1st Army (People's Republic of China)
| 1st Group Army (1947-2017) 72nd Group Army (2017 - ) |
|
|---|---|
| Active | February 1, 1947 - 2017 |
| Country |
 People's Republic of China
|
| Part of | Eastern Theater Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Huzhou, Zhejiang |
| Engagements |
Second Sino-Japanese War Long March Chinese Civil War Battle of Chamdo Korean War(Stationed in Korea until 1958) Sino-Vietnamese War |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Major General Zhu Xiaohui |
| Notable commanders |
He Long Zhang Zongxun Fu Quanyou |
The 72nd Group Army, formerly 1st Group Army (Military Unit Cover Designator 73011), is a military formation of China's People's Liberation Army. It is one of three active group armies belonging to the Eastern Theater Command. The army is based at Huzhou, Zhejiang and is composed of the 1st Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division, an armored division, an artillery division, a motorized infantry brigade, an engineer regiment and an air defense brigade. It is considered a Category A unit, with priority status in terms of readiness, strength, and modern equipment.
In mid 2017 the army was redesignated the 72nd Group Army.
The 1st Group Army traces its origins back to the activation of the "2nd Red Army" in 1930 in Hunan. As the 358th Brigade of the 120th Division of the 8th Route Army the unit took part in the Long March. In 1946 the brigade was reorganized and redesignated as the 1st Column of the Northwest Field Army. The 1st Column was reorganized and redesignated as the 1st Corps on February 1, 1947, composed of the 358th Brigade, the 1st Independent Brigade and the 7th Brigade. In 1949 the unit was again reorganized and comprised the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Divisions. During the Chinese Civil War the 1st Corps took part in the battles for Shanzong, Fumei, and Longdong.
The 3rd Division was inactivated in 1952 and the 1st and 3rd Corps were reorganised and combined to form the 1st Corps with the 1st, 2nd, and 7th Divisions subordinate. 7th Division absorbed 9th Division, and was transferred to 1st Army, and 8th Division was absorbed by 2nd Division, 1st Corps.
Elements of the Corps arrived in Korea in April 1953. The corps was assigned to the Peking area on its return from Korea in 1958, but then arrived in the Kaifeng area in March 1961.
...
Wikipedia