List of heads of state and government with a military background

This is a list of heads of state and government in any country who were military personnel. It does not include people who served in the military as part of mandatory peacetime military service or those who only held rank due to their position in government.

A

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai Afghan mujahideenPrime Minister of Afghanistan (1995–1996)1979–1992Served in the Soviet–Afghan War.
Martti Ahtisaari  FinlandPresident of Finland (1994-2000)Reserve Captain
Idi Amin  UgandaPresident of Uganda (1971-1979)1946-1979Major-General
Field Marshal (self-awarded)
Jacobo Arbenz  GuatemalaPresident of Guatemala (1944-1945; 1951-1954)1932–1954Colonel
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk  Ottoman Empire
 Turkey
President of Turkey (1923–1938)
Prime Minister of the Grand National Assembly (1920–1921)
1893–1919
1921–1927
Major-General (Ottoman Empire)
Marshal (Turkey)
Served in the Italo-Turkish War, Balkan Wars, World War I, and Turkish War of Independence.
Clement Attlee  United KingdomPrime Minister of the United Kingdom (1945-1951)1914–1919MajorServed in World War I.
Aye Ko  MyanmarActing President of Burma (1988)1952–1985Lieutenant-General

B

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr  Ba'athist IraqPresident of Iraq (1968–1979)1938–1959Brigadier
Marshal (as president)
Served in the Anglo-Iraqi War.
Ehud Barak  IsraelPrime Minister of Israel (1999–2001)1959–1995Lieutenant-GeneralServed in the Six-Day War, Yom Kippur War, and Operation Entebbe.
Bajram Begaj  AlbaniaPresident of Albania (Since 2022)1988–2022Major-General
Menachem Begin  Second Polish Republic
 Israel
Prime Minister of Israel (1977–1983)1941–1942
1943–1948
Corporal (Poland)Served in the Jewish insurgency in Mandatory Palestine and 1947–1948 civil war in Mandatory Palestine.
Naftali Bennett  IsraelPrime Minister of Israel (2021–2022)1990–1996
2006
MajorServed in the First Intifada, South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000), Second Intifada, and 2006 Lebanon War.
Pasteur Bizimungu  RwandaPresident of Rwanda (1994–2000)1990–1994Served in the Rwandan Patriotic Front during the Rwandan Civil War.
Jair Bolsonaro  BrazilPresident of Brazil (2019–2022)1973–1988Captain
Leonid Brezhnev  Soviet UnionGeneral Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1964-1982)
Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1977-1982)
1941–1982Major-General (Commissar)
Marshal of the Soviet Union (as General Secretary)
Served in World War II.
George H. W. Bush  United StatesPresident of the United States (1989–1993)1942–1955Lieutenant
George W. Bush  United StatesPresident of the United States (2001–2009)1968–1974First Lieutenant

C

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Cao Kun  Qing Dynasty
Republic of China
President of the Republic of China (1923–1924)GeneralServed in the First Sino-Japanese War, National Protection War, and Warlord Era.
Karl Carstens  West GermanyPresident of West Germany (1979–1984)1939–1945Second LieutenantServed in World War II.
Jimmy Carter  United StatesPresident of the United States (1977–1981)1946–1953Lieutenant
Charles X Gustavus of Sweden  SwedenKing of Sweden (1654-1660)1642-1660Served in the Thirty Years' War
Led the Swedish army in the Second Northern War (1655-1660)
Charles XI of Sweden  SwedenKing of Sweden (1660-1697)1660-1697Led the Swedish army in the Scanian War (1675-1679)
Charles XII of Sweden  SwedenKing of Sweden (1697-1718)1697-1700Led the Swedish army in the Great Northern War (1700-1718)
Charles XIII of Sweden  SwedenKing of Sweden (1809-1818)
King of Norway (1814-1818)
AdmiralLed the Swedish fleet (albeit mostly just nominally) in the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790)
Charles XIV John of Sweden  SwedenPrince of Pontecorvo (1805-1809)
King of Sweden and Norway (1818-1844)
1780-1809 (France)
1809-1814 (Sweden)
Marshal of France (France)
Generalissimo (Sweden)
Raised to the highest ranks in the revolutionary and Napoelonic armies of France
Led the Swedish army in the last years of the Napoleonic Wars (War of the Sixth Coalition) and in the Swedish–Norwegian War (1814)
Charles III of the United Kingdom  United KingdomKing of the United Kingdom (2022–present)1971–1976Commander
Admiral of the Fleet (as Prince of Wales)
Chen Mingshu  Republic of ChinaPremier of the Republic of China (1931)Also a leader of the Fujian People's Government.
Konstantin Chernenko  Soviet UnionGeneral Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1984-1985)
Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1984-1985)
1930–1933
Chiang Kai-shek  Empire of Japan
 Republic of China
 Taiwan
Chairman of the National Government of China (1943–1948)
President of the Republic of China (1948–1949, 1950–1975)
Premier of the Republic of China (1930–1931, 1935–1938, 1939–1945, 1947)
1909–1975GeneralissimoLeader of Nationalist Chinese forces during the Northern Expedition, Chinese Civil War, and World War II.
Winston Churchill  United KingdomPrime Minister of the United Kingdom (1940-1945, 1951-1955)1893–1924Lieutenant-Colonel
René Coty  FrancePresident of France (1954–1959)1914–1918Served in World War I.

D

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Deng Xiaoping Communist China
 China
Paramount leader of China (1978–1989)
Secretary-General of the Secretariat of the Chinese Communist Party (1956–1967)
1929–1952
1975–1980
Chief of the General StaffServed in Communist Chinese forces during the Chinese Civil War and World War II.
Samuel Doe  LiberiaChairman of the People's Redemption Council (1980–1986)
President of Liberia (1986–1990)
1969–1985Master SergeantCame to power in a coup d'etat.
Dong Biwu Communist ChinaChairman of the People's Republic of China (1972–1975)1927–1949Served in Communist Chinese forces during the Chinese Civil War and World War II.
Du Xigui  Qing Dynasty
Republic of China
President of the Republic of China (1926)
Premier of the Republic of China (1926)
1902–1933AdmiralServed in the Chinese Civil War.
Duan Qirui  Qing Dynasty
Republic of China
Chief Executive of the Republic of China (1924–1926)
Premier of the Republic of China (1916–1917, 1917, 1918)
1885–1926GeneralServed in the Boxer Rebellion and Warlord Era.

E

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Dwight D. Eisenhower  United StatesPresident of the United States (1953–1961)1915–1953
1961–1969
General of the ArmyCommander of American forces on Western Front during World War II.
António Ramalho Eanes  PortugalPresident of Portugal (1976–1986)1952–1986General
Alois Eliáš  Protectorate of Bohemia and MoraviaPrime Minister of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (1939–1941)1915–1942Major-General
General (posthumous)
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom  United KingdomQueen of the United Kingdom (1952–2022)1945Junior CommanderServed in World War II.
Tage Erlander  SwedenPrime Minister of Sweden (1948-1968)Reserve Liutenant

F

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Feng Guozhang  Qing Dynasty
Republic of China
President of the Republic of China (1917–1918)General officerServed in the National Protection War.
Gerald Ford  United StatesPresident of the United States (1974–1977)1942–1946Lieutenant CommanderServed in World War II.
Frederick I of Sweden Hesse-Kassel
 Sweden
King of Sweden (1720-1751)1703-1706
1716-1718
Lieutenant General (Hesse-Kassel)
Generalissimo (Sweden)
Lead Hessian troops in the War of the Spanish Succession.
Joined the campaign of Charles XII of Sweden against Norway in the last years of the Great Northern War

