German-trained divisions in the National Revolutionary Army
Encyclopedia
The German trained divisions were the elite of the infantry divisions in the National Revolutionary Army
(NRA
) trained under Sino-German cooperation. These divisions were active in the Chinese Civil War
and Second Sino-Japanese War
.
In 1927, after the dissolution of the First United Front
between the Nationalists and the Communists, the ruling Kuomintang purged its leftist members and largely eliminated Soviet influence from its ranks. Chiang Kai-shek
then turned to Germany
, historically a great military power, for the reorganisation and modernisation of the National Revolutionary Army.
The Weimar Republic
sent advisors to China, but because of the restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles
, they could not serve in military capacities. Chiang initially requested famous generals such as Ludendorff and von Mackensen
as advisors - the Weimar Republic turned him down, fearing that they were too famous, would invite the ire of the Allies, and would result in the loss of national prestige for such renowned figures to work, essentially, as mercenaries
. When Adolf Hitler
became Chancellor
in 1933 and disregarded the Treaty, the anti-communist NSDAP and the anti-communist KMT were soon engaged in close cooperation with Germany training Chinese troops and expanding Chinese infrastructure, while China opened its markets and natural resources to Germany. Max Bauer
was the first advisor to China.
In 1934 General Hans von Seeckt
, acting as advisor to Chiang, proposed a "80 Division Plan" for reforming the entire Chinese army into 80 divisions of highly trained, well-equipped troops organised along German lines. The plan was never fully realised, as the different warlord
s vying for power simply could not agree on who would get the new troops and whose would be disbanded. By July 1937 only 8 infantry divisions had completed reorganisation and training. These were the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 14th, 36th, 87th, 88th
, and the Training Division.
Another 12 divisions equipped with Chinese arms on the reorganized model with German advisors had some training by the time the Second Sino-Japanese War
started in July 1937. These Divisions were the 2nd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 25th, 27th, 57th, 67th, 80th, 83rd, 89th Infantry Divisions.
Reorganized Division organization
Each Division was to have two Home Regiments to provide trained Infantry replacements.
The strength of this Division was to be approximately 14,000 men.
Sources
National Revolutionary Army
The National Revolutionary Army , pre-1928 sometimes shortened to 革命軍 or Revolutionary Army and between 1928-1947 as 國軍 or National Army was the Military Arm of the Kuomintang from 1925 until 1947, as well as the national army of the Republic of China during the KMT's period of party rule...
(NRA
National Revolutionary Army
The National Revolutionary Army , pre-1928 sometimes shortened to 革命軍 or Revolutionary Army and between 1928-1947 as 國軍 or National Army was the Military Arm of the Kuomintang from 1925 until 1947, as well as the national army of the Republic of China during the KMT's period of party rule...
) trained under Sino-German cooperation. These divisions were active in the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
and Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
.
In 1927, after the dissolution of the First United Front
First United Front (China)
The First United Front of the Kuomintang and the Communist Party of China was formed in 1922 as an alliance to end warlordism in China. Together, they formed the National Revolutionary Army and set out in 1926 on the Northern Expedition...
between the Nationalists and the Communists, the ruling Kuomintang purged its leftist members and largely eliminated Soviet influence from its ranks. Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
then turned to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, historically a great military power, for the reorganisation and modernisation of the National Revolutionary Army.
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
sent advisors to China, but because of the restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
, they could not serve in military capacities. Chiang initially requested famous generals such as Ludendorff and von Mackensen
August von Mackensen
Anton Ludwig August von Mackensen , born August Mackensen, was a German soldier and field marshal. He commanded with success during the First World War and became one of the German Empire's most prominent military leaders. After the Armistice, Mackensen was interned for a year...
as advisors - the Weimar Republic turned him down, fearing that they were too famous, would invite the ire of the Allies, and would result in the loss of national prestige for such renowned figures to work, essentially, as mercenaries
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
. When Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
became Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
in 1933 and disregarded the Treaty, the anti-communist NSDAP and the anti-communist KMT were soon engaged in close cooperation with Germany training Chinese troops and expanding Chinese infrastructure, while China opened its markets and natural resources to Germany. Max Bauer
Max Bauer
Max Hermann Bauer was a German artillery expert in the First World War and later military and industrial advisor to the Kuomintang....
was the first advisor to China.
