106 years ago today, on March 17, 1919 (February 16, 1919 lunar calendar), the first batch of work-study students in our country went to France. Group photo of students studying in France. Wu Yuzhang (4 on the right of the chair), the last one on the right came to see Mao Zedong off. The work-study movement in France began in 1912. At that time, the original intention was to save expenses, in order to promote the method of studying abroad; to work simply and develop the nature of diligence and cleanliness. In June 1915, Cai Yuanpei and others organized a work-study association with the aim of "working hard, frugally studying, and advancing the wisdom of laborers". On March 17, 1919, the first batch of work-study students in France set off from Shanghai to France by Japanese postal ship. The second batch of 26 people set off on March 31. After 1919, under the promotion of Li Dazhao, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Cai Hesen, and Zhao Shiyan, the Chinese work-study movement in France reached a climax. A total of 20 groups of students from 18 provinces arrived in France to study. In 1921, the students in France established the Paris Communist Group, and later established the Communist Party of China in Europe Branch. They sent a large number of party members to study in the Soviet Union and trained Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, Deng Xiaoping, Chen Yi, Li Fuchun, Nie Rongzhen, Cai Hesen, Zhao Shiyan, Wang Ruofei, Chen Yannian, Xiang Jingyu, Xu Teli, Cai Chang, Li Weihan, and a large number of leading backbones of the Chinese revolution. Zhou Enlai when he was studying in France Deng Xiaoping when he was studying in France