Lin Biao (PJW)

Lin Biao was the second Chairman of the People's Republic of China and a Marshal in the People's Liberation Army.

A military commander in the Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War, Lin was a pivotal force in the victories of the Communist Party. After the war, he became a Vice Chairman in the Party and became close to China's leader, Mao Zedong. Lin was instrumental in establishing Mao's cult of personality during the Cultural Revolution, and Mao rewarded Lin by naming him his designated successor.

However, as the Cultural Revolution expanded beyond control, Mao attempted to purge Lin and his ally, Chen Boda, fearing their power had become too much. Lin and Chen struck first, and Mao was killed by the two in 1968. Lin became China's next Chairman, and justified continuing the Cultural Revolution by proclaiming it was now a search for the counter revolutionaries who had killed Mao.

Lin greatly expanded the forces of the People's Liberation Army, and while the Soviet Union turned inward, China began a policy of supplying foreign communist revolutions, such as Che Guevara's revolution in Bolivia. By 1974, Lin's health was failing, and he was unable to stop the machinations of Chen, who proclaimed that Lin was responsible for the death of Mao.

Lin was arrested, but died of poor health before his trial. He would be succeeded by Chen Boda.