Guan Linzheng
Encyclopedia
Guan Linzheng（1905-1980）was a highly successful Chinese general in the Kuomintang
who fought against both the Chinese communists and the Imperial Japanese Army
, and was a recipient of Order of Blue Sky and White Sun
, the highest honor for a Chinese nationalist commander.
, Shaanxi
on March 19, 1905. The famous Chinese educator Yu Youren recommended him to joined the Chinese Nationalist Party headed by Dr. Sun Yat-sen
in Caton. So he travelled to there with other fellow students from Shaanxi
and attended the Whampoa Military Academy
, some of his notable classmates included Du Yuming
, Fan Hanjie
, Hu Lian
, Liu Yuzhang, Zhang Lingfu
and Lin Biao
. In 1925, as a member of the first graduating class the Academy, he was serious injured in his knees during the Eastern Expedition against the Cantonese warlord Chen Jiongming
. Only through the personal intervention of Liao Zhongkai
, the Kuomintang
party representative, that he did made a full recovery of his wounds and avoided being amputated. In 1926, he was appointed as the battalion commander of the Central garrsion regiment and participated in the Northern Expedition. In 1927 Guan received his promotion as regiment commander of the General Headquarters of National Revolutionary Army
, and was then transferred to the 11th division, one of Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek's most elite units. The deputy division commander General Chen Cheng
tried to enlist Guan's support to remove the division commander who was not a graduate of the Whampoa Military Academy
, but Guan opposed his move. The relationship between two men grew very tense as a result. In September 1928, Guan was promoted as brigade commander of the 11th division and later as deputy commander of the new 5th division. In 1930 he fought under President Chiang Kai Shek during the Central Plains War
and was transferred again to the South to attack the Chinese communist forces under Red Army commander Chen Geng
in Hubei
, forcing them to join the Long March
two years later. He was then promoted to command the 25th division because of this achievement.
to defend North China against the Imperial Japanese Army
led by Field Marshal Nobuyoshi Mutō
in the Defense of the Great Wall
. He personally led an infantry charge against a Japanese position and was severely wounded in the action, his deputy commander Du Yuming
took over command of the division. The nationalist government awarded him the Order of Blue Sky and White Sun
after the conclusion of the battle. General Guan's unit stayed in Beijing
after this clash as part of the garrison and was post in Luoyang
in 1935. In 1936, he led his unit into Shanxi
province to help the local warlord Yan Xishan
to drive away the communist troops commanded by his former classmate Lin Biao
and was successful in his mission. On October 15, 1936 Guan was promoted to lieutenant general and tasked to block a large Chinese communist force commanded by his former classmate Xu Xiangqian
who was ordered by Chinese Communist Party to establish a base in Xinjiang
, as part of the communist plan to receive aid from the Soviet Union
. General Guan again successfully accomplished his mission and Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek promoted him as commander of 52nd corps when the Second Sino-Japanese War
broke out the next year. Guan led his unit in successive battles against the Japanese Army, which included the Battle of Taierzhuang
, Battle of Wuhan
, and Battle of Changsha (1939)
. Because of his personal bravery, he was nicknamed Guan the Brave and the Iron Fist. In 1938, General Guan was promoted to command the 33rd army, and was promoted to the position of commander-in-chief of 15th army group, and became the first graduate of the Whampoa Military Academy
to command an army group. In 1940, Guan led his unit into Yunnan
province, and was put in charge of defend the border between China and Vietnam
. However, Guan's relation with General Chen Cheng
suffered another setback when he decided to remove Chen Cheng's favorite commander General Huang Wei
as commander of the 54th corps because of Huang's alleged corruption. In 1944, General Guan received another promotion as deputy commander-in-chief of the 1st Area Army and was one of the most successful Chinese commanders in the entire war.
against the Chinese communist troops under Lin Biao
in 1945. However, General Chen Cheng
opposed Guan's appointment as security commander of Manchuria because the intense rivalry between the two of them, and Guan was appointed as garrison commander of Yunnan instead. On November 25, college students went on strike in Kunming
to protest the resumption of the Chinese Civil War
. Four days later, General Guan held a press conference and stated the government troops has the right to use force to quell the strike, and ordered the students to resume their classes. But on December 1, 1945 nationalist troops and student protestors clashed with each other and there were many casualties on both sides, Guan was made a scapegoat of the incident and resigned his command the next year. In 1947, Guan succeeded President Chiang Kai Shek as commandant of the Whampoa Military Academy
, and was appointed as deputy commander-in-chief of the ROC
army. In August 1949, the acting president Li Zongren
appointed him as commander-in-chief as the ROC
army, because Chiang Kai Shek put Guan's old rival General Chen Cheng in charge of Taiwan
and greatly favored him, General Guan decided to retire in Hong Kong
in that November. He formally resigned his position as commander-in-chief of the army in 1950.
