As China commemorates the 80th anniversary of the victory in Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945), the granddaughter of legendary military leader General Zhang Zhizhong has remembered him not only as a great war hero but also as a caring family man. China marked the V-Day anniversary with a grand military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, and as the country reflects on the tales of sacrifice and bravery which led to the victory 80 years ago, the contribution of key figures like General Zhang is also being remembered. General Zhang is known for commanding Chinese forces as they bravely stood up to the Japanese invaders in two key battles in 1932 and 1937 in Shanghai, but while many may think of a fearless and courageous leader, his granddaughter Zhu Xiaojiu recalls a different image. One of General Zhang's boldest acts came in late January 1932, when Japanese invaders attacked a vulnerable Shanghai. With Chinese troops scattered across the country, Zhang recognized the precarious position the struggling 19th Route Army were in as they faced defending the city without sufficient support. Zhang volunteered to participate in battle and served as the commander of the 5th Army which came to aid the effort. His granddaughter said it was a sense of national duty that drove him to intervene and do all he could to help his compatriots in their hour of need. Zhang would still have a key role to play as the war drew to an end, with his closeness to Mao Zedong seen as being especially important in those crucial moments. On Aug 15, 1945, the Chinese people's 14-year arduous fight against the invaders ended as Japan announced its unconditional surrender. However, instead of immediate peace, China faced the looming threat of renewed civil war. In striving for peace and despite the risks, chairman Mao Zedong accepted an invitation from Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek to hold negotiations in Chongqing. General Zhang played a crucial role in making these talks happen, as it was he who flew the airplane that brought Mao and other key figures from Yan'an to Chongqing for the monumental meeting that marked a turning point in the final chapter of the war, before the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was finally signed on Sept 2, 1945. Shotlist: London, UK - Recent: 1. Various of old photos of General Zhang Zhizhong with Chairman Mao Zedong; 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Zhu Xiaojiu, granddaughter, General Zhang Zhizhong (starting with shot 1/ending with shots 3-4): "My grandfather in my memory is very kind, always smiles, holding a [walking] stick. And will ask, 'how are you? What's your study?' And with strong Anhui accent. And he like to think about things quite often on his own, but he just is very caring."; 3. Old photo featuring Mao Zedong (second right), Zhu De (left), Zhang Zhizhong (middle); 4. Old photo of Zhang Zhizhong (left), Zhou Enlai (right); 5. SOUNDBITE (English/Chinese) Zhu Xiaojiu, granddaughter, General Zhang Zhizhong: "Through reading his autobiography, he feels the urge in him as, nationally, he feels that the first battle for Shanghai, the army who's fighting it, without the support of the other army, they will not last long, and all the [other] armies are very far away, so he voluntarily [went] to the head [of the battle] to support the 19th Army to continue the fighting."; Beijing, China - Sept 1, 2025 6. Monument to the People's Heroes; 7. Various of decorations, Chinese emblem, flowers. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]