In 1934, Xie Zhenhua graduated from the Red Army University before he was 18 years old, and was immediately sent to the Red Third Army Corps as the political commissar of the 14th Regiment of the Red Fifth Division. Yang Yong, Zhang Aiping, Su Zhenhua and Wang Ping, who were also regimental cadres of the Red Third Army, although they seemed to be of the same level at the beginning, were awarded the rank of general in 1955, while Xie Zhenhua only received the rank of major general.
The reason for this gap is that Xie Zhenhua has been in the post of a regiment-level cadre for 11 years. In 1916, he was born in a peasant family in Chongyi County, Jiangxi Province, because his family was poor, he did not have the opportunity to receive formal education, and began to herd cattle for landlords since he was a child, just to have something to eat. However, in early 1928, the opportunity came.
In the "Xiangnan Riots" that broke out in the southern Hunan area, Xie Zhenhua's father had already secretly joined the Communist Party of China and became one of the main leaders of the underground party organization in Shangbao Township, Chongyi. After Xie Zhenhua's father died, he took over his father's legacy and joined the Red Army guerrillas. At the age of 17, he became a major general of the Red Army, and for the sake of the revolutionary cause, he laid down the bullwhip and embarked on the path of advancement.
In 1934, Xie Zhenhua graduated from the Red Army University and was appointed political commissar of the regiment. He was trained in the Political Department, deeply influenced by the leaders of the world, and showed an excellent theoretical level. Not only that, but during his tenure as an instructor in the boot camp, he demonstrated excellent practical ability through practical work.
Although Xie Zhenhua performed well during the Anti-Japanese War and held many important positions, including the deputy director of the Enemy Engineering Department of the General Political Department of the Eighth Route Army, the head of the Organization Department of the Political Department of the Fifth Column of the Eighth Route Army, and the commander of the 24th Regiment of the 8th Brigade of the 3rd Division of the New Fourth Army, he was always a regiment-level cadre throughout the Anti-Japanese War.
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, he continued to struggle in the War of Liberation and became a military commander, but this did not change his status among regiment-level cadres. Although his performance during the Anti-Japanese War was eye-catching, when the title was conferred, Xie Zhenhua was awarded the rank of major general, while his comrades-in-arms at the same time were generals.
In 1955, Xie Zhenhua's old comrades-in-arms Yang Yong, Su Zhenhua, and Wang Ping were awarded the rank of general, but he was only a major general. In the era of the million-dollar disarmament, Xie Zhenhua had the opportunity to be promoted to general, but he took the initiative to give up this opportunity and chose to continue to serve the country and the people. During his tenure as political commissar of the Kunming Military Region, he refused the opportunity to be promoted and gave the opportunity to young comrades in order to fulfill the historical mission of the Kunming Military Region.
Xie Zhenhua insisted on serving the people all his life and had no regrets. He said: "I am willing to give up my seat to younger comrades and not think about my work anymore. I have the responsibility to make good arrangements for the large number of cadres who have been downsized from the Kunming Military Region, and I want to work together with all of you to accomplish the last glorious historical mission of the Kunming Military Region. Xie Zhenhua's choice reflects his adherence to the revolutionary cause and his original intention of serving the people.