59th Division
The 59th Division was a former infantry formation of the People's Liberation Army of China that served in the Chinese Civil War and Korean War before being disbanded in 1985.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The 59th Division was a military formation of the People's Liberation Army of China rather than a commercial brand. Its organizational lineage extended to the Jiangnan Anti-Japanese Volunteers' Army, formed in May 1939 during the Second Sino-Japanese War. The formation was subsequently reorganized within the forces of the Chinese Communist movement and became associated with the 2nd Division of the 1st Column of the East China Field Army. The division was formally created in February 1949 under the Central Military Commission's framework for redesignating army organizations and units. It served under the PLA's 20th Corps and participated in the final phase of the Chinese Civil War. Its wartime organization included the 175th, 176th, and 177th Regiments. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the division was committed to the Korean War as part of the Chinese People's Volunteers, the force deployed by China to fight alongside North Korea. The division's best-known operation occurred during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in late 1950. In the fighting around Toktong Pass, north of Sinhung-ni, elements of the 59th Division attacked Fox Company of the United States Marine Corps' 7th Marines. The division attempted to dislodge the Marine position but faced intense American artillery and air support. The referenced account reports that the division suffered more than 1,000 fatalities during the effort and inflicted 182 casualties on the opposing force. The engagement formed part of the wider battle in which United Nations forces sought to withdraw from the Chosin Reservoir area under severe winter and combat conditions. After its Korean War service, the division returned to China with the 20th Corps in October 1952 and was stationed in Zhejiang Province. In 1953, the 264th Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment was attached to the formation, which by then consisted of the 175th, 176th, and 177th Regiments, the attached tank self-propelled artillery regiment, and an artillery regiment. In 1955, the formation was redesignated the 59th Infantry Division. It moved with the 20th Corps headquarters to Kaifeng, Henan Province, in 1958; the 264th Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment was detached that same year. The unit received another designation in 1960, becoming the 59th Army Division. During the 1960s it was described as a middle division in the northern military establishment: it was fully equipped but not maintained at full personnel strength. In 1975, the division moved within Henan Province with the corps headquarters, replacing the 1st Corps, and thereafter was stationed in Shangqiu. The 59th Division was disbanded in 1985 as part of a broader reorganization of the Chinese armed forces. Its headquarters was reflagged as the headquarters of the Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade of the 20th Army, while the 175th Regiment was transferred to the 60th Division. The formation therefore survives institutionally only through elements and successor arrangements recorded in the reorganization of 1985.
History
The 59th Division's lineage began with the Jiangnan Anti-Japanese Volunteers' Army, established in May 1939 during the war against Japan. The formation was later incorporated into the organizational development of the Chinese Communist armed forces and can be traced to the 2nd Division of the 1st Column of the East China Field Army. In February 1949, the Central Military Commission's system for redesignating army organizations and units formally established the 59th Division. It was placed under the PLA's 20th Corps and took part in the Chinese Civil War. The division's principal regimental components were the 175th, 176th, and 177th Regiments. The division subsequently served as part of the Chinese People's Volunteers in the Korean War. Its most notable action was at the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, where it attacked Fox Company of the U.S. 7th Marines at Toktong Pass, north of Sinhung-ni. According to the cited account, the division underestimated the effect of American air and artillery power and suffered more than 1,000 killed in its effort to force the position, while causing 182 casualties to the opposing force. In October 1952, the 59th Division returned to China with the 20th Corps and was stationed in Zhejiang Province. The 264th Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment was attached in 1953, alongside the division's three infantry regiments and artillery regiment. In 1955, the unit was redesignated the 59th Infantry Division. It moved to Kaifeng, Henan Province, with the 20th Corps headquarters in 1958; the attached 264th regiment was detached in the same year. In 1960, the formation became the 59th Army Division. During the 1960s it was maintained as a middle division in the northern military establishment, meaning that it had full equipment but was not staffed at complete wartime personnel levels. In 1975, it moved within Henan Province with the corps headquarters, replacing the 1st Corps, and thereafter was stationed in Shangqiu. The division was disbanded in 1985. Its headquarters was converted into the headquarters of the Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade of the 20th Army, and the 175th Regiment was transferred to the 60th Division. These changes ended the 59th Division as an independent formation while preserving parts of its organizational lineage in successor units.
