Liu Zhi (ROC)

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Liu Zhi (

Biography

Liu was born into a peasant family in Jiangxi province in 1892. His parents died when he was young and he was raised by his grandfather. He was educated in a local school before traveling to

He was instrumental in defeating Chiang's rival warlords in the Central Plains War and expanding KMT military power throughout the 1930s by defeating Chinese Communist forces in Henan Province. Chiang Kai-shek rewarded him by appointing him governor of Henan Province and naming a county after him. When the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out, Liu was named deputy commander of the first war zone and commander-in-chief of the 2nd Army Group. By this time, he seemed to have gradually lost his military prowess, and the Imperial Japanese Army easily overwhelmed his forces and broke through the Chinese defensive lines despite being greatly outnumbered. Liu was forced to abandon much of Hebei province in North China and this defeat contributed to the 1938 Yellow River flood, after which he was relieved from his posts by Chiang. When the nationalist government retreated to Chongking, Chiang named him as commander of the city's air defense. When the Japanese air force started the bombing of Chongking, Liu's leadership was ineffective to stall Japanese terror raids and raise civilian morale. He was dismissed once again in 1942.

In February 1945 he became commander-in-chief of the fifth war zone, a post previously held by

Liu first fled to British Hong Kong, and later on made a living in Indonesia as a Chinese language teacher. In 1953, he was ordered to return to Kuomingtang-controlled Taiwan as a political adviser to Chiang Kai-shek. He was decorated with the Order of Blue Sky and White Sun. He died in Taiwan in 1972.^{[inconsistent]}. His grand daughter Jassamyn Liu, a Chinese American, graduated from West Point Valedictorian. President George W. Bush presented a diploma to her during 2006 graduation ceremonies.

Evaluation

General Liu Zhi's early military career was full of victories and successes, but he lost his aggressiveness in combat skills after the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War. He was given opportunities in part because he remained to be loyal to President Chiang would not consider to defect to opposite side like some generals.

See also

• History of the Republic of China

References

• US Naval War College
• Ministry of National Defense R.O.C [1]