The 59th Division was a military formation of the

People's Liberation Army The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the military of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People's Republic of China (PRC). It consists of four Military branch, services—People's Liberation Army Ground Force, Ground Force, People's ...

, which was created in February 1949 under ''the Regulation of the Redesignations of All Organizations and Units of the Army'', issued by the Central Military Commission on November 1, 1948, basing on the 2nd Division, 1st Column of Huadonng Field Army. Its origin can be traced back to the Jiangnan anti-Japanese volunteers' Army(lang-zh:江南抗日义勇军) formed in May 1939. Under the command of PLA 20th Corps it took part in the

Chinese civil war The Chinese Civil War was fought between the Kuomintang-led Nationalist government, government of the Republic of China (1912–1949), Republic of China and the forces of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Armed conflict continued intermitt ...

. The division joined the flag of

People's Volunteer Army The People's Volunteer Army (PVA), officially the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV), was the armed expeditionary forces China in the Korean War, deployed by the History of the People's Republic of China (1949–1976), People's Republic of Chi ...

(Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) or Chinese Communist Forces (CCF)) during the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

. It was still a component of the 20th Corps, consisting of the 175th, 176th, and 177th Regiments. The 59th Division attacked Fox Company, 7th Marines north of Sinhung-ni at Toktong Pass during the

Battle of Chosin Reservoir The Battle of Chosin Reservoir, also known as the Chosin Reservoir Campaign or the Battle of Lake Changjin (), was an important battle in the Korean War. The name "Chosin" is derived from the Japanese pronunciation "''Chōshin'', instead of th ...

. Underestimating U.S air and artillery power, the 59th Division experienced over 1,000 killed in its attempt to dislodge Fox Company from its position, while inflicting 182 casualties. In October 1952 it pulled back to China with the 20th Corps and stationed in

Zhejiang ) , translit_lang1_type2 = , translit_lang1_info2 = ( Hangzhounese) ( Ningbonese) (Wenzhounese) , image_skyline = 玉甑峰全貌 - panoramio.jpg , image_caption = View of the Yandang Mountains , image_map = Zhejiang i ...

province. In 1953 the 264th Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment attached to the Division. By then the division was composed of: *175th Regiment *176th Regiment *177th Regiment *264th Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment *Artillery Regiment In 1955 it renamed as 59th Infantry Division(). In 1958 it moved to

Kaifeng Kaifeng ( zh, s=开封, p=Kāifēng) is a prefecture-level city in east-Zhongyuan, central Henan province, China. It is one of the Historical capitals of China, Eight Ancient Capitals of China, having been the capital eight times in history, and ...

Henan Henan; alternatively Honan is a province in Central China. Henan is home to many heritage sites, including Yinxu, the ruins of the final capital of the Shang dynasty () and the Shaolin Temple. Four of the historical capitals of China, Lu ...

province with the Corps HQ. The 264th Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment was detached from the division in the same year. In 1960 it renamed as 59th Army Division(). In the 1960s it maintained as a ''middle division, Northern unit'', which was fully equipped but not 100% manned. In 1975 the division moved to

Province with the Corps HQ to replace 1st Corps. Since then the division is stationed in

Shangqiu Shangqiu ( zh, ), Postal romanization, alternately romanized as Shangkiu, is a city in eastern Henan province, Central China. It borders Kaifeng to the northwest, Zhoukou to the southwest, and the provinces of Shandong and Anhui to the northeast ...

, Henan Province. The unit was disbanded in 1985.PLA Order of Battle, Disbanded Divisions
The Division HQ was reflagged as HQ Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade, 20th Army. Its 175th Regiment was transferred to 60th division.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Infdiv0059china Military units and formations of China in the Korean War Divisions of China in Korean War 059China 059China Military units and formations disestablished in 1985