Zhu De (December 1, 1886 – July 6, 1976), great Marxist, proletarian revolutionary, politician and military strategist, one of the main leaders of the Communist Party of China and the People's Republic of China, and one of the founders of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Comrade Zhu De's life was a glorious life of unremitting struggle for the cause of liberation of the Chinese people and the cause of socialism.
### Early life experience
- **Birth and Education**: Zhu De was born in Yilong County, Sichuan Province, into a family of sharecroppers. In 1909, he was admitted to the Yunnan Army Lecture Hall and began his military career.
- **Join a revolutionary group**: In the same year, Zhu De joined the China League, a revolutionary group led by Sun Yat-sen, and participated in the Xinhai Revolution.
- **Military Experience**: Zhu De participated in the Xinhai Revolutionary Armed Uprising in Yunnan, later participated in the war against Yuan Shikai's restoration of the imperial system, and participated in the Protectorate War in Sichuan.
### Revolutionary activity
- **Acceptance of Marxism**: Under the influence of the October Revolution and the May Fourth Movement, Zhu De gradually accepted Marxism, and in 1922 he went to Germany, met Zhou Enlai and other communists in Berlin, and joined the Communist Party of China.
- **Military Studies**: Zhu De studied abroad at a university in Göttingen, Germany, and studied military affairs in the Soviet Union.
During his study in Germany, Comrade Zhu De became acquainted with many important revolutionary comrades and participated in revolutionary activities with them. The most famous of these was Comrade Zhou Enlai, whose encounter and cooperation with Zhu De in Germany had a profound impact on the history of the Chinese revolution.
### Comrade Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai was one of the important leaders of the Communist Party of China and an important person whom Zhu De met during his study in Germany. In October 1922, Zhu De arrived in Germany and first settled in Berlin, where he met Zhou Enlai, who was engaged in revolutionary activities in Berlin at the time. With the help of Zhou Enlai, Zhu De joined the Communist Party of China and began his career of fighting for the cause of communism.
Zhou Enlai and Zhu De participated in many revolutionary activities together during their time in Germany, including organizing and participating in activities such as the Shanghai strike in solidarity with the "May Day Massacre". Their cooperation not only deepened the friendship between the two sides, but also cultivated an important leadership force for the cause of the Chinese revolution.
### Other international students
During his time at the University of Göttingen in Germany, Zhu De also met many other Chinese students. Some of them were also influenced by Zhu De and joined the Chinese Communist Party and became revolutionary activists. Zhu De's study and life at the University of Göttingen not only provided him with valuable opportunities for personal growth, but also cultivated a group of idealistic and ambitious young talents for the Chinese revolution.
### Influence of the University of Göttingen
The University of Göttingen is a well-known institution of higher learning in Germany, known for its excellent academic tradition and liberal academic atmosphere. Zhu De's study and life here exposed him to advanced scientific knowledge and cultural thoughts, and these experiences had an important impact on his ideological development and revolutionary activities.
Zhu De's study experience in Germany is an important part of his personal growth and the history of the Chinese revolution. The comrades he met and the activities he participated in in Germany not only enriched his personal experience, but also made important contributions to the development of the Chinese revolutionary cause. Zhu De's story has inspired generations of Chinese, and his revolutionary spirit and feelings for the country and the people will forever be remembered in the history of the Chinese revolution.
Comrade Zhu De's experience of studying military affairs in the Soviet Union was an important part of his military career. In the early 1920s, Zhu De traveled across the ocean to study in Europe, and joined the Communist Party of China in November 1922, becoming a rare military general in the party. After joining the party, Zhu De received the key training of the party organization. After studying Western military theory and military history in Germany, Zhu De was arranged by the party organization to study in a secret military training class in the village of Molokhovka, a suburb of Moscow.
In this secret military training class, Zhu De received military training with more than 40 Chinese revolutionaries from France and Germany, learning the tactics of urban street warfare and guerrilla warfare. This study experience in the Soviet Union had a profound impact on Zhu De's military thinking and practice. Through systematic study and practice, Zhu De not only mastered advanced military theories and tactics, but also strengthened his understanding and identification with Marxism and the international communist movement.
Zhu De's study experience in the Soviet Union made him one of the leaders of the Chinese revolutionary army with profound military literacy and international vision. This experience provided him with a solid theoretical foundation and practical experience for his later military command and strategic decision-making in the Chinese Revolution. Zhu De applied the knowledge and skills he learned to the practice of the Chinese revolution and made important contributions to the establishment and development of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
- **Nanchang Uprising**: In 1927, Zhu De participated in the leadership of the Nanchang Uprising and served as the commander of the Ninth Army of the Rebel Army.
### Red Army period
- **Jinggangshan Division**: In 1928, Zhu De led his troops to meet with Mao Zedong's troops at Jinggangshan to create the Fourth Army of the Red Army.
- **Struggle against "encirclement and suppression"**: Zhu De, together with Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, commanded the Red Army to defeat the multiple "encirclement and suppression" of the Kuomintang army.
- **Long March**: In 1934, Zhu De participated in the Long March, on the way to the Zunyi Conference to support Mao Zedong's correct ideas and oppose Zhang Guotao's separatist activities.
### War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and War of Liberation
- **War of Resistance Against Japan**: After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in 1937, Zhu De served as the commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army of the National Revolutionary Army, and cooperated with the Kuomintang army to fight against Japan.
- **War of Liberation**: In the War of Liberation, Zhu De served as the commander-in-chief of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and participated in the command of the three major battles of Liaoshen, Huaihai and Pingjin.
### After the founding of the People's Republic of China
- **National Leadership**: On October 1, 1949, when the People's Republic of China was founded, Zhu De was Vice Chairman of the Central People's Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. In 1954, he was elected Vice President of the People's Republic of China.
- **Political Activities**: Zhu De played an important role in many meetings of the Chinese Communist Party, proposing the "Nanniwan Policy" and promoting the mass production movement.
Comrade Zhu De's life was a glorious life of unremitting struggle for the cause of the party and the people, and his military theory and practical experience made outstanding contributions to the formation and development of Mao Zedong's military thought. His charisma and revolutionary spirit still inspire the Chinese people today.
Comrade Zhu De was one of the outstanding leaders of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and he participated in many important battles and battles at various stages of the Chinese revolution. The following are some of the important battles in which Comrade Zhu De participated:
### Xinhai Revolution
- Yunnan "Chongjiu Uprising"**: Zhu De participated in the revolutionary activities to overthrow the Qing Dynasty as the precursor captain of the attack on the governor's yamen.
### Protectorate War and Protectorate War
- **Protectorate War**: As an important general of the Dian army, Zhu De participated in the war against Yuan Shikai's restoration of the imperial system.
- **Protector War**: Zhu De continued to participate in the Protectorate War as a general of the Dian Army.
### Period of the Agrarian Revolutionary War
- **Nanchang Uprising**: In 1927, Zhu De participated in the leadership of the Nanchang Uprising and served as the deputy commander of the Ninth Army of the Rebel Army.
- **Shonan Uprising**: In 1928, Zhu De participated in leading the Shonan Uprising and established the workers' and peasants' sovereign regime.
- **Jinggangshan Division**: In April of the same year, Zhu De led the rebel army to Jinggangshan, joined forces with the troops led by Mao Zedong, and established the Fourth Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army (later renamed the Red Army).
- **Struggle against "encirclement and suppression"**: Zhu De and Mao Zedong commanded the Red Army to win the first, second, and third victories against "encirclement and suppression". In the spring of 1933, together with Zhou Enlai, he commanded the Red Army and won the fourth victory against "encirclement and suppression".
### Long March
- **Long March**: In October 1934, Zhu De participated in the Long March, on the way to the Zunyi Conference to support Mao Zedong's correct ideas and oppose Zhang Guotao's separatist activities.
### Sino-Japanese War
- **Pingxingguan Victory**: In 1937, Zhu De served as the commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army and participated in and commanded important battles such as the Pingxingguan Victory.
### War of Liberation
- **Liaoshen Campaign**: Zhu De assisted Mao Zedong in organizing and commanding the Liaoshen Campaign.
- **Huaihai Campaign**: Zhu De participated in organizing and commanding the Huaihai Campaign.
