他是鄂豫皖革命根據地(di)和紅四方面軍(jun)創始人之一,曾任紅二十五軍(jun)軍(jun)長、軍(jun)政委(wei),鄂豫陜省委(wei)代理書記等(deng)重要職務。
1926年,吳煥先(xian)在(zai)黨的領導下(xia),建立(li)(li)起一支農民武裝(zhuang)。1927年11月,吳煥先(xian)參加并領導了(le)著(zhu)名(ming)(ming)的黃(huang)麻(ma)起義(yi)。1932年紅(hong)25軍組建成立(li)(li)后,吳煥先(xian)任軍長(chang)。次年3月,吳煥先(xian)指(zhi)揮(hui)紅(hong)25軍在(zai)郭家河(he)(he)將(jiang)敵35師(shi)104旅兩個團(tuan)全部殲(jian)滅(mie),俘敵2000多名(ming)(ming),隨(sui)后在(zai)潘(pan)家河(he)(he)殲(jian)滅(mie)敵一個團(tuan)。接著(zhu),又在(zai)楊泗寨殲(jian)敵300多名(ming)(ming)。三(san)戰三(san)捷,紅(hong)25軍聲威大(da)震。1934年11月,紅(hong)25軍高舉“中(zhong)國工農紅(hong)軍北上(shang)(shang)抗日第(di)二先(xian)遣隊”的旗幟,踏上(shang)(shang)長(chang)征之路(lu)。當時他們只有2980多人,遭到國民黨近十萬部隊的圍追堵截。吳煥先(xian)在(zai)極端(duan)困難情況下(xia),率領紅(hong)25軍攻克鎮安縣城(cheng),占領寧陜、佛坪、洛南等(deng)縣城(cheng),建立(li)(li)了(le)華陽(yang)革(ge)命(ming)根據(ju)地、豫陜邊(bian)革(ge)命(ming)根據(ju)地,為粉碎敵人兩次“圍剿(jiao)”,創(chuang)建鄂(e)豫陜革(ge)命(ming)根據(ju)地,擴大(da)紅(hong)25軍作出重大(da)貢(gong)獻。
1935年7月(yue),紅(hong)25軍(jun)(jun)(jun)北(bei)出秦嶺,威逼西安(an)。吳煥(huan)(huan)先獲知紅(hong)四方(fang)面(mian)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)和中(zhong)央紅(hong)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)北(bei)上動向的(de)消息后,毅(yi)然決定西進甘肅迎接黨中(zhong)央,北(bei)上會(hui)合陜甘紅(hong)軍(jun)(jun)(jun),有力地(di)配合了黨中(zhong)央、中(zhong)央紅(hong)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)北(bei)上。1935年8月(yue)21日,吳煥(huan)(huan)先在涇川四坡村羊圈洼戰斗中(zhong)英勇犧牲,年僅(jin)28歲。隨后,紅(hong)25軍(jun)(jun)(jun)在軍(jun)(jun)(jun)長徐海東、政治委(wei)員(yuan)程子華率領下與(yu)陜北(bei)紅(hong)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)會(hui)師。毛澤東對紅(hong)25軍(jun)(jun)(jun)領導深情地(di)說:“紅(hong)二(er)十(shi)五軍(jun)(jun)(jun)遠征(zheng)為中(zhong)國革命立了大(da)功,吳煥(huan)(huan)先功不(bu)可沒。”
涇川(chuan)(chuan)縣(xian)委(wei)(wei)、縣(xian)政府以(yi)紅(hong)(hong)25軍(jun)激戰四坡(po)村時的指(zhi)揮所(suo)“紅(hong)(hong)軍(jun)樓”和吳煥先烈士陵園為(wei)基礎,建立青(qing)少年愛(ai)國主(zhu)義(yi)教(jiao)育基地,搜集(ji)整理(li)紅(hong)(hong)25軍(jun)革命(ming)文物,布設展室(shi)。2005年以(yi)來,涇川(chuan)(chuan)縣(xian)愛(ai)國主(zhu)義(yi)教(jiao)育基地被平涼市(shi)委(wei)(wei)命(ming)名(ming)為(wei)“市(shi)級黨史教(jiao)育基地”,列入甘肅省愛(ai)國主(zhu)義(yi)教(jiao)育紀念館免費開放名(ming)單(dan)。近年,共接待游(you)客100多萬(wan)人次(ci)。
根據《陳(chen)展大(da)綱》,吳(wu)(wu)(wu)煥(huan)(huan)先(xian)(xian)(xian)烈士紀念館(guan)分兩(liang)個板塊布(bu)展。吳(wu)(wu)(wu)煥(huan)(huan)先(xian)(xian)(xian)烈士紀念館(guan)板塊從(cong)5個方面(mian)(mian)陳(chen)展:吳(wu)(wu)(wu)煥(huan)(huan)先(xian)(xian)(xian)是(shi)鄂豫皖革(ge)(ge)(ge)命(ming)(ming)(ming)根據地(di)和(he)紅四方面(mian)(mian)軍創始人(ren)(ren)之一;吳(wu)(wu)(wu)煥(huan)(huan)先(xian)(xian)(xian)率25軍長征,并為(wei)25軍的(de)(de)壯(zhuang)大(da)和(he)粉碎敵人(ren)(ren)兩(liang)次“圍剿”作出重大(da)貢獻;吳(wu)(wu)(wu)煥(huan)(huan)先(xian)(xian)(xian)在陜(shan)南創建鄂豫陜(shan)革(ge)(ge)(ge)命(ming)(ming)(ming)根據地(di);吳(wu)(wu)(wu)煥(huan)(huan)先(xian)(xian)(xian)在涇(jing)(jing)川(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)的(de)(de)革(ge)(ge)(ge)命(ming)(ming)(ming)活(huo)動;吳(wu)(wu)(wu)煥(huan)(huan)先(xian)(xian)(xian)壯(zhuang)烈犧牲于涇(jing)(jing)川(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)。涇(jing)(jing)川(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)革(ge)(ge)(ge)命(ming)(ming)(ming)歷史(shi)板塊分4個方面(mian)(mian)陳(chen)展:大(da)革(ge)(ge)(ge)命(ming)(ming)(ming)時期,國民革(ge)(ge)(ge)命(ming)(ming)(ming)軍北伐途徑涇(jing)(jing)川(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)、馮玉祥“涇(jing)(jing)川(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)訓令碑”和(he)其(qi)他歷史(shi)人(ren)(ren)物(wu)、事(shi)件(jian);土地(di)革(ge)(ge)(ge)命(ming)(ming)(ming)時期,建立(li)涇(jing)(jing)河川(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)支(zhi)部的(de)(de)王孝錫及"鳳翔路(lu)口起義"、荔堡阻擊戰等(deng)重要人(ren)(ren)物(wu)、事(shi)件(jian);抗(kang)日戰爭(zheng)時期涇(jing)(jing)川(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)人(ren)(ren)民的(de)(de)抗(kang)日救亡、紅村子運(yun)動、支(zhi)前和(he)迎(ying)接解(jie)放等(deng)革(ge)(ge)(ge)命(ming)(ming)(ming)運(yun)動;解(jie)放戰爭(zheng)期間涇(jing)(jing)川(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)的(de)(de)革(ge)(ge)(ge)命(ming)(ming)(ming)活(huo)動。整個布(bu)展以歷史(shi)照片和(he)文物(wu)為(wei)主,并采(cai)用蠟像(xiang)、浮(fu)雕和(he)聲光電等(deng)手(shou)段(duan),烘托主題、見證歷史(shi),增強對(dui)參觀者的(de)(de)吸引力(li)。