The Formation and Evolution of the National Army: A Detailed Historical Account

M T Zunun

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Establishment and Early Operations

The  National Army was established in 1944 by the people of the Ili, Tarbagahay, and  Altay regions in the Uyghur Region. Its primary objective was to oppose the Chinese regime, rule and wage an armed struggle against them. This effort led to the formation of ethnic armed forces in the region.

Integration into the People's Liberation Army

Following the  Establishment of P R China, the Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People's Government ordered the incorporation of the three-region national army into the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on December 19, 1949. This reorganized force became the Fifth Army of the PLA, contributing significantly to border construction and defence.

Detailed Military Function and Structure

Guerrilla Period (1944 - April 8, 1945)

During this period, the Third District Guerrilla (Gongha, now Nileke) operated in Uyghur Region's Ili, Trabaghatay, and Altay  areas. The personnel establishment details remain unknown.

National Army Period (April 8, 1945 - 1949)

1. April 1945 - June 1946

   • Military Rank System and Uniforms:

     • Implemented a military rank system divided into non-commissioned officers, lieutenants, colonels, and generals.
     • Uniforms modelled after the Soviet Army style.
     • Military branch colours: blue for cavalry, red for infantry, and white for artillery.
     • Cap badge: Iron with an orange crescent and five stars on a sky-blue background.

   • General Headquarters Departments:

     • Logistics
     • Political
     • Investigation
     • Operations
     • Personnel
     • General Affairs
     • Military Court
     • Military Procuratorate

   • Total Force: Approximately 15,000 personnel.

   • Key Units:

     • First Tekes Cavalry Regiment
     • Second Tekes Cavalry Regiment
     • Third Xinertai Cavalry Regiment
     • Mongolian Cavalry Battalion (later Eighth Bortala Mongolian Cavalry Regiment)
     • Xibe Independent Cavalry Battalion
     • Cavalry Supplementary Regiment
     • Hui Cavalry Battalion
     • First Suiding Infantry Regiment
     • Second Ili Infantry Regiment
     • Fourth Ili Reserve Regiment
     • Direct Artillery Battalion
     • Direct Guard Battalion

   • Infantry Regiment Structure:

     • Two infantry battalions
     • Each battalion: three companies
     • Each company: three platoons
     • Each platoon: four squads
     • Total: approximately 2,500 personnel

   • Cavalry Regiment Structure:

     • Four cavalry companies
     • One machine gun company
     • Total: approximately 1,000 personnel

   • Regiment Headquarters:

     • Staff department
     • Political department
     • Logistics department
     • One regiment commander, one deputy military commander, one political deputy commander, and one religious deputy commander

2. January 1946 - Early 1949

   • Organizational Changes:

     • Following the "Appendix 2" agreement, the organization was briefly compressed to six regiments (three infantry and three cavalry), and personnel were reduced accordingly.

   • Growth and Training:

     • Under Soviet instructors' training, by June 1946, the total strength reached over 29,000 personnel.
     • Divided into three combat directions: north line, middle route, and south route.

   • General Headquarters (Ghulja):

     • Cavalry Battalion: more than 700 personnel
     • Security Battalion: more than 500 personnel
     • Ghulja Guard Regiment 1: 1,500 personnel
     • Ghulja Guard Regiment 2: 1,500 personnel
     • Ghulja Guard Regiment 4: personnel unknown
     • Cavalry Regiment 3: personnel unknown (Garrisoned in Telke (Guozigou), Ili)

   • Central Line Command:

     • Infantry Brigade 1: personnel unknown (West bank of Manas)
     • Infantry Brigade 2: personnel unknown (West bank of Manas)
     • Independent Mortar Battalion: personnel unknown (West bank of Manas)
     • Tarbagahatay Cavalry Regiment 6: personnel unknown (Shihezi)
     • Tokkuztara Cavalry Regiment 5: personnel unknown (Chokan)
     • Tokkuztara Cavalry Regiment 7: more than 1,200 personnel (Chokan)
     • Independent Cavalry Brigade: personnel unknown (West bank of Manas)
     • Hui Cavalry Regiment 10: more than 600 personnel (Shihezi)
     • Eighth Mongolian Cavalry Regiment: 870 personnel (Shawan)
     • Fourth Infantry Regiment: personnel unknown (Anjihai)
     • Communications Company: personnel unknown (Shihezi)
     • Xibe Battalion: 170 personnel (location unknown)

