force with 3 army groups, 10 divisions, totaling over 100,000 men. From March to September 1942, the Chinese Expeditionary Force fought bravely in Burma to support the British allied forces against the Japanese.

From October 1943 to March 1945, the Chinese Army in India and the Expeditionary Force, in coordination with British and American allies, launched counteroffensives against the Japanese occupying northern Burma and western Yunnan, China. After more than a year of heroic fighting, suffering over 67,000 casualties and killing over 48,000 Japanese, they accomplished the task of opening the Ledo Road (Sino-Indian Road), enabling the flow of large quantities of supplies into China and contributing to the victory of the War of Resistance.

Unit 7: Baoding Academy Graduates Who Joined the Communist Forces

During the War of Resistance, some Baoding graduates with strong patriotic fervor, in order to defend the motherland and save the nation, joined the Communist Party and went to the most forward anti-Japanese front – the arduous battlefields behind enemy lines. Over the eight years of war, fighting with the spirit of communist warriors, they shed blood, fought tenaciously, rendered meritorious service for the country, fully displaying fearless revolutionary heroism, patriotic spirit, and lofty national integrity, making significant contributions to the cause of Chinese national liberation.

7. Fourth Exhibition Hall

(I) Part One: Baoding Military Academy Graduates during the Liberation War

Unit 1: Unconditional Surrender of Japan and the Communist Party's Struggle for Peace and Democracy

In the first half of 1945, the allied forces of the Soviet Union, the United States, and Britain achieved victory over German and Italian fascism, leaving Japanese fascism isolated and helpless. Under the heavy blows of the Chinese people and world anti-fascist forces, with its manpower, material, and financial resources exhausted, Japan rapidly collapsed. The Japanese government was forced to accept the Potsdam Declaration and formally announced unconditional surrender on August 15.

After the victory of the War of Resistance, Chiang Kai-shek, with the support of American imperialism, seized the fruits of victory and actively prepared to launch a civil war against the people. Due to the resolute struggle of the Communist Party, the opposition of the Chinese people and world democratic opinion, and the fact that Chiang Kai-shek needed time to prepare for civil war, he pretended to seek peace and sent three telegrams to Mao Zedong in August 1945 inviting him to Chongqing for negotiations. To do everything possible to strive for peace and to expose the true colors of the U.S. and Chiang, and to unite and educate the masses, the Communist Party issued the 'Declaration on the Current Situation' on August 25, putting forward the slogans of peace, democracy, and unity, and on August 28 sent Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Wang Ruofei to Chongqing for negotiations with the Kuomintang authorities.

Unit 2: Handan Uprising

Chiang Kai-shek had no sincerity in the peace talks. While negotiating, he intensified deployments, sending large numbers of troops to attack the Liberated Areas. In September 1945, three Kuomintang armies under Sun Lianzhong, totaling about 45,000 men, advanced north along the Beiping-Hankou Railway from Xinxiang, trying to occupy Handan and break through the railway. In late October, they reached the Matouzhen area north of the Zhanghe River. The People's Liberation Army in the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan region rose in self-defense, encircled them, and after fierce fighting, dealt them a heavy blow. Moved by the Party's policies, KMT Deputy Commander of the 11th War Zone and concurrent Commander of the New 8th Army Gao Shuxun, along with Hebei Civilian Army Commander Qiao Mingli, led over 10,000 troops to revolt on the battlefield. Qiao Mingli became the first Baoding graduate to revolt after the war's victory. Under PLA pursuit, the KMT Deputy Commander of the 11th War Zone and concurrent Commander of the 40th Army Ma Fawu and over 20,000 of his men were forced to lay down their arms.

Unit 3: Liaoxi-Shenyang and Huaihai Campaigns

In 1948, the People's Liberation War entered the stage of strategic decisive battles. At that time, the Northeast battlefield was highly favorable for launching a decisive campaign. Therefore, the Central Committee and Mao Zedong decided to first initiate the Liaoxi-Shenyang Campaign. From September 12 to November 2, 1948, the PLA first captured Jinzhou, closing the gateway to the Northeast and forcing the Changchun garrison to revolt and surrender. In the Heishan blocking battle, they annihilated the enemy forces advancing west from Shenyang. Finally, they liberated Shenyang and the entire Northeast, destroying 470,000 enemy troops. The victory in this campaign meant that the PLA now outnumbered the Kuomintang forces, greatly shortening the originally anticipated five-year timetable for victory.

The Huaihai Campaign was a strategic decisive battle fought by the PLA against the Kuomintang army in the vast Huaihai area centered on Xuzhou. Lasting 65 days from November 6, 1948, to January 10, 1949, it wiped out over 550,000 enemy troops. At the crucial moment of the decisive battle, Communist underground members Zhang Kexia, He Jifeng, Meng Shaolian, Lian Yugang, and other Baoding graduates, acting on instructions from the Central Committee, led over 10,000 Kuomintang troops in revolt on the front lines at Jiawang and Tai'erzhuang in Xuzhou, opening the door to the Longhai Railway and ensuring the campaign's victory.

