Xiang Shouzhi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Xiang Shouzhi
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向守志
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Xiang Shouzhi in 1955
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| Member of the 2nd Central Advisory Commission | |
| In office 1987–1992 |
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| Director | Chen Yun |
| Commander of the PLA Nanjing Military Region | |
| In office 1982–1990 |
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| Preceded by | Nie Fengzhi |
| Succeeded by | Gu Hui |
| Commander of the PLA Second Artillery Force | |
| In office 1975–1977 |
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| Preceded by | Zhang Yixiang (张翼翔) |
| Succeeded by | Li Shuiqing (李 Shuiqing) |
| President of PLA Rocket Force University of Engineering | |
| In office 1960–1965 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Xiang Shouzhi (Chinese: 向守芝)
November 28, 1917 Xuanhan County, Sichuan, China |
| Died | September 2, 2017 (aged 99) Nanjing, Jiangsu, China |
| Political party | Chinese Communist Party |
| Spouse |
Zhang Ling
(m. 1945) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Red Army Infantry School PLA National Defence University |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  People's Republic of China |
| Branch/service |  People's Liberation Army Ground Force |
| Years of service | 1934–1990 |
| Rank |  General |
| Battles/wars | Second Sino-Japanese War Chinese Civil War Korean War |
| Awards | Order of Bayi (Third Class; 1955) Order of Liberation (Second Class Medal; 1955) Order of Independence and Freedom (Second Class Medal; 1963) Order of the Red Star (First Class Medal; 1988) |
Xiang Shouzhi (Chinese: 向守志; pinyin: Xiàng Shǒuzhì) was a very important Chinese general and a key figure in the country's history. He was born on November 28, 1917, and passed away on September 2, 2017. He rose through the ranks to become a major general in 1955 and later a full general in 1988.
Xiang Shouzhi started his journey in the revolution when he was just 15 years old. He fought in major conflicts like the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese Civil War, and the Korean War. He is especially known as one of the main people who helped create China's powerful ballistic missile forces. Later in his life, he became the commander of the Nanjing Military Region before he retired in 1990.
Contents
Early Life and Joining the Army
Xiang Shouzhi was born in Xuanhan County, Sichuan province. His family's original home was in Macheng, Hubei.
In 1933, when he was still young, he joined the Young Pioneers group. The next year, in 1934, he joined the Red Army. He started as a regular soldier and worked his way up to become a squad leader and then a platoon sergeant. In 1935, he also joined the Communist Youth League.
He took part in important battles during this time. After some defeats, he joined the famous Long March in the 1930s. This was a very long and difficult journey of over 12,500 kilometers (about 7,767 miles). In 1936, he studied at the Red Army Infantry School and became a member of the Chinese Communist Party.
Fighting for China
When the Second Sino-Japanese War began, Xiang Shouzhi took on many different roles. He was a company commander, a battalion commander, and a regimental commander in the 129th Infantry Division. He fought in important battles like the Battle of Linnan in 1943 and the Battle of Taihang Mountains.
During the Chinese Civil War, he continued to play a key role. He was a deputy division leader in the Taihang Military Region. He participated in many major campaigns, including the Battle of Handan, the Battle of North Henan, the Battle of East Henan, the Battle of Zhengzhou, the Crossing River Campaigns, and the Southwest Campaign.
In 1951, he became the chief of staff for the Fifteenth Army and fought in the fifth campaign of the Korean War. During this time, he suffered head injuries. After the war, in 1955, he was given the rank of major general by Mao Zedong.
Leading Important Military Units
In 1958, Xiang Shouzhi was accepted into the PLA National Defence University, a top military school. He graduated in 1960. After graduating, Zhou Enlai, who was the Prime Minister, made him the president of the Xi'an Artillery School. This school is now known as the PLA Rocket Force University of Engineering.
While he was in charge, the DF-1 missile was successfully launched. This was a huge step for China's military. In 1965, he became the deputy commander of the Second Artillery Force, which is in charge of missiles.
In 1967, he was promoted to commander of the Second Artillery Force. However, he was removed from his position shortly after. He was unfairly treated and spent six years in prison during a difficult period in China's history.
Later Life and Achievements
Xiang Shouzhi returned to work in 1972. He was again appointed commander and first secretary of the Second Artillery Force. In 1977, he became the deputy commander of the Nanjing Military Region. Five years later, he was promoted to the top position as Commander, a role he held until he retired in 1990.
In 1987, he was chosen to be a member of the Central Advisory Commission, a group of important advisors. In 1988, he received the highest military rank of general. Xiang Shouzhi passed away in Nanjing on September 2, 2017, just a few months before his 100th birthday.
Personal Life
Xiang Shouzhi married Zhang Ling (Chinese: 张玲) on May 25, 1945. She was born in 1919 in Kaifeng, Henan. They had four children together.
Military Awards
General Xiang Shouzhi received several important awards for his service:
- Order of Bayi (Third Class; 1955)
- Order of Liberation (Second Class Medal; 1955)
- Order of Independence and Freedom (Second Class Medal; 1963)
- Order of the Red Star (First Class Medal; 1988)
