Order on the Merger of the Joint Defense Command of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia-Shanxi-Sui Region and the Rear Area Headquarters of the Eighth Route Army and on Cadre Appointments[1]

(September 15, 1942)

In order to implement the policy of better troops and simpler administration and to unify military command, it is hereby ordered that the Joint Defense Command and the Rear Area Headquarters be merged. In addition to commanding the forces in northwestern Shanxi, it shall directly command all units in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region. However, the designations of the Rear Area Office and the Rear Area Headquarters shall be retained, and the designation of the Joint Defense Command shall be entirely discontinued for external use. He Long is appointed Commander, Xu Xiangqian and Xiao Jinguang are appointed Deputy Commanders, Guan Xiangying is appointed Political Commissar, Gao Gang is appointed Deputy Political Commissar (acting as Political Commissar during Guan Xiangying’s illness), and Zhang Jingwu is appointed Chief of Staff.

[1] This is the main content of the order issued by Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Wang Jiaxiang on the merger of the Joint Defense Command of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia-Shanxi-Sui Region and the Rear Area Headquarters of the Eighth Route Army and on cadre appointments.