Chapter 38 Order to form the Chinese People's Volunteers

(October 8, 1950) Peng, Gao, He, Deng, Hong, Xie[2] and leaders of the Chinese People's Volunteers at all levels: (1) In order to assist the Korean People's War of Liberation, oppose the attacks of U.S. imperialism and its lackeys, and thereby protect the interests of the Korean people, the Chinese people, and the people of other countries in the East, change the Northeast Frontier Army into the Chinese People's Volunteers, and immediately send troops to Korea Deploy and cooperate with North Korean comrades to fight against the invaders and strive for a glorious victory. (2) The Chinese People's Volunteers govern the Thirteenth Corps and its affiliated 38th Army, 39th Army, 40th Army, and 42nd Army, as well as the Border Artillery Command and its affiliated Artillery Divisions 1, 2, and 8.The above-mentioned ministries must be ready immediately, waiting for orders to be dispatched.

(3) Comrade Peng Dehuai was appointed as the commander and political commissar of the Chinese People's Volunteers. (4) The Chinese People's Volunteers use the Northeast Administrative Region as the general rear base. All rear work and supply matters, as well as matters related to aiding North Korean comrades, are dispatched, commanded and guaranteed by Comrade Gao Gang, commander and political commissar of the Northeast Military Region. (5) When our Chinese People's Volunteers enter North Korea, we must express our friendship and friendship to the Korean people, the Korean People's Army, the Korean Democratic Government, the Korean Workers' Party (that is, the Communist Party), other democratic parties, and Comrade Kim Il Sung [3], the leader of the Korean people. Respect and strict observance of military and political discipline is an extremely important political basis for the completion of military tasks. (6) We must have a profound estimate of all kinds of possible and inevitable difficulties, and be prepared to overcome these difficulties with high enthusiasm, courage, care and hard work.The current general international and domestic situation is favorable to us and unfavorable to the aggressors. As long as our comrades are resolute and brave, good at uniting the local people and good at fighting the aggressors, final victory will be ours.

Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Chinese People's Revolutionary Military Commission Beijing, October 8, 1950 Printed from originals kept at the Central Archives. -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ note [1] Peng, refers to Peng Dehuai.Gao refers to Gao Gang.He, refers to He Jinnian, born in 1909, from Anding (now Zichang), Shaanxi, who was the deputy commander and chief of staff of the Northeast Military Region of the Chinese People's Liberation Army at that time. [2] Deng, referring to Deng Hua, who was then the commander and political commissar of the Thirteenth Corps of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.Hong, referring to Hong Xuezhi, born in 1913 in Jinzhai, Anhui, was the deputy commander of the Thirteenth Corps of the Chinese People's Liberation Army at that time.Xie, referring to Xie Fang (1908-1984), a native of Dongping (now Dongfeng), Jilin, was the chief of staff of the Thirteenth Corps of the Chinese People's Liberation Army at that time.

[3] Kim Il Sung (1912-1994), then Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Prime Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army.