In 1934 General Hans von Seeckt
Hans von Seeckt
Johannes Friedrich "Hans" von Seeckt was a German military officer noted for his organization of the German Army during the Weimar Republic.-Early life:...
, acting as advisor to Chiang, proposed a "80 Division Plan" for reforming the entire Chinese army into 80 divisions of highly trained, well-equipped troops organised along German lines. The plan was never fully realised, as the different warlord
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
s vying for power simply could not agree on who would get the new troops and whose would be disbanded. By July 1937 only 8 infantry divisions had completed reorganisation and training. These were the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 14th, 36th, 87th, 88th
88th Division (National Revolutionary Army)
The 88th Division was a German-trained and reorganized division in the National Revolutionary Army.-First Battle of Shanghai:The division was present at the First Battle of Shanghai in 1932 under the command of General Yu Jishi as part of the Fifth Army, fighting alongside the 19th Route...
, and the Training Division.
Another 12 divisions equipped with Chinese arms on the reorganized model with German advisors had some training by the time the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
started in July 1937. These Divisions were the 2nd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 25th, 27th, 57th, 67th, 80th, 83rd, 89th Infantry Divisions.
Reorganized Division organization
- Division headquarters troops:
- 1 Artillery battalion:
- 3 Artillery companies (12 x 75 millimeter mountain artillery guns in batteries of 4)
- 1 Anti Tank artillery company (4 x 37mm AT gun)
- 1 Anti-aircraft gun company (4 x 20mm anti-aircraft guns)
- 1 Military Engineer Battalion
- 1 Signal battalion
- 2 Wire communications companies
- 1 Wireless correspondence platoon
- 1 Heavy Transport Battalion
- 1 Special duty Battalion (Special Operations Battalion)
- 1 medical team (usually is a Division hospital)
- 1 Artillery battalion:
- 2 Infantry Brigades of:
- each with 2 infantry regiments, Each Regiment consisted of:
- Regimental headquarters troops:
- 1 Mortar company (6 x 81 millimeter mortars)
- 1 Small artillery company (6 x 20 millimeter autocannon)
- 1 Communications company
- 1 Regimental recon company
- 3 infantry battalions each of:
- Infantry battalion headquarters troops:
- 1 heavy Machinegun company (6 heavy machine guns, 2 x 82 millimeter mortars)
- 3 Infantry companies of:
- 3 rifle platoons of
- 3 squads (each of 1 light machine gun, 10 rifles)
- 3 rifle platoons of
- Infantry battalion headquarters troops:
- Regimental headquarters troops:
- each with 2 infantry regiments, Each Regiment consisted of:
Each Division was to have two Home Regiments to provide trained Infantry replacements.
The strength of this Division was to be approximately 14,000 men.
See also
- National Revolutionary ArmyNational Revolutionary ArmyThe National Revolutionary Army , pre-1928 sometimes shortened to 革命軍 or Revolutionary Army and between 1928-1947 as 國軍 or National Army was the Military Arm of the Kuomintang from 1925 until 1947, as well as the national army of the Republic of China during the KMT's period of party rule...
- Whampoa Military AcademyWhampoa Military AcademyThe Nationalist Party of China Army Officer Academy , commonly known as the Whampoa Military Academy , was a military academy in the Republic of China that produced many prestigious commanders who fought in many of China's conflicts in the 20th century, notably the Northern Expedition, the Second...
- Sino-German cooperation
- History of the Republic of ChinaHistory of the Republic of ChinaThe History of the Republic of China begins after the Qing Dynasty in 1912, when the formation of the Republic of China put an end to over two thousand years of Imperial rule. The Qing Dynasty, also known as the Manchu Dynasty, ruled from 1644 to 1912...
- NRA Division
- KuomintangKuomintangThe Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
Sources
- "History of the Frontal (i.e. KMT) War Zone in the Sino-Japanese War", published by Nanjing University Press.