Background and History Born May 31 1906 in Sichuan Province and died August 3 1978 in Germany. Luo Ruiqing was dean of studies of the Red Army University.
Promoted to General of the Army in 1955 (Equivalent to 4 Stars). Luo Ruiqing was then member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee, Secretary-General of its Military Commission, Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and Vice-Premier of the State Council. A General Office for Defense Industry [GODI] was set up under Senior General Luo Ruiqing in November 1961. During the Great Cultural Revolution although he was the PLA Chief of Staff he was arrested and put into prison in 1966.

Activities in Cultural Revolution During the first stages of the Cultural Revolution, he was branded as part of the "Peng-Luo-Lu-Yang anti-Party clique" (with Peng Zhen, Lu Dingyi and Yang Shangkun). After criticism sessions, he attempted suicide on March 16, 1966 by jumping from the third floor of a building, surviving but breaking both his legs. This was seen as a proof of his guilt, so he received further public criticism after he recovered. He was hospitalized many times in the following years, and he was forced to have his left leg amputated in 1969. Luo was rehabilitated by Mao during a meeting of the Central Military Commission in 1975, when he recognized that Lin Biao fabricated a case against the former General. In 1977 Luo was elected in the 11th Central Committee and got back his post of CMC secretary-general.