, Guan refused to join any political organization and spent most of his time in calligraphy and Chinese opera. Although Guan's relationship with General Chen Cheng was very rivalrous throughout their career, Guan maintained a close friendship with General Hu Lian
, one of Chen Cheng's ablest subordinates. Guan also formed a closer relationship with his own former ajutant, General Liu Yuzhang when their children married each other. In 1975 Guan travelled to Taiwan to participate Chiang Kai Shek's funeral and turned down President Chiang Ching-kuo
's requst to remain there. In 1980, General Guan Linzheng died in Hong Kong at age 75 of stroke
. General Guan Linzheng and his wife are buried in Rosehills Memorial Park in Whittier, California. General Guan Linzheng is survived by his 2 sons and 4 daughters as well as 12 grandchildren.
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...
who fought against both the Chinese communists and 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...
, and was a recipient of 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 honor for a Chinese nationalist commander.
Early life and career
Guan Linzheng was born in a rural peasant family in Hu CountyHu County
Hu County is a county in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China, which has a population of about 578 thousand. It has an area of 1255 square kilometers, containing 11 towns and 5 townships.To the south of the county is Mount Qinling and north is Weihe River.There are all together 36 rivers running through the area...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
on March 19, 1905. The famous Chinese educator Yu Youren recommended him to joined the Chinese Nationalist Party headed by Dr. Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
in Caton. So he travelled to there with other fellow students from Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
and attended the Whampoa Military Academy
Whampoa Military Academy
The Nationalist Party of China Army Officer Academy , commonly known as the Whampoa Military Academy , was a military academy in the Republic of China that produced many prestigious commanders who fought in many of China's conflicts in the 20th century, notably the Northern Expedition, the Second...
, some of his notable classmates included 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...
, Hu Lian
Hu Lian
Hu Lian was a Chinese Nationalist general, he participated the Northern Expedition, anti-communist Encirclement Campaigns, Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War.- Whampoa Military Academy :...
, Liu Yuzhang, Zhang Lingfu
Zhang Lingfu
Zhang Lingfu was a high-ranking general of the National Revolutionary Army. He successfully fought against the Chinese Communist army and the Imperial Japanese Army...
and 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...
. In 1925, as a member of the first graduating class the Academy, he was serious injured in his knees during the Eastern Expedition against the Cantonese warlord Chen Jiongming
Chen Jiongming
Chen Jiongming was a revolutionary figure in the early periods of the Republic of China. Chen Jiongming was born in 1878 at Haifeng, Guangdong, China....
. Only through the personal intervention of Liao Zhongkai
Liao Zhongkai
Liao Zhongkai , Kuomintang leader and financier. Liao Zhongkai was the principal architect of the first Kuomintang-Chinese Communist Party United Front in the 1920s....
, the Kuomintang
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...
party representative, that he did made a full recovery of his wounds and avoided being amputated. In 1926, he was appointed as the battalion commander of the Central garrsion regiment and participated in the Northern Expedition. In 1927 Guan received his promotion as regiment commander of the General Headquarters of National Revolutionary Army
National Revolutionary Army
The National Revolutionary Army , pre-1928 sometimes shortened to 革命軍 or Revolutionary Army and between 1928-1947 as 國軍 or National Army was the Military Arm of the Kuomintang from 1925 until 1947, as well as the national army of the Republic of China during the KMT's period of party rule...
, and was then transferred to the 11th division, one of Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek's most elite units. The deputy division commander General Chen Cheng
Chen Cheng
Chen Cheng , was a Chinese political and military leader, and one of the main National Revolutionary Army commanders during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. After moving to Taiwan at the end of the Civil War, he served as the Governor of Taiwan Province, Vice President and...
tried to enlist Guan's support to remove the division commander who was not a graduate of the Whampoa Military Academy
Whampoa Military Academy
The Nationalist Party of China Army Officer Academy , commonly known as the Whampoa Military Academy , was a military academy in the Republic of China that produced many prestigious commanders who fought in many of China's conflicts in the 20th century, notably the Northern Expedition, the Second...
