Su Yu

Su Yu (Chinese: 粟裕; pinyin: Sù Yù; August 10, 1907 – February 5, 1984), courtesy name Yu (裕), was a Chinese general of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). He was one of the most prominent Communist commanders during the Chinese Civil War and the Second Sino-Japanese War, and was regarded as one of the PLA's most capable operational commanders. He served as deputy commander and principal operational planner of the East China Field Army under Chen Yi, playing a leading role in several major Communist victories. Su participated in the campaigns of the Chinese Red Army during the 1930s and served with the New Fourth Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War. During the Chinese Civil War, he played a central role in the Menglianggu campaign, the Huaihai campaign, the Yangtze River Crossing campaign, and the Shanghai Campaign. His planning and command contributed significantly to the destruction of major Kuomintang forces in eastern China and the Communist victory in the civil war. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Su Yu held several senior military positions, including Chief of the General Staff from 1954 to 1958 and vice minister of national defense. He was awarded the rank of general in 1955 and later served in senior positions in the Academy of Military Science, where he contributed to the study and modernization of the PLA.