World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseChen Cheng, courtesy name Chen Cixiu, was born in Qingtian, Zhejiang, China. He graduated with the 8th class of the Baoding Military Academy in 1922 as an artillery officer, and joined the Whampoa Academy in 1924. He joined the Chinese National Revolutionary Army (sometimes the Nationalist Army) at Whampoa. At the start of the Northern Expedition against Chinese warlords, he was a junior officer attached to Chiang Kaishek's headquarters, but was soon promoted to battalion and then divisional level commander during the campaign. During the Chiang-Gui conflict in 1929, he commanded the 11th Division. By the end of the 1930 Central Plains War, he had become the commanding officer of the 18th Army. In 1931, a general, he led Nationalist forces in suppressing Communist forces; he was one of the leaders credited with defeating the Communist Army and forcing it to withdraw into the Long March, though through the defeat of the Communists he also suffered heavy casualties. During the campaign against the Communists, he was named the commander-in-chief of Nationalist forces in Shanxi, Shaanxi, Suiyuan, and Ningxia Provinces. In 1932, he married Tan Xiang, daughter of the recently deceased Tan Yankai, who had been the Premier of the Republic of China. In 1936, Chen was kidnapped along with Chiang during the Xi'an Incident; during this ordeal, the loyalty he displayed toward Chiang earned great trust from the Chinese leader.

ww2dbaseDuring the Second Sino-Japanese War which began in 1937, as a commanding officer in the Third War Area, Chen was charged with the defense of Wuhan, China's second largest city and an important political, industrial, and transportation center. He later commanded troops in the battles at Changsha, Yichang, and finally the overall Chinese commander in Burma in 1943.

ww2dbaseAfter WW2, the Nationalist forces resumed the Civil War that had officially been put on hold during the war with the Japanese. In May 1946, Chen was named the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with the concurrent duty as the commander-in-chief of the Chinese Navy. In 1947, he was promoted to the rank of full general. In the same year, Chen led troops in Manchuria against Communist positions, but by then the Communists had already strengthened their positions, especially with Soviet assistance. He was a proponent of the Jan 1948 offensive that ultimately led to the destruction of the New 5th Army; this defeat led to his dismissal in May 1948 amidst sickness. He arrived in Taiwan in Oct 1948. In 1949, he was named the Chairman of the Taiwan Province with concurrent duty as the commanding officer of of the Taiwan Garrison. As the provincial chairman, he was instrumental in developing the agricultural and industrial sectors of the province; he was also credited with initiating policies that stabilized the Chinese currency. At the same time, however, he was instrumental in the martial law that lasted from 1950 until 1987 (in fact, he was the official who announced it on 19 May 1949), beginning the period of White Terror. In Aug 1949, he was named the Secretary of the Southeastern Army, a civilian position, with office in the city of Taipei. Between 1950 and 1954, he served as the head of the Legislative Yuan. Between 1954 and 1965, he served two terms as the Vice President of the Republic of China; during that time, between 1957 and 1965, he was also the Deputy Chairman of the Nationalist Party. He passed away in 1965 to hepatic tumors. He was initially buried at Taishan Village in Taipei County, but in Aug 1995, he remains were re-interned to Foguangshan Temple, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan.

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Chen Cheng Timeline

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