13 Facts About Zhang Zhizhong

Zhang Zhizhong or Chang Chih-chung was a Chinese military commander and politician, general in the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China and later a pro-Communist politician in the People's Republic of China.

Originally a supporter and close associate of Chiang Kai-shek, Zhang belonged to the left wing of the Kuomintang, advocating policies such as collaboration with the Communists against Japan and nationalization of foreign-owned businesses.

Zhang Zhizhong was born in Chaohu, Anhui, and attended the Baoding Military Academy from which he graduated in 1916 as an infantry officer.

Zhang Zhizhong briefly attended Shanghai University, studying Social Sciences, but did not take a degree.

Zhang Zhizhong then served in the local warlord armies of Yunnan and Guangxi before heeding the call of Nationalist leader Sun Yat-sen and moving to Guangzhou to become an instructor at the Whampoa Military Academy.

Zhang Zhizhong participated in the Northern Expedition, and after the Nationalists established the new republican government in Nanjing, became the Commandant of the Central Military Academy in 1929, a post he held for 8 years, until 1937.

Zhang Zhizhong joined in Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's successful campaign against Yan Xishan and Feng Yuxiang, and led the 5th Army in the 1932 battle at Shanghai against Japan, and participated in setting up air-defense at the capital of Nanjing, including Jurong airbase.

Later, as the head of the 9th Army Group, Zhang Zhizhong personally supervised the defense of Shanghai against Japan in 1937.

Later in the Second Sino-Japanese War, Zhang Zhizhong was appointed Governor of Hunan from 1937 to 1940 and was responsible for the Great Fire of Changsha, a fire that got out of control when he ordered key buildings razed in anticipation of a coming Japanese attack.

Zhang Zhizhong was relieved of his duty after this event and several individuals responsible for the faulty intelligence were executed.

Zhang Zhizhong was Governor of Xinjiang in 1946 and 1947.

In 1949, Zhang Zhizhong was made the chief negotiator of the Nationalists for peace talks with the Communists in Beijing.

Zhang Zhizhong served as Vice Chairman of the Northwest China Military and Political Committee, Vice Chairman of the National Defense Council and Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress.