Xu Xiangqian

Xu Xiangqian
徐向前
Marshal Xu Xianqian (1955)
Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission
In office
8 January 1966 – 1 November 1987
ChairmanMao Zedong
Hua Guofeng
Deng Xiaoping
4th Minister of National Defense
In office
26 February 1978 – 6 March 1981
PremierHua Guofeng
Zhao Ziyang
Preceded byYe Jianying
Succeeded byGeng Biao
Vice Premier of China
In office
March 1978 – September 1980
PremierHua Guofeng
Personal details
Born(1901-11-08)November 8, 1901
Wutai County, Shanxi, Qing China
DiedSeptember 21, 1990(1990-09-21) (aged 88)
Beijing, China
Occupation
  • General
  • politician
  • writer
Nickname(s)"The cotton-clad marshal" (bù yī yuán shuài, 布衣元帅)
Military service
Allegiance People's Republic of China
Branch/service People's Liberation Army Ground Force
Years of service1924–1987
Rank Marshal of the People's Republic of China
Commands
Battles/wars
Awards

Xu Xiangqian (November 8, 1901 – September 21, 1990) was a Marshal of the People's Republic of China (PRC). He was the son of a wealthy landowner, but joined the Kuomintang's (KMT) National Revolutionary Army (NRA), against his parents' wishes, in 1924. When the Chinese Civil War started in 1927, Xu joined the Eyuwan Soviet led by Zhang Guotao; Xu became commander of the Eyuwan-based Fourth Red Army. Zhang and Xu retreated to northern Sichuan after being defeated by a KMT encirclement campaign. Xu politically survived Zhang's defection to the KMT in the late-1930s; he rejoined the Red Army in a less senior position under the leadership of Mao Zedong.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) Xu served in several military units in Communist-controlled areas across North China, and directed the construction of several bases areas. When the Chinese Civil War resumed, in 1947, Xu was active in North China. Forces under his command were responsible for the capture of the heavily fortified city of Taiyuan in the later stages of the war, in 1949.

Xu was promoted to marshal after the founding of the PRC in 1949. He held numerous political and military positions, and survived the Cultural Revolution despite attempting to moderate some of its more destructive effects. He was an important supporter of Deng Xiaoping and his return to political power in 1976. He continued to serve in a number of political and military positions until he was forced to retire in 1985.