Hu Lian
Encyclopedia
Hu Lian was a Chinese Nationalist
general, he participated the Northern Expedition, anti-communist Encirclement Campaigns
, Second Sino-Japanese War
and Chinese Civil War
.
, one of the best Communist commanders. Many of China's future commanders also graduated from the academy, including Du Yuming
, Fan Hanjie
and Sun Yuanliang
.
. He was wounded several times (including a shot through the jaw) and was promoted to division commander after the battle was over. As part of their Sichuan invasion plan, The Imperial Japanese Army
attacked Western Hubei, hoping to destroy Chiang Kai Shek's last remaining power base. Under Hu's leadership, the newly formed 18th Corps repulsed the Japanese attack. Afterward, he was awarded with the Order of Blue Sky and White Sun
, the highest military decoration in the Republic of China
.
and Su Yu
suffered defeats from this spectacular Nationalist advance. Before the Huaihai Campaign
of 1948, his father died and he had dental problems, and was absent from the front. When the 12th army was surrounded by the communist troops in Anhui province, Hu personally led a rescue mission and breakout from the encirclement with the remnant of his troops. After seven days of daring escape, he reached Nanjing
and Chiang Kai Shek tasked him with reorganize the 12th army.
Defense Command. Chiang Kai-shek
had deep faith in his combat skill, and gave a gift of a sword
with inlaid jewel
s to Hu.
Because Hu did not like to flatter his superiors, he was promoted very slowly; he also ran into problems with Chiang Ching-Kuo
due to the fact that the two did not get along very well. Hu played a major role in Republic of China – Vietnam relations, serving as Taipei's ambassador in Saigon, South Vietnam
from 1964 to 1972; this was part of Taipei's policy of sharing its expertise in anti-communist affairs with other countries in the region. He was finally promoted to four star general in 1975 after fifty years of army service. Hu died in 1977 of heart failure and was buried in Kinmen, where he had soundly defeated the Communist invasions in 1949 and 1958.
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
general, he participated the Northern Expedition, anti-communist Encirclement Campaigns
Encirclement Campaigns
Encirclement Campaigns is a term used to describe several different campaigns launched by forces of the Chinese Nationalist Government against forces of the Communist Party of China during the Chinese Civil War. The campaigns were launched between the late 1920s to the mid-1930s with the goal of...
, Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
and Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
.
Whampoa Military Academy
He graduated with Lin BiaoLin Biao
Lin Biao was a major Chinese Communist military leader who was pivotal in the communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, especially in Northeastern China...
, one of the best Communist commanders. Many of China's future commanders also graduated from the academy, including Du Yuming
Du Yuming
Du Yuming was a Kuomintang field commander active in the Sino-Japanese War theatre of World War II and in the Chinese Civil War from 1945 to 1949....
, Fan Hanjie
Fan Hanjie
Fan Hanjie , courtesy name Jie-ying, was a Chinese military general who served during the Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War...
and Sun Yuanliang
Sun Yuanliang
Sun Yuanliang was a Chinese military general of the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China. Sun was the last surviving member of the first graduating class of the Whampoa Military Academy, as well as the last surviving army-level commander of the Second Sino-Japanese War...
.
Second Sino-Japanese War
Hu was a regiment commander in the 11th division in the Battle of ShanghaiBattle of Shanghai
The Battle of Shanghai, known in Chinese as Battle of Songhu, was the first of the twenty-two major engagements fought between the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China and the Imperial Japanese Army of the Empire of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
. He was wounded several times (including a shot through the jaw) and was promoted to division commander after the battle was over. As part of their Sichuan invasion plan, The Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
attacked Western Hubei, hoping to destroy Chiang Kai Shek's last remaining power base. Under Hu's leadership, the newly formed 18th Corps repulsed the Japanese attack. Afterward, he was awarded with the Order of Blue Sky and White Sun
Order of Blue Sky and White Sun
The Order of Blue Sky and White Sun with Grand Cordon is the Republic of China's second highest military award. Created in 1929, it is awarded for "outstanding contributions to national security under foreign invasion" and is second only to the Order of National Glory...
, the highest military decoration in the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
.
Huaihai Campaign
As a result of Hu's impressive track record, his unit was deployed around central and eastern China as a firefighting brigade. He was so successful in fighting against the communist forces, even communist commanders like Liu BochengLiu Bocheng
Liu Bocheng was a Chinese Communist military commander and Marshal of the People's Liberation Army.Liu is known as one of the "Three and A Half" Strategists of China in modern history...
and Su Yu
Su Yu
Su Yu was a Chinese Communist military leader. He was considered by many to be among the best commanders of the PLA only next to Lin Biao and Liu Bocheng. Su Yu fought in the Sino-Japanese War and in the Chinese Civil War...
suffered defeats from this spectacular Nationalist advance. Before the Huaihai Campaign
Huaihai Campaign
Huaihai Campaign or Battle of Hsupeng was a military action during 1948 and 1949 that was the determining battle of the Chinese Civil War. It was one of the few conventional battles of the war. 550,000 troops of the Republic of China were surrounded in Xuzhou and destroyed by the communist...
of 1948, his father died and he had dental problems, and was absent from the front. When the 12th army was surrounded by the communist troops in Anhui province, Hu personally led a rescue mission and breakout from the encirclement with the remnant of his troops. After seven days of daring escape, he reached Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
and Chiang Kai Shek tasked him with reorganize the 12th army.
Taiwan
He had twice been appointed as commander of KinmenKinmen
Kinmen , also known as Quemoy , is a small archipelago of several islands administered by the Republic of China : Greater Kinmen, Lesser Kinmen, and some islets. Administratively, it is Kinmen County of Fujian Province, ROC. The county is claimed by the People's Republic of China as part of its...
Defense Command. Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
had deep faith in his combat skill, and gave a gift of a sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
with inlaid jewel
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
s to Hu.
Because Hu did not like to flatter his superiors, he was promoted very slowly; he also ran into problems with Chiang Ching-Kuo
Chiang Ching-kuo
Chiang Ching-kuo , Kuomintang politician and leader, was the son of President Chiang Kai-shek and held numerous posts in the government of the Republic of China...
due to the fact that the two did not get along very well. Hu played a major role in Republic of China – Vietnam relations, serving as Taipei's ambassador in Saigon, South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
from 1964 to 1972; this was part of Taipei's policy of sharing its expertise in anti-communist affairs with other countries in the region. He was finally promoted to four star general in 1975 after fifty years of army service. Hu died in 1977 of heart failure and was buried in Kinmen, where he had soundly defeated the Communist invasions in 1949 and 1958.