- **Pingjin Campaign**: Zhu De participated in organizing and commanding the Pingjin Campaign.
Comrade Zhu De had several important female partners in his life, the most well-known of which was his last wife, Kang Keqing.
### Kang Keqing
Kang Keqing (1911-1992), formerly known as Kang Guiying, was Zhu De's last wife. She was born in a poor peasant family, and when she went to Jinggangshan, Kang Keqing was illiterate. In order to improve his political consciousness and cultural quality, Kang Keqing often boldly went to Zhu De to seek advice. Her frankness and openness of her view of marriage and love, that is, the proletarian view of marriage and love, won Zhu De's admiration. Kang Keqing expressed her criteria for choosing a partner: revolutionary resoluteness, noble character, like-mindedness, and not flattering power. Zhu De agreed with Kang Keqing's views and offered to form a lifelong partner with her. The two eventually became husband and wife, and went through 47 years of married life together until the death of Comrade Zhu De.
Kang Keqing not only performed well in revolutionary work, but also managed the lives of more than a dozen people at home, and her ability, virtuousness, and kindness won wide praise from those around her. In 1955, when the Chinese People's Liberation Army conferred the title for the first time, Kang Keqing was awarded the rank of colonel, becoming one of the few female officers in the army. Her life was a glorious life of unremitting struggle for China's revolution and construction.
### Wu Ruolan
Wu Ruolan (1903-1929) was one of Zhu De's wives during the early revolutionary period. Born in Leiyang, Hunan Province, she was admitted to the Third Provincial Girls' Normal School in Hengyang, Hunan Province in 1924, joined the Communist Party of China in 1925, and participated in the peasant movement. In 1928, Zhu De and Chen Yi led the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army of the Nanchang Uprising to conquer Leiyang, and Wu Ruolan was in charge of women's work in the Leiyang County Soviet Government and married Zhu De.
Wu Ruolan showed great courage and sacrifice in the revolution. In 1929, in order to protect the safe evacuation of Zhu De and other Red Army leaders, she resolutely attracted the attention of the enemy, and finally was unfortunately captured and died a heroic death. Her heroic deeds have become an indelible memory in the history of the Chinese revolution.
Zhu De's wives, whether Kang Keqing or Wu Ruolan, played an important role in China's revolution and construction, and their deeds and spirit continue to inspire the Chinese people today.
Comrade Zhu De's military career ran through many important stages of the Chinese revolution, and his leadership and participation played a crucial role in the victory of the Chinese revolution. His military talent and firm revolutionary will laid a solid foundation for the founding and development of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Comrade Zhu De, as one of the important leaders of the Communist Party of China and the People's Republic of China, held a number of important posts and made tremendous contributions to China's construction and development. The following is Comrade Zhu De's tenure after the founding of the People's Republic of China:
1. **Vice Chairman of the Central People's Government**: In September 1949, Zhu De was elected Vice Chairman of the Committee of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China at the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. In this position, he actively participated in the important decision-making and management work of the state, and played an important role in the stability and development of New China.
2. **Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese People's Liberation Army**: After the founding of New China, Zhu De continued to serve as the commander-in-chief of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, responsible for guiding and directing the construction and development of the People's Liberation Army, and made important contributions to safeguarding national security and territorial integrity.
3. Vice Chairman of the National Defense Committee: Zhu De also served as vice chairman of the National Defense Committee, participated in national defense construction and the formulation of military strategies, and made efforts to strengthen the country's national defense strength and modernize the armed forces.
4. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee**: At the First Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Zhu De was elected as a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee. As one of the core members of the party's leadership, he participated in the major policy decisions of the party and the state, and had an important impact on the development of the party and the construction of the country.
5. Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress**: Zhu De served as the chairman of the Standing Committee of the Second, Third and Fourth National People's Congress, responsible for the daily work of the National People's Congress, and promoted the development of China's socialist legal system.
During his tenure after the founding of New China, Comrade Zhu De not only made outstanding contributions to the military, but also played an important role in the country's political, economic, cultural, and other fields. His work and efforts have played an irreplaceable role in the consolidation and development of New China. Comrade Zhu De's noble qualities and outstanding contributions will forever be remembered in the history of China's revolution and construction.