Peng Dehuai’s story

The story of the founding general Peng Dehuai

The story of taking photos of Peng Dehuai

After the end of the five campaigns to resist U.S. aggression and aid Korea, the Volunteer Army held a very important meeting. Reporter Zhang Youlin walked into the conference room and wanted to take a shot of Peng Dehuai, commander and political commissar of the Volunteer Army. When he raised the camera and pointed it at him, he was unexpectedly rejected by Mr. Peng: "What can I, Peng Dehuai, take pictures of? Don't highlight me, save the film to take pictures of the volunteer soldiers!" Zhang Youlin was criticized and walked out of the venue aggrievedly. .

During the break during the meeting, Chen Geng, the deputy commander of the Volunteer Army, came over to comfort him, took the camera and said, "Don't be sad, I'll take a photo for you." Mr. Peng saw the deputy commander taking a photo for him, although It was difficult to refuse, but my expression was very serious and always sullen, and in the end I didn't accept it. Later, Zhang Youlin learned that many veteran photographers had been rejected when taking photos of Mr. Peng.

Not long after the incident, at a party organization life meeting held by the Political Department of the Volunteer Army, some comrades said: "Comrade Peng Dehuai is the commander of the Volunteer Army, and the Chinese people and the people of the world are eager to see him on the battlefield. The Central Propaganda Department and some central newspapers also asked us to provide materials and photos." General Gan Siqi, deputy political commissar of the Volunteer Army, conveyed this opinion to Mr. Peng, and Mr. Peng's attitude changed.

One day, Peng Dehuai came to the front of the Shangganling position to inspect with great interest. Zhang Youlin rushed to the position immediately after hearing the news. Seeing Mr. Peng chatting and laughing with the soldiers with a relaxed expression, he quickly took out his camera and prepared to take pictures. Boss Peng recognized Zhang Youlin at a glance, whom he had criticized, and said with a smile: "Oh, it's you little reporter again, you can do whatever you want today!" Zhang Youlin seized the opportunity to press the shutter and took this photo.

I have known Zhang Youlin for many years, and he provided this photo. The negative of this photo is now collected in the Military Museum