Mao Zedong signed the Order to defend Yan’an on March 16, 1947, when the CPC and the people’s army under its leadership were in extremely difficult circumstances in the northwest battlefield. Hu Zongnan leading 140,000 KMT troops of 15 brigades attacked Yan’an. That day, they broke through the front line of the PLA’s defense forces. Therefore, Mao Zedong signed the Order to defend Yan’an, which made it clear that the troops in the border area were under the command of Peng Dehuai and Xi Zhongxun. All our troops remained calm in the critical moment and resolutely fought back in accordance with the Order. The Defense of Yan’an lasted for six days and six nights. After the people’s army completed its mission, it took the initiative to withdraw from Yan’an.
In 1959, it was transferred by the former Wuhan Military Command to the Military Museum.