After the Korean War Armistice, the Railway Corps Must Use the Majority of Its Forces for Road Construction and a Portion for Technical Training

(April 5, 1953)

After the Korean War armistice, of the eleven divisions, the majority must be used for road construction, while a portion (the backbone) may be placed under the jurisdiction of the General Staff Department to undergo technical training, so as to be ready to merge with the main force in wartime to meet operational needs. Please take note of Enlai’s opinion.

Mao Zedong
April 5

[1] This is a comment written by Mao Zedong on a report submitted by Peng Dehuai, Vice Chairman of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission, on March 30, 1953, regarding the organizational structure of the Railway Corps. Peng’s report stated that the proposal to place the Railway Corps directly under the Military Commission and the General Staff Department, rather than under the Ministry of Railways, could be approved after the Korean War ended. In peacetime, the number of personnel would be small, preserving the backbone for technical training, so as to expand as needed in wartime.

[2] On April 3, 1953, Zhou Enlai’s comment on Peng Dehuai’s report was: “At present, the Railway Corps has a total of eleven divisions, organizationally under the Ministry of Railways, but its supplies are managed by the Logistics Department. Even if the Korean War ceases, the railway troops will still play a significant role in domestic road construction, especially in Inner Mongolia, the Northwest, and the Northeast, where their services are even more necessary. Therefore, this matter should be considered with a long-term perspective.”