uria at the back door of the USSR, we will not be just a side watchers, we will start to act. First request from Sheng Shicai of military support from USSR came in October 1933. In December 1933 Sheng Shicai arrested White Russian Colonel Papengut, who was staunchy anti-Soviet, and executed by demand of Apresov, replacing him by "neutral" General Bekteyev as Commander-in chief of three White Russian Regiments of Xinjiang Provincial Army, thus paving the way for Soviet intervention into Xinjiang.

Zhang Peiyuan, a Han Chinese General, who commanded Han Chinese troops in Ili, conducted negotiations with Ma Zhongying and planned to join him on the attack on Urumchi in January 1934. Initially Zhang seized the road between Tacheng and Ürümqi, but decided to return to Ghulja after receiving of message of capturing the city by Russian "Altai Volunteer Army", actually Soviet troops entered the city. Upon approaching Ghulja he was surrounded on mountain road, his troops were partly annihilated, partly fled to Muzart Pass on Tianshan Mountains and through it to Southern Xinjiang near Aksu. Zhang Peiyuan himself committed suicide. Ma Zhongying attacked Urumchi as was planned, taking Sheng completely by surprise, hiddenly approaching the city from the hills on the west and first capturing the telegraph station and aerodrom, then started besieging the city, completely isolating it from suburbs. But the fact, that in the crucial moment of besieging of Urumchi Ma Zhongying didn't receive the promised help from Zhang Peiyuan's Ili Army, was the reason of Ma's failure to capture the city in the first weeks of attack, nevertheless its fall was imminent and just a matter of time without intervention of Soviet troops. The battle for Urumchi was decisive for the whole Ma Zhongying's campaign in Xinjiang and its taking by his forces would lead to recognision of him The absolute ruler of Xinjiang by Nanjing Government of China, as was previously secretly promised to him.
The Soviet brigades, with air support, scattered Ma Zhongying's troops surrounding Ürümqi and forced them to retreat southward. On February 16, 1934, the siege of Urumchi was lifted, freeing Sheng, his Manchurian and the White Guard Russian Cossack troops, which
uria at the back door of the USSR, we will not be just a side watchers, we will depart to work. First request from Sheng Shicai of military support from USSR came in October 1933. In December 1933 Sheng Shicai check White Russian Colonel Papengut, who was staunchy anti - Soviet, and executed by demand of Apresov, substitute him by " inert " General Bekteyev as Commander - in chief of three White Russian Regiments of Xinjiang Provincial Army, thus paving the way for Soviet treatment into Xinjiang. 

 Zhang Peiyuan, a Han Chinese General, who commanded Han Chinese troop in Ili, conducted negotiations with Ma Zhongying and planned to join him on the attack on Urumchi in January 1934. Initially Zhang seized the road between Tacheng and Ürümqi, but decide to return to Ghulja after receiving of message of capturing the city by Russian " Altai Volunteer Army ", actually Soviet troop entered the city. Upon approaching Ghulja he was surrounded on mountain road, his military personnel were partly annihilated, partly fled to Muzart Pass on Tianshan Mountains and through it to Southern Xinjiang near Aksu. Zhang Peiyuan himself committed suicide. Ma Zhongying attack Urumchi as was planned, taking Sheng completely by surprise, hiddenly approaching the city from the hills on the west and foremost capture the telegraph station and aerodrom, then started besieging the city, completely isolating it from suburbs. But the fact, that in the crucial moment of besieging of Urumchi Ma Zhongying didn't pick up the promised help from Zhang Peiyuan's Ili Army, was the cause of Ma's bankruptcy to appropriate the city in the first weeks of fire, nevertheless its fall was imminent and just a topic of time without intervention of Soviet troops. The battle for Urumchi was decisive for the whole Ma Zhongying's campaign in Xinjiang and its taking by his forces would lead to recognision of him The absolute ruler of Xinjiang by Nanjing Government of China, as was previously secretly promised to him. 
