Chen Yannian

Chen Yannian (1898 – 4 July 1927) was a Chinese revolutionary and early leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Biography Chen was born in Anqing Prefecture, Anhui, in 1898, to Chen Duxiu, a revolutionary socialist, educator, philosopher and author, who co-founded the Communist Party with Li Dazhao in 1921. His siblings were, in order of birth: Chen Qiaonian, Chen Songnian and Chen Yuying. He attended the Anqing Shangzhi School and Quanwan Middle School . In 1915, he went to study in Shanghai with his younger brother Chen Qiaonian. Soon after, the two brothers were accepted to Aurora University.

In December 1919, under the influence of the May Fourth Movement, the two brothers went to France to study under a work-study programme. In June 1922, he co-founded the Chinese Youth Communist Party with Zhao Shiyan and Zhou Enlai and served as the propaganda director. In 1922, he joined the French Communist Party. In the winter of 1922, with the approval of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the two brother joined the CCP.

In September 1924, Chen returned to Shanghai.

Later commentary Chen Yannian was the early leader of the CCP whom Chiang Kai-shek,the leader of the Kuomintang,feared the most.Chen Yannian's grand-nephew,Chen Entian,told reporters that during the Great Revolution,Chen Yannian served as the CCP's top leader in South China,he and Zhou Enlai established the CCP's first armed force,pioneering the CCP's practice of the party commanding the gun and laying the foundation for the CCP's army building.

Monuments There is a road named "Yanqiao Road" after him and his younger brother Chen Qiaonian in Hefei, Anhui.