   • Southern Line Command:

     • First Cavalry Brigade: personnel unknown (Mongolküre)
     • Second Cavalry Brigade: personnel unknown (Yultuz)
     • First Tekes Cavalry Regiment: personnel unknown (Muzdawan)
     • Second Tekes Cavalry Regiment: personnel unknown (Shota)
     • Third Tekes Cavalry Regiment: personnel unknown (Mongolküre)

   • Altay Region :

     • Independent Cavalry Regiment: personnel unknown

3. August 1949 - December 20, 1949

   • Total Force: Approximately 14,020 personnel.

   • General Command and Subordinate Units (3,400+ personnel):

     • Xibe Liaison Battalion: 106 personnel
     • Guard Company: 280 personnel
     • Logistics Department: personnel unknown
     • Hospital: 119 personnel
     • Guard Battalion: 498 personnel
     • Guard Regiment: 1,359 personnel
     • Military Academy: personnel unknown

   • Northern Command (Altay Region):

     • Chenghua Garrison Sixth Battalion
     • Hospital
     • Chenghua Cavalry Third Regiment
     • Hefeng Cavalry Second Regiment
     • Tarbagahatay Cavalry Fourth Regiment
     • Mongolian Cavalry Battalion

   • Various Combat Units:

     • Wusu Infantry First Regiment (Wusu)
     • Yining Infantry Second Regiment (Anjihai)
     • Shawan Cavalry Regiment (Shawan)
     • Artillery Battalion (Anjihai)
     • Motorcycle Factory (Urumqi)
     • Chat Cavalry Regiment 1
     • Chat Cavalry Regiment (Yultuz)
     • Cavalry Regiment 3 (Urumqi)
     • Tacheng Cavalry Regiment 4 (Tarbagahatay)
     • Hospital (Wusu)

Fifth Army Period of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (December 20, 1949 - October 1954)

• Leadership:

  • Army Commander: Lesken
  • Deputy Army Commander and Chief of Staff: Malkov
  • Political Commissar: Dun Xingyun
  • Deputy Political Commissar: Sawdanop Zahir

• Structure:

  • Two infantry divisions (13th Division and 14th Division)
  • Two independent cavalry regiments (1st Cavalry Regiment and 2nd Cavalry Regiment)

• 13th Division:

  • Headquarters: Kashgar
  • Artillery Battalion
  • 37th Regiment (Onsu)
  • 38th Regiment (Kashgar)
  • 39th Regiment (Hotan)

• 14th Division:

  • Headquarters: Shixu
  • Artillery Battalion
  • 40th Regiment (Urumqi)
  • 41st Regiment (Tarbagahatay)
  • 42nd Regiment (Ghulja)

Disbandment and Reorganization

In October 1954, the Fifth Army of the PLA was disbanded. Its units were reorganized into military sub-districts, military district cavalry regiments, public security forces, and production forces. These new formations continued to defend the motherland and build the frontier.

References

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2. Atwood, C.P. (2004) Encyclopedia of Mongolia and The Mongol Empire. Bloomington: Indiana University.

3. Brophy, D. (2016) Uyghur Nation, Reform and Revolution on the Russia-China Frontier. Cambridge, Massachusetts; London, England: Harvard University Press.

4. Soucek, S. (2000) A History of Inner Asia. Princeton: Cambridge University Press.

5. Wei, Z. (2015) 光荣的民族军: 中国人民解放军第五军征战纪实. 解放军文艺出版社. ISBN 9787503325182, 7503325186.

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