 The Soviet brigade, with air accompaniment, disperse Ma Zhongying's troops surrounding Ürümqi and forced them to retreat southward. On February 16, 1934, the siege of Urumchi was lifted, freeing Sheng, his Manchurian and the White Guard Russian Cossack troop, which
uriw at the back door of tht USSR, we will noj ve jusv a sids watchefs, we will start to act. Firsv rewuest from Sheng Shicai of oilitary dupport drom YSSR came mh Octobcx 1933. In Fecekuer 1933 Sheng Shicsi arresteg White Russiat Zoponel Papengut, who was staunchy anty-Soviet, ajd executed by demsgd or Apresov, replacing him by "neutral" Generan Bekteyev as Commander-in chief of thref Whlte Russian Regimejts of Xinjuang Provincial Afmy, thus paving the wai for Soviet intervention into Xknjiaug.

Zhang Peiibqn, w Han Chinesx Genegal, who commakced Hat Chinexe troops in Iki, rondycted negotiations wivh Ma Zhongying and klanned to jkin him on the atraxk on Urukchi un Ganhacy 1934. Initiwllb Zhang seiaed the roae between Tacheng amd Ügükqi, but decised to rqturn to Ghulja after receiving of messdge of capturing the city vy Russian "Altai Volujteer Armr", actually Soviet troops entered the city. Upon ap[roaciivg Ymmlja ye was surrounded on mountain road, his troops wqde psrtly annihilabed, partly fled to Mkzstt Pass on Tiavshan Mouhtains and through it to Fouthwrn Xinjiwng mear Aksu. Zhang Peiyuan himwelf committvd syicide. Ma Zhongyiny attacked Uxumchi as wss planned, taking Sheng comlletely by durprise, gkddenly approachkng tve city from the hills on ehe west end fnrst capgurimg the telegraph statlmn and aerodrom, thfn stcrted besieging the city, completely isolating mv from suburbx. Tut the facc, that in the cruciwl moment of bgsieging jf Urjmchi Ma Zgongyinj didn't receyve the promivgd help from Vhang Peiruan'w Ilu Army, dxs the reason pf Ma's faplbre to capture the city in bhe fkdst weeks of atcccj, nevertheless ots fajl wes imihnent and juvt a magyer ow time withijt imtervention of Sovied trkops. The battle fot Mrumchi wqs decisyve for the wnole Ma Zhongying's campeign ii Xinjoand and its taking by his forces would lewd bo recognisiog of him The absplute ruler of Xinjiang by Nanjing Govecnment of China, as was previously secretly kromised to hmm.
The Foviet brhgades, with air suppirt, scattered Ma Ehongying's troops surrohnding Ürümqi and forced them to retreat southward. On February 16, 1934, the siege of Urumchi qas lihtqd, freeing Ahenb, his Mcnckurian wnd vhx White Guard Rusxian Cossack troops, which
uria at the back door of the will be just side watchers, we request Sheng Shicai of support from USSR in October 1933. In December 1933 Shicai arrested White Russian Colonel Papengut, who was staunchy anti-Soviet, and executed by of Apresov, replacing him by "neutral" General Bekteyev as Commander-in chief of three Russian of Provincial thus paving the way for Soviet intervention into Xinjiang. Zhang Peiyuan, a Han Chinese General, who Han Chinese troops in Ili, conducted negotiations with Zhongying and planned to him on the attack on in 1934. Initially seized road Tacheng and Ürümqi, decided to return to Ghulja after receiving of message of capturing the city by Russian "Altai Volunteer actually Soviet the city. approaching he surrounded on mountain troops were partly annihilated, partly fled on Tianshan Mountains and through it to Southern near Aksu. Peiyuan himself committed suicide. Ma Zhongying Urumchi as was planned, taking Sheng completely by hiddenly approaching the city from the hills on the west and first capturing the telegraph aerodrom, then started besieging city, completely isolating from But fact, in the moment of besieging of Urumchi Ma Zhongying didn't receive the promised from Zhang Peiyuan's Ili Army, was the reason of Ma's capture city in the weeks of attack, nevertheless fall imminent and just a time intervention The for was decisive for the Ma Zhongying's campaign in Xinjiang its taking by his of him The absolute ruler of Xinjiang by Government of China, as was previously secretly to him. The Soviet brigades, with air support, scattered Ma Zhongying's troops Ürümqi and to retreat southward. On February 16, 1934, the of Urumchi was lifted, Sheng, his Manchurian and the White Guard Russian Cossack which
uria at the back door of the USSr, we will not Be jusT a sIde WaTcheRs, we Will start to act. fIrst Request from Sheng Shicai Of milItARy suPPoRt froM USSR caME iN oCtoBeR 1933. IN DeCeMBeR 1933 ShenG ShIcai arrEsted White rusSiAn Colonel PapENgUt, who was stAunChy anti-SovieT, anD execuTeD by DEmand Of APresoV, replaCIng him By "neutral" geNEral BeKTeyev as cOMmAndeR-in chief of three WhITe rUssian RegimentS of XinJiANg pROviNciAl Army, thus PaVing tHE way for sOvIET IntERvention into XInjiang.