, but Guan opposed his move. The relationship between two men grew very tense as a result. In September 1928, Guan was promoted as brigade commander of the 11th division and later as deputy commander of the new 5th division. In 1930 he fought under President Chiang Kai Shek during the Central Plains War
Central Plains War
Central Plains War was a civil war within the factionalised Kuomintang that broke out in 1930. It was fought between the forces of Chiang Kai-shek and the coalition of three military commanders who had previously allied with Chiang: Yan Xishan, Feng Yuxiang, and Li Zongren...
and was transferred again to the South to attack the Chinese communist forces under Red Army commander Chen Geng
Chen Geng
Chen Geng was a Chinese communist military leader.-Early life:Born in Hunan province, Chen was second of 12 siblings. However, because his elder brother died early due to illness, Chen became the eldest son. His grandfather, Chen Yiqong was an officer in the imperial Chinese army and was rewarded...
in 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...
, forcing them to join the Long March
Long 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...
two years later. He was then promoted to command the 25th division because of this achievement.
Second Sino-Japanese War
In 1933 Guan received orders from the nationalist government to help General Song ZheyuanSong Zheyuan
Sòng Zhéyuán was a Chinese general during the Chinese Civil War and Sino-Japanese War .- Early life and education :...
to defend North China against 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...
led by Field Marshal Nobuyoshi Mutō
Nobuyoshi Muto
-External links:*- Notes :...
in the Defense of the Great Wall
Defense of the Great Wall
The Defense of the Great Wall was a campaign between the armies of Republic of China and Empire of Japan, which took place before the Second Sino-Japanese War officially commenced in 1937...
. He personally led an infantry charge against a Japanese position and was severely wounded in the action, his deputy commander 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....
took over command of the division. The nationalist government awarded him 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...
after the conclusion of the battle. General Guan's unit stayed in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
after this clash as part of the garrison and was post in Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
in 1935. In 1936, he led his unit into Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
province to help the local warlord Yan Xishan
Yan Xishan
Yan Xishan, was a Chinese warlord who served in the government of the Republic of China. Yan effectively controlled the province of Shanxi from the 1911 Xinhai Revolution to the 1949 Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War...
to drive away the communist troops commanded by his former classmate 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 was successful in his mission. On October 15, 1936 Guan was promoted to lieutenant general and tasked to block a large Chinese communist force commanded by his former classmate Xu Xiangqian
Xu Xiangqian
Xu Xiangqian was a Chinese communist military leader.-Biography:Xu was born in Wutai county, Shanxi province, China. He was admitted to the Whampoa Academy in 1924 and held various officer ranks in the National Revolutionary Army between 1925 and 1927...
who was ordered by Chinese Communist Party to establish a base in Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
, as part of the communist plan to receive aid from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. General Guan again successfully accomplished his mission and Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek promoted him as commander of 52nd corps when the 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...
broke out the next year. Guan led his unit in successive battles against the Japanese Army, which included the Battle of Taierzhuang
Battle of Taierzhuang
The Battle of Tai'erzhuang was a battle of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1938, between armies of Chinese Kuomintang and Japan, and is sometimes considered as a part of Battle of Xuzhou....
, Battle of Wuhan
Battle of Wuhan
The Battle of Wuhan, popularly known to the Chinese as the Defence of Wuhan, and to the Japanese as the Capture of Wuhan, was a large-scale battle of the Second Sino-Japanese War...
, and Battle of Changsha (1939)
Battle of Changsha (1939)
Battle of Changsha was the first attempt by Japan to take the city of Changsha, China, during the second Sino-Japanese War. It was the first major battle of the war to fall within the timeframe of what's widely considered World War II.- Background and strategy :The war had already reached a...
