From guerrilla fighter to civilian, a life recalled

Ma Fude was born in Dongjianshan village, Jingxing county of Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, in 1924. Ma's life story is a vivid testament to the resilience and courage of those who fought for China's freedom during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the War of Liberation (1946-49).

In 1938, at the age of 14, Ma was introduced to revolutionary work by Ma Guixi, head of the village's secret Party organization. Due to his young age, Ma was not formally enlisted but was tasked with gathering intelligence and delivering messages.

By 1942, he officially joined the Eighth Route Army as a soldier under the Taihang First Sub-Division and later became a squad leader.

Ma's unit fought the Japanese in the occupied area along the Shitai railway line (present-day Yangquan to Handan) using guerrilla warfare. Despite the lack of weapons and bullets, Ma and his comrades fought valiantly. During one encounter, Ma was injured by enemy shellfire and lost eyesight in one eye.

Reflecting on those times, Ma stated: "Never bow in front of the enemy. If you don't fight him, he'll fight you."

In 1944, Ma distinguished himself as the leader of a special operations unit during the battle to take down the Japanese stronghold in Liangdu. For his outstanding performance, he was awarded a Japanese pistol and a pair of binoculars from the spoils of war by the regiment commander. These items accompanied him through the War of Liberation, including key battles in Shijiazhuang, Nanyang, Changzhi, Linfen, and Taiyuan.

During the Taiyuan Campaign, Ma's regiment played a crucial role in the city's liberation, a hard-won victory he deeply cherished. After being wounded in the campaign, he was transferred to civilian work.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Chinese people's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and in the World Anti-Fascist War. To commemorate this milestone, Ma donated his cherished binoculars to the Shanxi Museum, fulfilling his long-held wish to contribute to the preservation of history.

Ma hopes that future generations will remember the past as they aspire to a prosperous and strong China. His life story honors the sacrifices of those who fought and serves as a reminder of the enduring value of peace.