Ili Rebellion

Ili Rebellion
East Turkestan National Revolution
Three Districts Revolution

Territorial extent of the Second East Turkestan Republic (red), encompassing the three districts of Ili, Tarbagatay and Altay
Date (1944-11-07) (1946-06-26)7 November 1944 – 26 June 1946
(1 year, 7 months, 2 weeks and 5 days)
Location
Result
Belligerents
 China
Commanders and leaders
Units involved

National Revolutionary Army

  • 100,000 infantry and cavalry
    • Han Chinese 2nd Army (4 divisions)
    • Hui Chinese Muslim 5th Cavalry Army
    • Hui Chinese Muslim 42nd Cavalry Army
    • Hui Chinese Muslim 14th Cavalry regiment
    • Kazakh, Mongol, and White Russians Kuomintang loyalists
Casualties and losses
Total casualties unknown, many Chinese civilians killed in Ili alongside a number of Chinese soldiers Total casualties unknown, heavy losses among Russian settlers fighting for the Second East Turkestan Republic, many civilian and military losses taken

The Ili Rebellion (simplified Chinese: 伊宁事变; traditional Chinese: 伊寧事變; pinyin: Yīníng Shìbiàn) was a separatist uprising by the Turkic peoples of northern Xinjiang (East Turkestan) against the Kuomintang government of the Republic of China, from 1944 to 1946. The Ili Rebellion began with the East Turkestan National Revolution, known in Chinese historiography as the Three Districts Revolution (simplified Chinese: 三区革命; traditional Chinese: 三區革命; pinyin: Sān-qū Gémìng; Uyghur: ئۈچ ۋىلايەت ئىنقىلابى), which saw the establishment of the Second East Turkestan Republic. The leadership was dominated by Uyghurs, but the population consisted mostly of Kazakhs.