Since ancient times, heroes have emerged from youth.

During the Anti-Japanese War, a group of young heroes emerged in the Chinese nation. At a time when the nation was in danger, they, together with their fathers, shouldered the heavy struggle on their young shoulders.

Their legendary deeds have been interpreted by artists and become classic songs, novels and movies. They have been praised by people for decades and are enduring.

The little hero who lives in the singing - Wang Erxiao

"The cows are still grazing on the hillside, but the cowherds have gone nowhere..." This song is called The narrative folk song "Singing Erxiao Cowherd" has been sung for many years, and its beautiful melody and touching story have influenced generations of people.

Wang Er’s family is in a small mountain village in Laiyuan, Hebei Province. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, the Japanese army extended its claws into this peaceful village. On October 25, 1942, while herding cattle on the hillside, Erxiao encountered Japanese soldiers who planned to enter the village to "mopping up" the village. The Japs asked him to lead the way, but Erxiao led the Japs into the Eighth Route Army's ambush. When the Japanese discovered that they had been fooled, they stabbed Erxiao in the chest with a bayonet...

After Wang Erxiao died, the local soldiers and civilians buried him on the hillside behind the village. "Jinchaji Daily" published news introducing his heroic deeds on the first page. Lyricist Fang Bing and composer Jie Fu were deeply moved by Wang Erxiao's deeds and quickly composed this song that has been circulated for more than 60 years.

After the founding of New China, the story of Wang Erxiao was incorporated into primary school textbooks, and Wang Erxiao became a hero in the minds of millions of children. In 2003, the feature film "Young Heroes", invested and filmed by the Central Network Film and Television Center of the National Youth League, aroused a strong response among children.

The little anti-Japanese hero on the screen - Zhang Ga

During the Anti-Japanese War, Zhang Ga, a little boy living in Baiyangdian, central Hebei Province, and his grandmother depended on each other. In order to cover Zhong Liang, the Eighth Route Army reconnaissance company commander who was recovering at his home, grandma heroically died under the bayonet of the Japanese army, and Zhong Liang was also captured by the enemy. In order to avenge his grandmother and rescue old Uncle Zhong, Ga Zi went through hardships, found the Eighth Route Army, and became a young scout... The movie "Xiaobing Zhang Ga" tells the story of a young Eighth Route Army's growth process.

This children's military-themed film, through rich meaning of details and description of the unique psychological activities of children, truly and naturally creates the image of a young hero with a distinctive personality, influencing several generations of young audiences. .

This film won the first prize in China’s 2nd Children’s Literary Creation Award in 1980. Later, the story of Xiaobing Zhang Ga was adapted into a TV series.

Hai Wa, the little anti-Japanese hero who sent the chicken feather letter

"The Chicken Feather Letter" is a well-known movie adapted from the novel of the same name. The protagonist of the film is Haiwa, the 12-year-old leader of the children's regiment. His task is to herd sheep and watch sentries to detect enemies and send signals to the villagers. Haiwa's father is a militia squadron leader. One day, his father asked him to send a "chicken-feather letter" to the Eighth Route Army about attacking enemy artillery towers. Haiwa used herding sheep as a cover to carry the letter on the road. Unexpectedly, they encountered enemies on the way...

The plot of the story is full of twists and turns and exciting, and is deeply loved by the audience, especially children.

This black-and-white film shot in the 1950s not only had a great impact domestically, but also won two awards at international film festivals. In 1955, it won the Outstanding Award at the 9th Edinburgh International Film Festival in the UK. It was the first children's feature film in New China to win an international award.

The little anti-Japanese hero in the novel - Yu Lai

There is a boy named Yu Lai in Luhua Village. He likes swimming and reading. One day, Uncle Li from the village hurriedly entered Yulai's house, moved the water tank away, and jumped into the hole under the tank. Yulai moved the water tank back to its original position, and at this time, the Japanese also arrived...

This is a scene described in the novel "Yulai is Not Dead".

Yulai is a microcosm of the children in Jidong during the Anti-Japanese War, including Guan Hua, the author of the novel. Guan Hua had been standing guard with the children in the village since he was a child, sending chicken feather letters to the Eighth Route Army, and climbing trees to look out to capture the enemy's situation. In 1940, he left home and went to the Anti-Japanese War, fighting in the north and south for many years. After he joined the army, scenes from his childhood often appeared in front of his eyes. Therefore, he wrote the novel "Yulai is Not Dead" with Yu Lai as the protagonist, which was published in "Jinchaji Daily" and was well received by readers.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, an editor and reviewer from the Ministry of Education in charge of Chinese textbooks came to Guan Hua and informed him that his novel had been renamed "The Rain Comes Little Hero" and had been selected into the Chinese textbook. Since then, the little hero Yulai has become a hero in the hearts of children across the country for an entire era.

Children's Theater in the War - Children's Theater

Children's Theater is a children's art group founded by the Communist Party of China and patriotic intellectuals during the Anti-Japanese War.

On August 13, 1937, Japanese imperialism invaded Shanghai. A group of primary and secondary school students, mainly from Hudong Linqing School, spontaneously carried out anti-Japanese propaganda activities in refugee shelters. After learning about the situation, the National Disaster Education Society led by the Communist Party of China immediately sent people there and formally established a children's theater troupe on September 3.

The main task of the Children's Theater is to carry out anti-Japanese and national salvation propaganda. Most of the members of the small troupe are children between the ages of 10 and 15. Under the leadership of their teachers, they rehearse various anti-Japanese propaganda programs, and then go to various places, especially the anti-Japanese front lines, to perform and publicize anti-Japanese resistance.

The Children's Theater has traveled to 8 provinces and cities and dozens of rural towns, and has performed excellent programs such as "March in Paradise" and "The Monkey King", making contributions to the propaganda of the Anti-Japanese War.

The youngest anti-Japanese organization - the Anti-Japanese Children's League

The Anti-Japanese Children's League is a children's organization established in the anti-Japanese base areas during the Anti-Japanese War.

Despite the arduous struggle against the enemy, anti-Japanese children's leagues were established everywhere in the vast anti-Japanese base areas, and children were included in the organization's care. Mao Zedong and Zhu De wrote many inscriptions to encourage children's league members.

The main tasks of the Children's League are study and production. It is also responsible for tasks such as "propaganda against Japan", "reconnaissance of the enemy's situation and catching traitors", and "standing sentry to deliver letters".

In the Hundred Regiments War, the Wangjiayu Children's Corps helped the Eighth Route Army cut grass, feed their horses, and deliver dry food to the front line; the Children's Corps of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border Region destroyed the Japanese army's transportation lines nearly a hundred times, containing the enemy's attacks and raids. Strongly supported the Anti-Japanese War.

The establishment of the Children's League not only brought fun and hope to children's lives, but also strengthened the anti-Japanese team, made great contributions to the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, and trained a large number of outstanding revolutionary successors.