World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbasePan Yukun was born in Liuyang, Hunan Province, China in 1906. In Oct 1925, after a brief time in the provincial forces of Guangdong Province, he enrolled in the Huangpu Military Academy, graduating a year later as a junior officer in the infantry. He participated in the 1926-1928 Northern Expedition campaign. He was promoted to the war time rank of colonel in Jun 1937, less than one month before WW2 began in China; at the same time, he was given command of 79th Regiment, 14th Division, 54th Army. In the first months of the war, he participated in actions in the Nanjing region in central China. In Apr 1938, he was made the commanding officer of 80th Regiment, also of the 14th Division. In Aug 1938, while still commanding 80th Regiment, he was given concurrent duty as the deputy commanding officer of 40th Brigade of 14th Division. In Apr 1939, he was made the commanding officer of 41st Regiment, 14th Division. In Apr 1940, he was promoted to the rank of major general, and was given command of all infantry units of 14th Division. In Mar 1941, he was made the deputy commanding officer of 50th Division, 54th Army. In Jul 1941, he was given the concurrent role as the Chief of the Political Section of 50th Division. In 1942, he was promoted to the rank of permanent colonel. In Feb 1944, at the rank of major general, he was made the commanding officer of 50th Division as the division was transferred to the Chinese Expeditionary Army to Burma. In this role, he saw action at the Battle of Myitkyina. At the end of the war, he participated in the Japanese surrender ceremony in the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong. He was awarded Chinese Order of Precious Tripod 4th Class, US Silver Star medal, and British Order of Bath, for his accomplishments during the war. During the resumed Chinese Civil War, in early 1947, for political reasons, many New 1st Army officers were dismissed, thus giving Pan the opportunity to become the commanding officer of the New 1st Army in Apr 1947. This command would be short-lived, however, as the purge led to a series of blunders by inexperienced newly promoted officers. In Oct 1948, New 1st Army was practically wiped out in northeastern China, and Pan narrowly escaped capture by communist forces. After a brief time in his home province of Hunan, he escaped to Hong Kong in 1949. He expressed anti-Chiang Kaishek sentiments after the Republic of China relocated to the island of Taiwan. He passed away in Hong Kong in 1982.

Photographs

Pan Yukun Timeline