Dong Cunrui
Chinese soldier (1929–1948)
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Dong Cunrui (Chinese: 董存瑞; pinyin: Dǒng Cúnruì; 1929 - May 25, 1948) was a Chinese Communist soldier in the People's Liberation Army during the Chinese Civil War who committed suicide in order to destroy a Kuomintang bunker guarding an approach to an important bridge in Longhua County.[1]
Chinese Communist PartyDong Cunrui | |
|---|---|
 Photo of Dong Cunrui | |
| Native name | 董存瑞 |
| Born | 1929 |
| Died | 25 May 1948 (aged 18–19) Longhua County, Chengde, Hebei province, China |
| Allegiance | Chinese Communist Party |
| Branch |  People's Liberation Army Ground Force |
| Service years | 1945–1948 |
| Conflicts | Chinese Civil War |
| Awards | Order of Mao Zedong Bravery Medal |
Death
Under heavy fire, he reached the bunker, but there was no place to effectively position the explosives. Reportedly shouting "For a new China!", he detonated the explosives he carried, killing himself and the defenders within the bunker. His sacrifice was heavily publicized by the Chinese Communist Party, who called him a hero and model communist, and he remains well known in China. He was posthumously awarded three "Bravery Medals" and one "Mao Zedong Medal", and his squad was titled "Dong Cunrui Training Model Squad".[citation needed]
Cultural depictions
In 1954, a biography of Dong (The Story of Dong Cunrui) was published, part of a broader trend of biographies of heroic soldiers.[2]: 169 Dong was depicted in a 1955 film Dong Cunrui directed by Guo Wei[3]: 214–215 and a 2009 TV miniseries titled For a new China, forward. His story was also published in national elementary Chinese textbooks.[citation needed]