Xiao Xinhuai (1909-1980) was born in Yizhang County of Hunan Province. In 1927, he threw himself into the industrial and agricultural revolution and joined the Chinese Communist Youth League. In 1928, he participated in the Southern Hunan Uprising and joined the CPC the next year. He involved himself in the Jinggang Mountain Fighting and the Long March. During the Anti-Japanese War, he held the post of the commander of the second detachment to No.120 Division belonging to the Eighth Route Army (led by the CCP during the war of Resistance against Japan). During the Liberation War, he held the posts of the Chief of the second Brigade belonging to the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region and the commander of No.66 Army belonging to No.20 Troops. After the establishment of the PRC, he sequentially held the posts of the Commander of the Chinese Volunteer Army and the commander of the Shanxi Military Region. In 1955, he was conferred the General Military Rank, awarded the first-rank Bayi Medal, the first-rank Independence and Freedom Medal and the first-rank Liberation Medal. He was also a member of the 4th and 5th National Committee of the CPPCC.