Chen Geng

Chen Geng
source
Name	Chen Geng
Birth date	27 February 1903
Birth place	Xiangxiang, Hunan, Qing dynasty
Death date	16 March 1961
Death place	Shanghai, People's Republic of China
Allegiance	* Communist Party of China * People's Liberation Army
Branch	People's Liberation Army Ground Force
Serviceyears	1924–1961
Rank	General
Commands	Fourth Field Army, People's Volunteer Army
Battles	* Northern Expedition * Encirclement Campaigns * Long March * Second Sino-Japanese War * Chinese Civil War * Korean War
Awards	Order of Bayi (First Class), Order of Independence and Freedom (First Class), Order of Liberation (First Class)

Chen Geng was a prominent Chinese communist military leader and a founding general of the People's Liberation Army. A veteran of the Long March and a close comrade of senior leaders like Zhou Enlai and Lin Biao, he played a critical role in the Chinese Civil War and commanded forces during the Korean War. His later career included significant contributions to the establishment of the Harbin Military Engineering Institute and high-level positions within the Central Military Commission.

Early life and education

Born in Xiangxiang, Hunan Province, he was influenced by the revolutionary fervor sweeping the region in the early 20th century. He joined the Socialist Youth League of China in 1922 and formally became a member of the Communist Party of China in the same year. His early military education began at the Whampoa Military Academy in 1924, where he served as a company commander and developed important connections within the National Revolutionary Army. During the Northern Expedition, he further distinguished himself and was noted for saving the life of Chiang Kai-shek at Huizhou, an act that later created a complex personal history between the two adversaries.

Military career

His early military exploits included participation in the Nanchang Uprising in 1927, a seminal event in the formation of the Red Army. He then served with distinction in the Shanghai International Settlement under Zhou Enlai in the Special Operations Division, conducting underground intelligence work. During the Encirclement Campaigns against the Kuomintang, he commanded units and was wounded in action. On the Long March, he held command positions in the Cadres' Regiment and later served as the president of the Pengyang Military and Political School, training a new generation of officers for the communist forces.

Role in the Chinese Civil War

Following the Second Sino-Japanese War, he became a key commander for the Communist Party of China in the resumed civil conflict. He served as the deputy commander of the Taiyue Military District and later commanded columns in the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Border Region. His forces achieved significant victories, including the pivotal Battle of Huaihai and the liberation of Shanghai. As a commander in the Second Field Army under Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping, his troops advanced into southwestern China, contributing decisively to the final victory of the People's Liberation Army over the Nationalist government.

Korean War and later military service

During the Korean War, he was appointed as the commander and political commissar of the People's Volunteer Army Third Army Group, fighting against United Nations Command forces. He participated in major campaigns, including the Fifth Phase Campaign and subsequent defensive operations. After the war, his expertise was directed toward modernizing China's military education and technology. He was a principal founder and the first president of the Harbin Military Engineering Institute, a crucial institution for developing technical officers for the People's Liberation Army. He also served as the Deputy Chief of the General Staff Department.

Political career and legacy

He held significant political offices, including membership in the Eighth Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and as an alternate member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party. His military and political contributions were recognized with the highest honors, including the Order of Bayi, the Order of Independence and Freedom, and the Order of Liberation. He passed away in Shanghai in 1961 and is remembered as one of the "Ten Senior Generals" of the People's Liberation Army. His legacy endures in military academies and through his recorded memoirs, which provide valuable insights into the Chinese Communist Revolution and the founding of the People's Republic of China. Category:1903 births Category:1961 deaths Category:Generals of the People's Liberation Army Category:People from Xiangxiang