Unit 4: Beiping-Tianjin Campaign

The Beiping-Tianjin Campaign was a strategic decisive battle fought by the PLA against the Kuomintang army in the Beiping, Tianjin, and Zhangjiakou areas. From early December 1948 to January 31, 1949, the Northeast and North China PLA forces fought jointly. They first split and surrounded the enemy in five strongholds: Beiping, Tianjin, Zhangjiakou, Xinbao'an, and Tanggu, cutting off their escape routes west and south. Then they captured Xinbao'an, Zhangjiakou, and Tianjin, leaving the Beiping defenders in a desperate situation. Through political efforts by the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, Commander-in-Chief of the North China 'Bandit Suppression' Headquarters Fu Zuoyi led 250,000 Kuomintang troops to accept peaceful reorganization, and Beiping was peacefully liberated. In this campaign, over 520,000 Kuomintang troops were destroyed or reorganized.

Unit 5: Raising the Banner of Righteousness and Accepting Reorganization

During the PLA's campaigns to liberate the Northwest and Southwest, the 100,000-strong Kuomintang garrison in Xinjiang, under the leadership of Xinjiang Garrison Commander General Tao Zhiyue, announced on September 25, 1949, the severance of all relations with the Kuomintang government and revolted by telegram. At the same time, Xinjiang Provincial Chairman Burhan and others telegrammed their acceptance of the leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Thus, Xinjiang, the northwestern border region of the motherland, achieved peace and a new life.

On December 9, 1949, Kuomintang Deputy Commander of the Joint 'Bandit Suppression' Headquarters for the Four Provinces of Sichuan, Xikang, Yunnan, and Guizhou, Liu Wenhui, Deputy Commander of the Southwest Military Government, Deng Xihou, and Pan Wenhua jointly sent a telegram of uprising to Chairman Mao Zedong and Commander-in-Chief Zhu De from Peng County, Sichuan. At the same time, generals such as Liu Yuanxuan, Wu Peiying, and Liu Yuancong of the 24th Army, Huang Yin and Pan Qingzhou of the 28th Army, and Deputy Commander of the East Sichuan Pacification Headquarters under the Southwest Military Government and concurrent Commander of the 16th Army Corps Dong Songyan, also led their troops successively in revolt.

(II) Part Two: Baoding Military Academy Graduates during the New China Construction Period

Unit 1: Participation in and Deliberation of State Affairs – Managing National Matters

During the Liberation War, large numbers of Baoding Military Academy graduates, enlightened by the Communist Party's policies, recognized the right direction and joined the people, embracing the light. They held important leadership positions in the new central government and in governments at regional, provincial, municipal, and county levels, making significant contributions to the construction of New China and the cause of national reunification.

Unit 2: Kuomintang Elder and State Vice President

Patriotic general Li Jishen was a founder and leader of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang. During the War of Resistance, he actively advocated resistance against Japan and opposed the KMT's anti-communist and divisive policies. After the war, he upheld democracy and opposed Chiang Kai-shek's dictatorial civil war policy. In January 1948, together with Soong Ching-ling, He Xiangning, and others, he founded the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang in Hong Kong and was elected Chairman. On May 5, representing the Revolutionary Committee and other democratic party leaders, he jointly sent a telegram responding to Mao Zedong's call for convening a new political consultative conference and forming a coalition government. In December, he secretly left Hong Kong for the Northeast Liberated Area. In September 1949, he attended the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing and was elected Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee. In October, he was elected Vice Chairman of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. In 1954, he was elected Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

(A list of Baoding Military Academy graduates serving in various levels of government, CPPCC, and NPC – not translated in detail to conserve space, but its presence is noted.)

7. Historical Exhibition of the Northeast Army Lecture Hall

8. Historical Exhibition of the Whampoa Military Academy

9. Exhibition on the Life of General Huang Qixiang

10. Exhibition on the Life of General Ye Ting

11. Exhibition Room for Leaders of the Peasants and Workers Democratic Party who Graduated from Baoding Military Academy

(The following is the concluding part, mixing history and travel directory)

The Baoding Military Academy pioneered modern Chinese military science education, narrowing the gap in military education between China and world military powers, and can truly be called a cradle of modern Chinese military generals. Although some problems emerged toward its end, overall the quality of instruction was high, and it was nationally recognized as the orthodox standard of military education. With its high level of military competence, it was highly regarded by military authorities across various provinces in the fields of military education and staff operations, forming a distinct military academic system. When Sun Yat-sen founded the Whampoa Military Academy, he also relied on Baoding Military Academy graduates as the backbone of military education.

From the 1911 Revolution to the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, a large proportion of senior command positions were already held by Baoding graduates. Even during Chiang Kai-shek's dictatorial rule, when he spared no effort to cultivate his own faction – the Whampoa clique – a diploma from the Baoding Military Academy remained the most reliable guarantee for holding military education posts. From its founding, the Baoding Military Academy proclaimed that 'a soldier's bounden duty is to protect the nation and obey orders' and 'a soldier should regard non-involvement in politics as a virtue,' shaping a professional soldier ethos among Baoding students.

Counting from the first year of the Republic (1912), the Baoding Military Academy ran nine classes and produced more than 6,000 graduates. If counted from the Beiyang Military Academy, Baoding trained nearly 10,000 officers, of whom over 1,600 attained general officer ranks. These individuals were spread across the military and political circles of the time, playing a very important role on the modern Chinese political stage.

Travel Directory

1. Baoding Military Academy Memorial Hall

2. Location of the Memorial Hall

3. Transportation

4. History of the Baoding Army Officers' School

5. Major Historical Events of the Academy

6. Visit Commemoration

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