In the history of warfare in China, there was a militia long ago, and this force played an irreplaceable role in various situations.
Although "all the people are soldiers" sounds exaggerated, in a certain historical period of New China, this slogan once became a reality. Back in 1958, the new China faced multiple international challenges, notably the stationing of U.S. troops in Lebanon and Jordan and the creation of tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
Under these circumstances, the Chinese people are full of fighting spirit, because they know that US imperialism is not invincible. In the face of frequent violations of Chinese territory by the United States and its aircraft, the decision to shell Kinmen was made on August 20, 1958, kicking off the 20-year shelling.
In order to cope with a possible war, the Military Commission put forward the slogan "All people are soldiers" on July 22, 1958, requiring citizens of a certain age to receive military training in various fields such as cities, rural areas, schools, and enterprises.
This strategic slogan was established on the basis of combining the militia with the reserves, and is an expansion of the people's war ideology under the new historical conditions.
This initiative has also received widespread support, and a large number of militia divisions and militia regiments have been established across the country.
However, over time, the "all-in-one" has been adjusted and corrected several times. In 1959, at a meeting,** the directive of the "Great Militia Division" was mentioned, emphasizing the reorganization of the organizational, political and military.
In the later development, the number of militias was gradually controlled, and after adjustment and reform, China's militia building entered a new stage.
In China's history, the militia was an important part of the national defense force and played a positive role in maintaining national peace.
However, with the changes of the times and the continuous improvement of the national defense system, the role of the militia has gradually evolved. From the 1958 principle of "all soldiers for all" to the later compulsory military system, China has made remarkable achievements in national defense construction.
Each era has its own historical background, and "all people are soldiers" was also the choice of that specific historical period, which was of great significance to China's security issues at that time.
Reference: Memories of the Capital Militia Division Dai Zhongxin;LI Yanke;Contemporary Beijing Studies (No. 1, 2011).
The beginning and end of the movement of the militia division He Libo;The essence of literature and history.