. Because of his personal bravery, he was nicknamed Guan the Brave and the Iron Fist. In 1938, General Guan was promoted to command the 33rd army, and was promoted to the position of commander-in-chief of 15th army group, and became the first graduate of the Whampoa Military Academy
Whampoa Military Academy
The Nationalist Party of China Army Officer Academy , commonly known as the Whampoa Military Academy , was a military academy in the Republic of China that produced many prestigious commanders who fought in many of China's conflicts in the 20th century, notably the Northern Expedition, the Second...
to command an army group. In 1940, Guan led his unit into Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
province, and was put in charge of defend the border between China and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. However, Guan's relation with General Chen Cheng
Chen Cheng
Chen Cheng , was a Chinese political and military leader, and one of the main National Revolutionary Army commanders during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. After moving to Taiwan at the end of the Civil War, he served as the Governor of Taiwan Province, Vice President and...
suffered another setback when he decided to remove Chen Cheng's favorite commander General Huang Wei
Huang Wei
Huang Wei was a Chinese Nationalist military general who fought in the Encirclement Campaigns, Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War.-Early life and career:...
as commander of the 54th corps because of Huang's alleged corruption. In 1944, General Guan received another promotion as deputy commander-in-chief of the 1st Area Army and was one of the most successful Chinese commanders in the entire war.
Chinese Civil War
Because of General Guan's impressive track record, he was President Chiang Kai Shek's original choice to lead the American-trained nationalist troops to ManchuriaManchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
against the Chinese communist troops under 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...
in 1945. However, General Chen Cheng
Chen Cheng
Chen Cheng , was a Chinese political and military leader, and one of the main National Revolutionary Army commanders during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. After moving to Taiwan at the end of the Civil War, he served as the Governor of Taiwan Province, Vice President and...
opposed Guan's appointment as security commander of Manchuria because the intense rivalry between the two of them, and Guan was appointed as garrison commander of Yunnan instead. On November 25, college students went on strike in Kunming
Kunming
' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government...
to protest the resumption of the 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...
. Four days later, General Guan held a press conference and stated the government troops has the right to use force to quell the strike, and ordered the students to resume their classes. But on December 1, 1945 nationalist troops and student protestors clashed with each other and there were many casualties on both sides, Guan was made a scapegoat of the incident and resigned his command the next year. In 1947, Guan succeeded President Chiang Kai Shek as commandant of the Whampoa Military Academy
Whampoa Military Academy
The Nationalist Party of China Army Officer Academy , commonly known as the Whampoa Military Academy , was a military academy in the Republic of China that produced many prestigious commanders who fought in many of China's conflicts in the 20th century, notably the Northern Expedition, the Second...
, and was appointed as deputy commander-in-chief of the ROC
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...
army. In August 1949, the acting president Li Zongren
Li Zongren
Li Zongren or Li Tsung-jen , courtesy name Delin , was a prominent Guangxi warlord and Kuomintang military commander during the Northern Expedition, Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War...
appointed him as commander-in-chief as the ROC
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...
army, because Chiang Kai Shek put Guan's old rival General Chen Cheng in charge of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and greatly favored him, General Guan decided to retire in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in that November. He formally resigned his position as commander-in-chief of the army in 1950.
Retirement in Hong Kong
During his stay in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Guan refused to join any political organization and spent most of his time in calligraphy and Chinese opera. Although Guan's relationship with General Chen Cheng was very rivalrous throughout their career, Guan maintained a close friendship with General Hu Lian
Hu Lian
Hu Lian was a Chinese Nationalist general, he participated the Northern Expedition, anti-communist Encirclement Campaigns, Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War.- Whampoa Military Academy :...
, one of Chen Cheng's ablest subordinates. Guan also formed a closer relationship with his own former ajutant, General Liu Yuzhang when their children married each other. In 1975 Guan travelled to Taiwan to participate Chiang Kai Shek's funeral and turned down President 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...
's requst to remain there. In 1980, General Guan Linzheng died in Hong Kong at age 75 of stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. General Guan Linzheng and his wife are buried in Rosehills Memorial Park in Whittier, California. General Guan Linzheng is survived by his 2 sons and 4 daughters as well as 12 grandchildren.
Sources
- Hsu Long-hsuen and Chang Ming-kai, History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) 2nd Ed., 1971. Translated by Wen Ha-hsiung, Chung Wu Publishing; 33, 140th Lane, Tung-hwa Street, Taipei, Taiwan Republic of China.
External links
- http://www.generals.dk/general_/China.html
- Ministry of National Defense R.O.C
- http://www.guanlinzheng.com
- 抗日名将關麟徵
- 青天白日勋章获颁者履历 莫非王土整理