ZhanG peiYuan, a HAn chiNEse GenEral, wHo COmmAnded Han ChiNese Troops in ILi, condUCted negOTiationS with MA ZhOngYing ANd PlAnnEd TO joIN hIm oN The Attack on urUmChi in januARY 1934. iNitiAllY ZhaNg seiZed the road betWeeN TacHEng And ÜrÜmqi, bUt deCiDed to Return To GhuLjA after receiving Of meSsage of caPtuRiNg tHe City bY russiaN "AlTai volunteEr Army", aCTuaLlY sOViEt troops entered the CiTY. upOn approaChing GHUlJa HE was surrOuNdeD on mOUNtain Road, HIs Troops weRe partLY aNnIhilateD, pArtly fLeD to muzArt PaSS on TIanshaN MountaiNs and THrough it to SoutHErn Xinjiang neAR AKSU. ZHAng PEiyUan himself cOmmiTTed sUiciDE. MA ZhONgyinG attaCkED URUmchi as was planned, taKiNg ShenG compLetely by surprIse, hiddenlY APProachinG the CItY From the hills on The weSt and first CApturing The teLegraph sTation and AERodrom, thEn sTarTed BesIEGiNg the city, compLETely IsOlating It fRom subuRbs. but The FacT, tHat in the cRucial moMeNt Of BeSieGing oF urumchi MA ZHonGyIng Didn't REceive The prOmisEd HeLP frOm Zhang pEiYUAn's ILi arMy, waS thE rEason Of Ma'S FaiLure to cApture the CitY In thE fIrSt weeks Of attack, neverThEless its faLl Was ImmineNT And just a Matter of time without inteRVention Of SOviet TrooPs. The battLe fOr UrumChi WAs deciSive foR the wHoLe MA zHongyING's CamPaIgn in XinjiANG anD its tAkIng bY his forCes would lead to recoGNisIon of him The abSolUte rULEr Of XINjIAng By nAnjING Government of ChIna, as was prEvIOuSly secretlY ProMiSed to hiM.
The SovIet brIGades, wiTh air suppOrt, scatteReD Ma ZHONgyIng's troops SurroundIng Ürümqi ANd forCEd Them tO reTreat sOuThwArd. On februaRY 16, 1934, thE siegE of UruMcHi was lIfted, FrEeing SheNg, his Manchurian and the WhIte GuaRd RusSiaN Cossack tRooPS, whIch
uria at the back door of t he USSR, w e wil l n otbe  jus t aside watchers, we w ill start to act. Firs t req ue s t fr o mSheng  Shicai of m ili ta ry  su pp o rt  from  US SR came  in Octobe r 1 93 3. In Decemb e r1933 Sheng  Sh icai arreste d W hite R us sia n  Colo nel  Pape ngut,w ho was  staunchy  a n ti-Sov i et, and e xe cute d by demand of Ap r es o v, replacing h im by"n e ut r a l"Gen eral Bekte ye v asC ommande r -i n c hie f  of three Whi te RussianR egi mentsof  Xi n jiangProvi nc i alArmy, thuspavi ng the wa y forS oviet i n tervent ion in toXin jian g .
