Yu Xiusong: The Rise and Fall of a Communist Youth League Pioneer
Yu Xiusong was a pivotal figure in the early days of the Chinese revolutionary movement. From his beginnings as a student activist during the May 4 movement to his role as the first leader of the Communist Youth League of China, Yu's life mirrored the turbulent political shifts of the early 20th century, spanning China and the Soviet Union.
Early Life and Political Awakening
Born in 1899 in Zhuji, Zhejiang, during the Qing Dynasty, Yu Xiusong's intellectual journey began in 1916 when he enrolled at the Zhejiang First Normal School (now known as Hangzhou High School). The sociopolitical climate of the era, specifically the May 4 movement of 1919—a student-led protest against imperialism and for modernization—transformed him into a dedicated student activist.
By 1920, Yu's commitment to revolutionary ideals led him to found the Communist Youth League of China, where he served as its first First Secretary. His early career was marked by strategic alliances; in 1922, he supported Sun Yat-sen's Constitutional Protection Movement. Following the establishment of the First United Front in 1924, a cooperation between the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Yu was appointed to a position in his home province by the Kuomintang.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Soviet Education and the Xinjiang Mission
In October 1925, Yu traveled to the Soviet Union to study at the Moscow Sun Yat-sen University. It was here that he formed a connection with Wang Ming, a figure who would later play a significant role in his downfall. After spending time in the Soviet Far East in 1933, Yu arrived in Xinjiang during the summer of 1935.
In Xinjiang, Yu headed the secretariat of the People's Anti-imperialist Association, an organization created through the proposal of Garegin Apresov, the Soviet consul in Urumqi. During this period, Yu entered a high-profile marriage with Sheng Shitong, the sister of the local warlord Sheng Shicai. This union was not without conflict; Sheng Shicai initially opposed the marriage, but Garegin Apresov intervened, viewing the marriage as a strategic tool to strengthen ties between the USSR and Sheng Shicai. The wedding in 1936 was a lavish affair, with Joseph Stalin even sending a box of clothes as a gift to the newlyweds.
Betrayal and Execution
The political tides turned sharply in 1937. Under the instigation of Kang Sheng, Wang Ming directed Deng Fa to arrest Yu Xiusong between December 10 and 27, 1937, on charges of Trotskyism (a political deviation from Stalinism). The arrest was orchestrated by M. P. Frinovsky, a high-ranking official of the NKVD (the Soviet secret police), who was embroiled in Xinjiang's political affairs and held a deep enmity toward Garegin Apresov.
In May or June 1938, Yu was extradited to the Soviet Union. He was sentenced to death and executed in Moscow on February 21, 1939, at the age of 39 or 40. His death signaled the final rupture between the political factions of Wang Ming and Zhang Guotao.
Posthumous Rehabilitation
Following the Sino-Soviet split, the Chinese government posthumously proclaimed Yu Xiusong a revolutionary martyr in 1962. Meanwhile, his widow, Sheng Shitong, spent decades seeking the truth about his fate. Her persistence culminated in 1996 when the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation officially rehabilitated Yu, recognizing his complete innocence and restoring his reputation.
Key Facts
- Role: First Secretary of the Communist Youth League of China (1920–1922).
- Education: Zhejiang First Normal School and Moscow Sun Yat-sen University.
- Key Alliance: Married Sheng Shitong, sister of warlord Sheng Shicai.
- Cause of Death: Executed in Moscow after being charged with Trotskyism.
- Rehabilitation: Officially declared innocent by the Russian Federation in 1996.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | 1899 – February 21, 1939 |
| Birthplace | Zhuji, Zhejiang, Qing China |
| Political Affiliations | Chinese Communist Party, Kuomintang |
| Major Achievement | Founded the Communist Youth League of China |
| Place of Death | Moscow, Soviet Union |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Yu Xiusong?
Yu Xiusong was an early member of the Chinese Communist Party and the founder and first leader of the Communist Youth League of China.
Why was Yu Xiusong arrested?
He was arrested in 1937 on charges of Trotskyism, an accusation instigated by Kang Sheng and carried out by Deng Fa and Soviet NKVD officials.
What was the significance of his marriage to Sheng Shitong?
His marriage to the sister of warlord Sheng Shicai was a strategic union encouraged by Soviet consul Garegin Apresov to strengthen diplomatic and political relations between the USSR and the ruler of Xinjiang.
When was Yu Xiusong's name cleared?
While he was named a martyr in China in 1962, his official legal rehabilitation occurred in 1996 through the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation.
What role did the NKVD play in his death?
The NKVD, specifically through M. P. Frinovsky, initiated his arrest and managed his extradition to the Soviet Union, where he was subsequently sentenced to death and executed.