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 battlefields 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 of his posthumous promotion, he was also one of the highest-ranked Allied officers that was killed in action in World War II. His mausoleum is situated in Beibei District, Chongqing. There are roads named after him in Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin and Wuhan.

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