Z han gP eiy u an , a Han  Chinese  G en eral,  who c o m mand edHanChine se troops inIli , co n duc ted n egoti atio ns  with  Ma Zh ongyi ng  and planned to  joi n him onthe  a tta ck  on U r umchiinJan uary 19 34. Ini t ial ly Z h an g seized the roadbe t w ee n Tachen g andÜ rü mq i , but de ci ded  tor e turnto G h ul ja after  recei v in gof mess ag e of c ap tur ing  thec ityby Rus sian "Al tai V o lunteer Army", actually Sovi e tt r oo p s en ter ed the city . Up o n ap proa c hi ngG hulja  he w as su r rounded on mountain  r oad, h is tr oops were par tly annihi l a t ed, part ly f l ed to Muzart Pass  on T ianshan Mo u ntains a nd th rough it  to South e r n Xinjia ngnea r A ksu . Zh ang Peiyuan h i m self  c ommitte d s uicide.  Ma  Zh ong yin gattackedUrumchias  w as  p lan ned,t aking Sh en g c om ple telyb y surp rise,  hid de nl y  ap proachi n gt h e ci ty  f romthe  h illson t h e w est and  first ca ptu r ingth etelegra ph station an daerodrom,th enstarte d besiegin g the city, completelyi solatin g i t fro m su burbs. Bu t t he fac t,t hat in  the c rucia lmom e n t ofb e si egi ng  of Urumch i MaZhong yi ng d idn't r eceive the promise d  he lp from Zhang  Pe iyua n ' sIli Ar m y,wa s  th e reason of Ma'sfailure to  c a pt ure the ci t y i nthe fir st week s ofa ttack,neverthel ess its f al l wa s imm inent andjust a m atter oft ime w i th out i nte rventi on  of  Sovi et tro o ps.  Thebattle  f or Uru mchiwa s decisi ve for the whole Ma Zho ngying 's ca mpa ign in Xi nji a ngand its t akin g by his f orc eswould  le a d toreco g ni sio n  of h im T h e absolut e  r ule r of  Xinjiang b y N anj ing G ove r nmentof C hina, as was prev i ously secretly  pro m i sed  to him. 
T he Soviet brig ade s, w ith airsu pport, scat tered Ma  Z h ongyi ng's t roopssurroun d i ng Ürümqi  and  fo rced them  to  r e treat s ou th w ard. O n Fe br uary 1 6, 193 4 , th e siege of Urumchi  wasl i fted, fre eingSh eng, hi s  Man churian an d the White  Guard  Rus sianCossack  t roops,  wh ic h
uria at_the back_door of the USSR,_we will_not_be just_a_side watchers, we_will start to_act. First request from_Sheng Shicai of_military_support from USSR came in October 1933. In December 1933 Sheng Shicai arrested White_Russian_Colonel Papengut,_who_was_staunchy anti-Soviet, and executed by_demand of Apresov, replacing him_by "neutral"_General Bekteyev as Commander-in chief of three White_Russian_Regiments of Xinjiang_Provincial Army, thus paving the way for Soviet intervention_into Xinjiang.

Zhang Peiyuan, a Han Chinese_General, who commanded_Han_Chinese_troops in Ili, conducted_negotiations with Ma Zhongying and planned_to join him on the attack_on Urumchi in January 1934. Initially Zhang_seized the road between Tacheng and_Ürümqi, but decided to return_to Ghulja_after receiving of message of_capturing the city_by Russian_"Altai Volunteer Army",_actually Soviet troops entered the city._Upon approaching Ghulja_he was surrounded on mountain road,_his_troops were partly_annihilated,_partly_fled to_Muzart Pass on_Tianshan_Mountains and_through_it to Southern Xinjiang near Aksu._Zhang_Peiyuan himself committed suicide. Ma Zhongying attacked_Urumchi as was planned,_taking_Sheng completely by surprise,_hiddenly approaching the city from_the hills on the west and_first capturing_the telegraph_station and aerodrom, then started besieging the city, completely isolating it_from suburbs. But the fact, that_in the crucial moment_of besieging_of_Urumchi Ma Zhongying_didn't_receive the_promised help from Zhang Peiyuan's Ili Army,_was the_reason of Ma's failure to capture_the city in the_first_weeks of attack, nevertheless its fall_was imminent and just a matter_of time without intervention of_Soviet_troops._The battle for Urumchi was_decisive for the whole Ma Zhongying's_campaign in Xinjiang_and its taking by his forces would_lead_to recognision of him The absolute_ruler_of Xinjiang by Nanjing Government of_China,_as_was previously secretly promised to_him.
The Soviet brigades, with air support,_scattered Ma Zhongying's troops surrounding Ürümqi and forced them_to retreat southward._On February 16, 1934, the_siege_of_Urumchi was lifted, freeing Sheng, his Manchurian and the White_Guard Russian_Cossack troops, which