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Yu Zhishan 于芷山 | |
|---|---|
 Yu Zhishan | |
| Minister of Defense ofManchukuo | |
| In office 21 May 1935 – 24 April 1939 | |
| Preceded by | Zhang Jinghui |
| Succeeded by | Yu Yucheng |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1879 Liaoyang,Manchuria,Empire of China |
| Died | May 1951 Fushun,China |
| Citizenship |  Republic of China Manchukuo Republic of China People's Republic of China |
| Occupation | Cabinet Minister in Manchukuo government Privy Councillor |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Republic of China Manchukuo |
Yu Zhishan (Chinese:于芷山;pinyin:Yú Zhǐshān;Hepburn:U Shizan; 1882 – May 1951), was a military officer under theBeiyang Government and theFengtian clique, subsequently becoming a cabinet minister inManchukuo.
A native ofLiaoning Province, in 1923, Yu served as commander of theNorthwest Army’s 5th Combined Regiment stationed inShandong Province. In 1924, he was reassigned to command the 8th Combined Regiment by order of the ManchurianwarlordZhang Zuolin. He was promoted to lieutenant general in June 1927. He returned to Shandong Province as commander of the 30th Army, assistingChiang Kai-shek in defeating the forces ofYan Xishan in theCentral Plains War. However, his alliance with theKuomintang was short, as he was recalled to Manchuria to guard against theNorthern Expedition. Following the death of Zhang Zuolin in theHuanggutun Incident in 1928, Manchuria fell back into chaos. Yu initially supportedZhang Xueliang, who appointed him commander in chief of the military in the 20 prefectures immediately surroundingShenyang. Following theMukden Incident of September 1931, Yu worked withKan Chaoxi to declare Shenyang independent from the Republic of China, and subsequently cooperated with theImperial Japanese Army on theSelf-Government Guiding Board in the establishment of the state of Manchukuo.
In March 1932, Yu was appointed chief of police forFentian Province in Manchukuo. From July, 1934, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the First Army of theManchukuo Imperial Army, and from May of the same year, was appointed Army Minister in the Manchukuo Cabinet. In July 1937, the Army Ministry was renamed the Ministry of Public Security, and took over control of all police activities. Yu remained a cabinet minister until April 1939, at which time he was made a member of thePrivy Council.
Following the collapse of Manchukuo, he fled toBeijing, where he lived under an assumed name until some point after the establishment of thePeople’s Republic of China in October 1949. He died in prison at theFushunWar Criminals Management Centre in May 1951 at the age of 72.
