Lu Han (simplified Chinese: 卢汉; traditional Chinese: 盧漢; pinyin: Lú Hàn; 6 February 1895 – 13 May 1974) was a Chinese general of Yi ethnicity, who served in important military and political positions under both the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China. A prominent warlord of Yunnan, he was closely associated with Long Yun, who was first an ally and then a rival, although both ended up collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
A graduate of the Yunnan Military Academy, Lu Han notably commanded the 1st Group Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War. After the CCP victory in the Chinese Civil War, he joined the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, and went on to serve as Vice President of the National Sports Commission (today the General Administration of Sport), member of both the National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, as well as Vice Chairman of the Southwest China Military and Political Committee.
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Military career and Republic of China
Born in Zhaotong, Lu Han studied at the Yunnan Military Academy and joined the Yunnan Army, serving under Long Yun for many years. Long and Lu had a close relationship with each other, and there were rumors that Lu Han was Long Yun's half-brother, but this was denied by Long Yun's son Long Shengwu. In 1914, Lu Han married Long Yun's cousin Long Zeqing. In 1937, he served as commander of the 60th Army of the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China, with more than 40,000 troops.
In 1938, he participated in the Battle of Taierzhuang. Subsequently, the 60th Army was reorganized into the 30th Army, and later expanded into the 1st Army. Lu Han served as the commander of the Army and participated in the Battle of Wuhan. In 1939, he commanded units in the Battle of Changsha.