Lin Biao (1907-1971) was the youngest of the Chinese Communist Party’s top military leaders. He led the Red Army in several decisive defeats over Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist forces, earning himself a spot at the top of the post-war power structure. Lin came to fore in the mid 1960s, when he supported Mao’s plan to launch the great “Cultural Revolution” to restore revolutionary zeal to the Communist Party. Lin Biao edited the Little Red Book of quotations from Mao, which became the emblem of the Cultural Revolution. Designated Mao’s successor at one point in time, Lin fell from grace and died in a plane crash while fleeing China after allegedly attempting to assassinate Mao.

Marshal Lin Biao