Li Desheng

Li Desheng
Director of the People's Liberation Army General Political Department
In office
1969–1975
Preceded byXiao Hua
Succeeded byZhang Chunqiao
Personal details
Born(1916-05-04)4 May 1916
Guangshan County, Henan, China
Died8 May 2011(2011-05-08) (aged 95)
Beijing

Li Desheng (Chinese: 李德生; pinyin: Lǐ Déshēng; Wade–Giles: Li Te-sheng; 4 May 1916 – 8 May 2011) 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 the large number of senior military officers born in the region.[1] He joined the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army at the age of 14, in 1930, the Communist Youth League in 1931, and the Chinese Communist Party a year later.[2] 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 of the Chinese Communist Party from 1969–1985, one of the most turbulent periods of the People's Republic. He died in Beijing on 8 May 2011.[3]

  1. ^ The Museum of Revolutionary Base Archived 2011-04-04 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Editorial Board, Who's Who in China: Current Leaders (Foreign Language Press, Beijing: 1989), p. 315; hereafter Who's Who.
  3. ^ Li Desheng Died, Sina.com, May 8, 2011.