Li Desheng
Encyclopedia
Li Desheng was a general in the Chinese People's Liberation Army
. He was born in Xin County
, Henan
, China
, an area now known as the "Cradle of Generals" for its surprising number of senior military officers born in the region. He joined the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army at the age of 14, in 1930, the Communist Youth League
in 1931, and the Communist Party of China
a year later. He attained the rank of Major General in 1955, and General in 1988. The patterns of Li's advancement suggest that he was mentored by Chen Xilian
, and that he was closely aligned with You Taizhong. Li Desheng served on the politburo
from 1969–87, one of the most turbulent periods of the People's Republic. He died in Beijing on 8 May 2011.
and the Hubei
-Henan
-Anhui
revolutionary bases. During the war against Japan, Li rose from platoon commander in 1937 to company commander in 1938, battalion commander in 1939-43, and regiment commander in 1943-45, all under the leadership of the 129th Division's Liu Bocheng
and Deng Xiaoping
. Li was the 17th Brigade Commander from 1946–49, and served in the Central Plains Field Army during the Huaihai Campaign
. Before the post-liberation reorganization, in which the 17th Brigade reemerged as the 12th Corps of the 2nd Field Army, Li led his 35th Division into the 1951-53 Korean War
, rising to the rank of Division Commander. After the Korean War, Li was promoted to major general
and returned to Anhui
Province in the Nanjing Military Region. Li became Deputy Commander, and later Commander, of what eventually became the Jiangsu
-based 12th Group Army. Li rose to the rank of Deputy Commander of the Nanjing Military Region in 1968-70.
and reestablish governmental institutions during the Cultural Revolution
, Li assumed the title of Chairman of the Revolutionary Committee (i.e., government and Party committee simultaneously) of Anhui
Province in April 1968, a post he formally held for more than seven years. In October of the same year he took part at the 12th Plenary Session of the 8th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
, during which Liu Shaoqi
was officially expelled from the Party. A year later, in 1969, he participated at the 9th CPC National Congress
, and was elected member of the CPC Central Committee
and alternate member of the Politburo
, as well as a member of the Central Military Commission.
He saw his authority increasing during the progressive downfall of Lin Biao
and his allies, apparently with support from Mao Zedong
himself. In 1970 he got the post of director of the General Political Department
of the People's Liberation Army
(a position described as “Military Grand Inquisitor”), and in Autumn 1971 he was appointed first secretary of the CPC Anhui Committee. Shortly after, he was appointed commander of the Beijing Military Region, as part of a plan by Mao to remove Lin Biao's allies from key posts. In September, during Lin's attempted coup and death, Li Desheng took charge of the Beijing defence. In October, he was promoted to vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission.
In 1973, at the 10th CPC Congress, Li was elected a full member of the Politburo, as well as member of the Politburo Standing Committee
and Vice-Chairman of the CPC Central Committee. Despite he was credited fifth among the five vice-chairmen, the combination of posts made him very influent in Chinese politics.
Mao Zedong, however, soon started to criticize the activity of the Military Commission and to propose a rotation of military region commanders. On December 22, 1973 Li switched posts with Chen Xilian
, so becoming commander of the Shenyang Military Region
. In the meantime, he apparently clashed with Jiang Qing
.
Li resigned during the 2nd Plenary Session of the 10th CPC Central Committee in January 1975, and politically disappeared until after the coup d’état against the Gang of Four
, when he reemerged as a member of the CCP Central Military Commission in August 1977. He also served as head of the Leading Group for the Prevention and Treatment of Endemic Dease in North China in 1977, political commissar of the Leading Group of All-Army Financial and Economical Discipline Inspection, and president of the Chinese Patriotic Programs Federation.
Li’s last jobs were as political commissar of the National Defense University (1985–90) and vice-chairman of the honorary party Central Advisory Commission. At the time of his death he held the honorary presidency of the Beijing Institute of Modernization and the All-China Wushi Association, and had been a senior advisor to the China Society of Military Science since 1991.
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
. He was born in Xin County
Xin County
Xin County is a county of Henan, China. It is under the administration of Xinyang city....
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, an area now known as the "Cradle of Generals" for its surprising number of senior military officers born in the region. He joined the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army at the age of 14, in 1930, the Communist Youth League
Communist Youth League
The Communist Youth League of China also known as the China Youth League is a youth movement of the People's Republic of China for youth between the ages of fourteen and twenty-eight, run by Communist Party of China. The league is organized on the party pattern. Its leader is its First Secretary...
in 1931, and the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
a year later. He attained the rank of Major General in 1955, and General in 1988. The patterns of Li's advancement suggest that he was mentored by Chen Xilian
Chen Xilian
Chen Kaichu, better known by the nom de guerre Chen Xilian was a general of People's Liberation Army of China and a member of the Central Committee Politburo....
, and that he was closely aligned with You Taizhong. Li Desheng served on the politburo
Politburo of the Communist Party of China
The Central Politburo of the Communist Party of China or Political bureau of the CPC Central Committee , formerly as Central Bureau before 1927, is a group of 24 people who oversee the Communist Party of China...
from 1969–87, one of the most turbulent periods of the People's Republic. He died in Beijing on 8 May 2011.
Pre- and Post-Liberation
Li was a regiment supply section political instructor in 1934 and a platoon leader in 1937. He participated in the Long MarchLong March
The Long March was a massive military retreat undertaken by the Red Army of the Communist Party of China, the forerunner of the People's Liberation Army, to evade the pursuit of the Kuomintang army. There was not one Long March, but a series of marches, as various Communist armies in the south...
and the Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
-Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
-Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
revolutionary bases. During the war against Japan, Li rose from platoon commander in 1937 to company commander in 1938, battalion commander in 1939-43, and regiment commander in 1943-45, all under the leadership of the 129th Division's Liu Bocheng
Liu 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 Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping was a Chinese politician, statesman, and diplomat. As leader of the Communist Party of China, Deng was a reformer who led China towards a market economy...