- 1985
Disbanded
[1]The division was dissolved during PLA restructuring; its headquarters and 175th Regiment were reassigned to successor formations.
- 1975
Stationed in Shangqiu
[1]The division moved within Henan Province with the corps headquarters and subsequently was stationed in Shangqiu.
- 1960
Redesignated 59th Army Division
[1]The unit received the designation 59th Army Division.
- 1958
Moved to Kaifeng
[1]The division moved to Kaifeng in Henan Province with the 20th Corps headquarters, and the 264th Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment was detached.
- 1955
Redesignated 59th Infantry Division
[1]The formation adopted the designation 59th Infantry Division.
- 1952
Return to China
[1]The division returned from Korea with the 20th Corps in October and was stationed in Zhejiang Province.
- 1950
Combat at Toktong Pass
[1]During the Korean War, the division attacked Fox Company of the 7th Marines during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir.
- 1949
59th Division formally created
[1]The division was established in February under the Central Military Commission's army redesignation framework and assigned to the 20th Corps.
- 1939
Jiangnan anti-Japanese lineage established
[1]The Jiangnan Anti-Japanese Volunteers' Army was formed in May, providing an early lineage element for the later 59th Division.
Products and positioning
A historical PLA infantry division and wartime military formation; not a commercial brand.
Marketing campaigns
- 1950Korean War and Battle of the Chosin Reservoir
Korean Peninsula
As part of the Chinese People's Volunteers, the division fought at the Chosin Reservoir and attacked Fox Company of the 7th Marines at Toktong Pass.
Outcome. The attack failed to dislodge the Marine position and caused heavy reported losses to the division.
- 1949Chinese Civil War service
China
After its formal creation in February 1949, the division served under the 20th Corps during the closing phase of the Chinese Civil War.
Outcome. The division continued into the post-revolutionary PLA and was later deployed to Korea.
- 1939Jiangnan anti-Japanese resistance
China
The Jiangnan Anti-Japanese Volunteers' Army, formed in May 1939, supplied an early lineage for the later division during the Chinese resistance against Japan.
Outcome. The formation's lineage was incorporated into subsequent Chinese Communist military reorganizations.
Brand decisions
1985
Disbandment and transfer of subordinate elementsOtherBackground
The PLA undertook a major force reorganization in 1985.
Action taken
The 59th Division was disbanded, its headquarters was reflagged as the headquarters of the Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade of the 20th Army, and the 175th Regiment was transferred to the 60th Division.
Aftermath
The division ceased to exist as an independent formation, while selected organizational elements continued in successor units.
1960
Redesignation as the 59th Army DivisionOtherBackground
The formation underwent another PLA organizational designation change.
Action taken
It adopted the name 59th Army Division.
Aftermath
The unit continued as a middle division in the northern military establishment during the 1960s.
1955
Redesignation as the 59th Infantry DivisionOtherBackground
The PLA revised the designations of a number of formations during the mid-1950s.
Action taken
The division was renamed the 59th Infantry Division.
Aftermath
It retained its core regimental structure and continued service under the 20th Corps.
1953
Attachment of the 264th Tank Self-Propelled Artillery RegimentStrategyBackground
Following the division's Korean War service and return to China, the 264th Tank Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment was attached to the formation.
Action taken
The division operated with three infantry regiments, the attached tank self-propelled artillery regiment, and an artillery regiment.
Aftermath
The 264th regiment was detached when the division moved to Kaifeng in 1958.
Recent events
- 1985
59th Division is reorganized and disbanded[1]
Other
The division was dissolved during a PLA reorganization. Its headquarters became the headquarters of the Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade of the 20th Army, and its 175th Regiment was transferred to the 60th Division.
- 1952
59th Division returns to China with the 20th Corps[1]
Other
The division withdrew from Korea with the 20th Corps in October 1952 and was stationed in Zhejiang Province.
- 1950
59th Division participates in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir[1]
Other
During the Korean War, the 59th Division attacked Fox Company of the 7th Marines near Toktong Pass, north of Sinhung-ni. The operation resulted in heavy reported losses for the division and was conducted under strong opposing artillery and air support.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/59th-division · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled