Zhang Zizhong

Zhang Zizhong (simplified Chinese: 张自忠; traditional Chinese: 張自忠; pinyin: Zhāng Zìzhōng; Wade–Giles: Chang Tzu-chung; August 11, 1891 – May 16, 1940) was a general of the Chinese National Revolutionary Army (NRA) during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Born in Linqing, Shandong, he was the highest-ranked officer and the only Army group commander of the NRA to die in the war. He showed great valor in the field and was regarded as one of the most valiant and respectable Chinese generals by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Because he was lieutenant general with the effective rank of full general at the time of his death, and was posthumously promoted to full general, he was also one of the highest-ranked Allied officers killed in action in World War II.[1] His mausoleum is situated in Beibei District, Chongqing. There are roads named after him in Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin and Wuhan.

Not to be confused with fellow general Zhang Zhizhong..
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zhang.
Zhang Zizhong
Zhang Zizhong
Native name
張自忠
Born(1891-08-11)August 11, 1891
Linqing, Shandong
DiedMay 16, 1940(1940-05-16) (aged 48)
Yicheng, Hubei
Allegiance Republic of China
Service/branch National Revolutionary Army
Years of service1914–1940
RankFull General
Unit
  • 25 Division
  • 38 Division
  • 59 Division
Commands held33rd Army Group  †
Third Division
Battles/warsBattle of Taierzhuang, Battle of Wuhan, Battle of Yichang †
AwardsOrder of Blue Sky and White Sun
Zhang Zizhong

Career timeline
  • 1911: Studied law in Tianjin
  • 1914: Assigned to the 20th Army Division near Fengtian (present day Shenyang) as platoon leader
  • 1935–1936: Chairman of the Government of Chahar Province
  • 1937: Mayor of Tianjin
  • 1937: General Officer Commanding 38th Division
  • 1937–1940: General Officer Commanding LIX Corps
  • 1938: General Officer commanding the 27th Army
  • 1939: Commander in Chief Right Flank Army 5th War Area
  • 1939–1940 : Commander in Chief 33rd Army Group
  • 1940: Killed in Action at Mount Chang near Yichang, Hubei
  • 1940: Posthumous promotion to Full General[2]

See also

References
  1. Along with Royal Navy Admiral Tom Phillips, killed in the Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse in 1941, Red Army Army Generals Nikolai Vatutin, mortally wounded by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in 1944, and Ivan Chernyakhovsky, killed by artillery fire in the campaign leading to the battle of Königsberg in 1945, and US Army Lt. Gen. Lesley J. McNair, killed by friendly fire in France on July 25, 1944.
  2. 1940年國民政府頒佈了褒恤令和追晉張自忠將軍為陸軍上將令「故陸軍上將銜陸軍中將張自忠追晉為陸軍上將。此令。中華民國二十九年七月七日。」 Executive Order issued by the Republic of China on July 7th, 1940 - "Post Posthumous promotion of Lieutenant General Zhang Zizhong to Full General, effects immediately. Date."

Further reading
  • Arthur Waldron. "China's New Remembering of World War II: The Case of Zhang Zizhong". Modern Asian Studies 30, 4 (1996): 945-978.
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