. Li was the 17th Brigade Commander from 1946–49, and served in the Central Plains Field Army during 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...
. Before the post-liberation reorganization, in which the 17th Brigade reemerged as the 12th Corps of the 2nd Field Army, Li led his 35th Division into the 1951-53 Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, rising to the rank of Division Commander. After the Korean War, Li was promoted to major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and returned to Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
Province in the Nanjing Military Region. Li became Deputy Commander, and later Commander, of what eventually became the Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
-based 12th Group Army. Li rose to the rank of Deputy Commander of the Nanjing Military Region in 1968-70.
The Cultural Revolution
As the PLA moved to quell the Red GuardsRed Guards (China)
Red Guards were a mass movement of civilians, mostly students and other young people in the People's Republic of China , who were mobilized by Mao Zedong in 1966 and 1967, during the Cultural Revolution.-Origins:...
and reestablish governmental institutions during the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
, Li assumed the title of Chairman of the Revolutionary Committee (i.e., government and Party committee simultaneously) of Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
Province in April 1968, a post he formally held for more than seven years. In October of the same year he took part at the 12th Plenary Session of the 8th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
8th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
The 8th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was in session from 1956 to 1969. It held 12 plenary sessions in this period.It elected the 8th Politburo of the Communist Party of China in 1956.-Chronology:#1st Plenary Session...
, during which Liu Shaoqi
Liu Shaoqi
Liu Shaoqi was a Chinese revolutionary, statesman, and theorist. He was Chairman of the People's Republic of China, China's head of state, from 27 April 1959 to 31 October 1968, during which he implemented policies of economic reconstruction in China...
was officially expelled from the Party. A year later, in 1969, he participated at the 9th CPC National Congress
National Congress of the Communist Party of China
The National Congress of the Communist Party of China is a party congress that is held about once every five years. The National Congress is theoretically the highest body within the Communist Party of China, but in practice important decisions are made before the meeting. Since 1987 the National...
, and was elected member of the CPC Central Committee
Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is the highest authority within the Communist Party of China. Its approximately 350 members and alternates are selected once every five years by the National Party Congress....
and alternate member of the Politburo
Politburo of the Communist Party of China
The Central Politburo of the Communist Party of China or Political bureau of the CPC Central Committee , formerly as Central Bureau before 1927, is a group of 24 people who oversee the Communist Party of China...
, as well as a member of the Central Military Commission.
He saw his authority increasing during the progressive downfall of Lin Biao
Lin 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...
and his allies, apparently with support from Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
himself. In 1970 he got the post of director of the General Political Department
General Political Department
General Political Department is the chief political organ under Central Military Commission of CPC. It leads all political activities in the People's Liberation Army....
of the People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
(a position described as “Military Grand Inquisitor”), and in Autumn 1971 he was appointed first secretary of the CPC Anhui Committee. Shortly after, he was appointed commander of the Beijing Military Region, as part of a plan by Mao to remove Lin Biao's allies from key posts. In September, during Lin's attempted coup and death, Li Desheng took charge of the Beijing defence. In October, he was promoted to vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission.
In 1973, at the 10th CPC Congress, Li was elected a full member of the Politburo, as well as member of the Politburo Standing Committee
Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China
The Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China is a committee consisting of the top leadership of the Communist Party of China, whose membership varies between 5 and 9 people. The inner workings of the PSC are not well known, although it is believed that decisions of the PSC are...
and Vice-Chairman of the CPC Central Committee. Despite he was credited fifth among the five vice-chairmen, the combination of posts made him very influent in Chinese politics.
Mao Zedong, however, soon started to criticize the activity of the Military Commission and to propose a rotation of military region commanders. On December 22, 1973 Li switched posts with Chen Xilian
Chen Xilian
Chen Kaichu, better known by the nom de guerre Chen Xilian was a general of People's Liberation Army of China and a member of the Central Committee Politburo....
, so becoming commander of the Shenyang Military Region
Shenyang Military Region
The Shenyang Military Region |16th Group Army]], with three divisions, including an armoured division, in Jilin, the 23rd Group Army headquartered at Harbin, and the 39th Group Army in Liaoning.-Current Officers:* Zhang Youxia , since October 2007...
. In the meantime, he apparently clashed with Jiang Qing
Jiang Qing
Jiang Qing was the pseudonym that was used by Chinese leader Mao Zedong's last wife and major Communist Party of China power figure. She went by the stage name Lan Ping during her acting career, and was known by various other names during her life...
.
Li resigned during the 2nd Plenary Session of the 10th CPC Central Committee in January 1975, and politically disappeared until after the coup d’état against the Gang of Four
Gang of Four
The Gang of Four was the name given to a political faction composed of four Chinese Communist Party officials. They came to prominence during the Cultural Revolution and were subsequently charged with a series of treasonous crimes...
, when he reemerged as a member of the CCP Central Military Commission in August 1977. He also served as head of the Leading Group for the Prevention and Treatment of Endemic Dease in North China in 1977, political commissar of the Leading Group of All-Army Financial and Economical Discipline Inspection, and president of the Chinese Patriotic Programs Federation.
Li’s last jobs were as political commissar of the National Defense University (1985–90) and vice-chairman of the honorary party Central Advisory Commission. At the time of his death he held the honorary presidency of the Beijing Institute of Modernization and the All-China Wushi Association, and had been a senior advisor to the China Society of Military Science since 1991.