Annotations on the Issue of the Organization and Reorganization of the Entire Army’s Logistics System [1]
(July 12, 1952)
Approval is given to these several documents [2], and agreement is expressed with the points indicated by Premier Zhou, along with the opinions [3].
Mao Zedong
July 12


[1] This is Mao Zedong’s annotation on the June 1952 report by Yang Lisan, Director of the General Rear Services Department of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People’s Government, and Zhou Enlai’s written instruction dated June 27, 1952.


[2] Refers to the situation report on the meeting convened on June 3, 1952, to study the issue of reorganizing the entire army’s logistics system, submitted by Yang Lisan, along with documents such as the “Decision on the Organizational Principles and Leadership Relations of the Entire Army’s Logistics System (Draft),” the “Provisional Organizational System Chart for Logistics Departments at All Levels,” and their explanations. Yang Lisan’s report stated: On June 3, responsible comrades from the logistics departments of the major military regions and the logistics departments of the Navy and Air Force under the Military Commission were convened for a meeting to discuss the issue of logistics reorganization. The results formulated by the meeting regarding logistics organizational principles, leadership relations, organizational systems, reorganization methods, reorganization timelines, the work of the General Rear Services Department, and cadre allocation are as follows: National logistics work shall be conducted under the unified leadership of the General Rear Services Department. To meet the needs of national defense construction, the overall approach is joint, meaning the General Rear Services Department oversees all aspects of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, divided into three systems, with supplies provided to the Army, Navy, and Air Force units; in the major military regions, only during wartime will a joint logistics command be temporarily organized in the theater of operations to provide unified leadership and command over logistics work in that theater. The establishment of logistics command organs at all levels shall be under the leadership of the higher-level logistics department in terms of overall logistics work, while simultaneously being under the leadership and supervision of the command organs at their respective levels within their own operational scope; the General Rear Services Department shall directly interact with the logistics departments of the major military regions and the logistics departments of the Navy and Air Force under the Military Commission, without directly supplying units itself; the organizational system and establishment of the logistics system shall be unified, including the organizational system, sequence, and departmental names, with the Finance Department placed directly under the leadership of the Military Commission, the Horse Administration Bureau under the leadership of the General Staff Department, and the Logistics Department adding a Military Supplies Production Department. This reorganization shall only cover domestic forces; the reorganization of the Volunteer Army can only proceed after the cessation of hostilities.


[3] Zhou Enlai’s written instruction dated June 27, 1952, on Yang Lisan’s report stated: The reorganization of the logistics system falls under the second phase (July–August) of the reorganization plan. It was originally proposed that after the Korean War ceased, the logistics system of the Volunteer Army and the domestic logistics system would be merged and reorganized into a joint logistics organization, with a quota of approximately 100,000 personnel. By mid-May, it was definitively determined that the Korean War would continue to drag on, and the domestic logistics system could no longer wait to reorganize together with the Volunteer Army’s logistics system. Therefore, approval was given for the General Rear Services Department to first convene a reorganization meeting to discuss the reorganization plan. At this meeting, they only discussed organizational principles, leadership relations, and the establishment system, but did not yet agree on the number of personnel to be established. Consequently, only the principles and establishment system they drafted can now be approved. It is necessary to wait until they determine the number of logistics personnel and cadre assignments at all levels based on the approved principles and establishment before submitting the entire organization for approval by the Chairman of the Military Commission. The two documents now submitted have already been approved by Peng Dehuai, Nie Rongzhen, Su Yu, the General Political Department, and the General Cadre Department. After my review, apart from feeling that it seems somewhat premature to currently separate the Finance Department and place it directly under the Military Commission, I have no further opinions to offer.