General Ding Chao, Li Du, Feng Zhanhai, Xing Zhanqing, and Zhao Yi organised the Jilin Self-Defence Army in order to prevent the fall and occupation of Harbin city, Jilin province.
Jilin Self-Defense Corps – Commander-in-Chief Li Du The defense of Harbin was at first successful and succeeded in repulsing the Manchukuo forces sent against them for a time.
After its initial success, the army was forced out of Harbin when the Japanese sent their own troops under Jiro Tamon.
[citation needed] Ding Chao's beaten Jilin Self-Defence Army retired from Harbin and marched to the northeast down the Songhua River, to join the Lower Songhua garrison of General Li Du and together reorganized, swelling its ranks with volunteers to 30,000 men in nine brigades by April 1932.
[citation needed] Feng Zhanhai, former regimental commander of the Jilin Guards Division, retreating from Harbin into the west of Jilin province raised a sizeable independent volunteer force, the Northeastern Loyal and Brave Army estimated by the Japanese as 15,000 men in June 1932.