Chen Bojun

Chen Bojun
陈伯钧
Dean for the PLA National Defence University
In office September 1962 – May 1965
Chairman	Mao Zedong
Personal details
Born	November 26, 1910 Dachuan District, Sichuan, Qing Empire
Died	February 6, 1974(1974-02-06) (aged 63) Beijing
Political party	Communist Party of China
Alma mater	Whampoa Military Academy
Awards	Order of Bayi (First Class Medal) Order of Independence and Freedom (First Class Medal) Order of Liberation (First Class Medal)
Military service
Allegiance	People's Republic of China
Service/branch	People's Liberation Army
Years of service	1927-1974
Rank	General
Commands	Eighth Route Army
Battles/wars	Long March, Sino-Japanese War, Chinese Civil War

Chen Bojun (陈伯钧 or 陈国懋; pinyin:Chén Bójūn or Chén Guómào; November 26, 1910 - February 6, 1974)，was a general of the People's Liberation Army from the Sichuan Province, Dachuan District.

Chen Bojun was trained in Whampoa Military Academy in 1926, and joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1927, participating in the Autumn Harvest Uprising. He rose through the ranks, holding many divisional level commands and participated in the Long March. During the Second-Sino Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War, he held top positions in the Fourth Field Army and the Eighth Route Army. After the establishment of the PRC, Chen held the roles of commander of Hunan's garrison, PLA Military Academy's Vice Head Training and acting Head of the Academy. In 1955, Chen was awarded the rank of a General.

Biography

During the Early Red Army

Chen's participation in the May Fourth Movement and nationalistic inclination led to him being expelled from the Wanxian Shen Provincial School in 1916. In 1926 he enrolled in the Republic of China Military Academy in Wuhan.In May 1927, Chen joined the CCP at the Xianning during the Autumn Harvest Uprising

Picture of some of the military leaders after the Red Army's long march, Front row from left: Gan Siqi, He Bingyan, Guan Xiangying, Wang Zhen, Li Jingquan, Zhu Rui, He Long. Back row from left: Zhang Ziyi, Liu Yaqiu, Liao Hansheng, Zhu Ming, Chen Bojun, Lu Dongsheng

On October 1934, Chen took part in the Long March and was appointed Commander of the Red Ninth Army. In July 21, 1935, Chen was demoted to chief commissioner of the Red Army University as he refuted the orders of Zhang Guotao to go against Mao Zedong route of the march.^[1]

Sino-Japanese War (1936-1945)

Chen served as one of the divisional commanders of the Eighth Route Army during the Sino-Japanese War. As the head of the Counter-Japanese Military and Political University in 1938, he had opposed against Mao's marriage to Jiang Qing.^[2] During his return to Yan'an in 1940, Chen authored a book on "A Brief History of the Eighth Route Army".^[3]

Chinese Civil War (1945-1949)

In May 1948, he served as deputy commander of the Northeast Field Army's First Corps, participating in the Liaoshen Campaign, the Siege of Changchun and the Pingjin Campaign. In January 1949, he served as deputy commander of the Tianjin Garrison.^[4]

After the Establishment of the PRC

PLA generals on October 1, 1949. From left: Xiao Xiangrong, Xiao Hua, Chen Xilian, Chen Bojun, Liu Yalou, Lü Zhengcao, Han Xianchu.

In December 1952, Chen served as Deputy Minister of the Department of the PLA Military Training Academy. In 1953, Chen was the deputy Minister of Education and Vice President of the Military Academic Research Department in 1955.^[5] In the same year Chen was awarded the rank of general, Order of Bayi, Order of Liberation and Order of Independence and Freedom. During the Cultural Revolution , Chen was persecuted by the Red Guards, framed by Lin Biao.^[6]

On February 6, 1974, Chen died of illness in Beijing.^[7]

References