G

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Muammar Gaddafi  LibyaLeader of Libya (1969–2011)1961–2011Colonel
Charles de Gaulle  FrancePresident of France (1959–1969)
Prime Minister of France (1958–1959)
Chairman of the Provisional Government of the French Republic (1944–1946)
1912–1944Brigadier-GeneralServed in World War I. Leader of Free France.
George VI of the United Kingdom  United KingdomKing of the United Kingdom (1936–1952)1913–1919Squadron Leader
Admiral of the Fleet (as king)
Served in World War I.
Kiro Gligorov  Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaPresident of Macedonia (1991–1999)1942–1945Served in the Yugoslav partisans during World War II.
Ulysses S. Grant  United StatesPresident of the United States (1869–1877)1839–1854
1861–1869
General of the ArmyCommanding General of the Union Army in the American Civil War.
Klement Gottwald  CzechoslovakiaPresident of Czechoslovakia (1948–1953) Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia (1946–1948)1915–1920CorporalServed in World War I and Hungarian–Czechoslovak War.[1][2]
Gustavus II Adolphus of Sweden  SwedenKing of Sweden (1611-1632)1611-1632Led the Swedish army in the Polish–Swedish War (1626–1629) and the Thirty Years' War

H

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Juvénal Habyarimana  RwandaPresident of Rwanda (1973–1994)1963–1994Served during the Rwandan Civil War.
Sinan Hasani  Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaPresident of the Presidency of Yugoslavia (1986–1987)1941–1944Served in the Yugoslav partisans during World War II.
He Yingqin  Qing Dynasty
 Republic of China
 Taiwan
Premier of the Republic of China (1949)1908–1987GeneralServed during the Northern Expedition, Chinese Civil War, and World War II.
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Hezbi Islami
Afghan mujahideen
Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin
Prime Minister of Afghanistan (1993–1994, 1996–1997)1979–presentServing in the Afghanistan conflict (1978–present).
Maximiliano Hernández Martínez  El SalvadorPresident of El Salvador (1931–1934, 1935–1944)1899–1944Brigadier GeneralServed in the Third Totoposte War
Chaim Herzog  United Kingdom
 Israel
President of Israel (1983–1993)1943–1947
1948–1962
Major (United Kingdom)
Major-General (Israel)
Served in World War II and the 1948 Palestine war.
Isaac Herzog  IsraelPresident of Israel (2021–present)1978Major
Paul von Hindenburg  GermanyPresident of Germany (1925–1934)1866–1911
1914–1918
Field MarshalCommander of the Imperial German Army during World War I.
Adolf Hitler  Nazi GermanyFührer of Germany (1934–1945)
Chancellor of Germany (1933–1945)
1914–1918CorporalServed in World War I.
Enver Hoxha  People's Socialist Republic of AlbaniaFirst Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania (1941–1985)
Prime Minister of Albania (1944–1954)
1941–1945
1944–1985
GeneralLeader of Albanian communist partisans during World War II.
Hua Guofeng Communist ChinaPremier of the People's Republic of China (1976–1980)
Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (1976–1981)
1938–1949Served in Communist Chinese forces during the Chinese Civil War and World War II.
Hu Yaobang Communist ChinaGeneral Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (1982–1987)1927–1949Served in Communist Chinese forces during the Chinese Civil War and World War II. Also participated in the encirclement campaigns. Child soldier.

J

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Wojciech Jaruzelski  PolandPresident of Poland (1989-1990)
Prime Minister of Poland (1981-1985)
1943–1991GeneralServed in World War II.
Jiang Chaozong  Qing Dynasty
Republic of China
Premier of the Republic of China (1917)General
Jin Yunpeng  Qing Dynasty
Republic of China
Premier of the Republic of China (1919–1920, 1920–1921)General
Andrew Johnson  United StatesPresident of the United States (1865–1869)1862–1865Brigadier General
Lyndon B. Johnson  United StatesPresident of the United States (1963–1969)1941–1942CommanderServed in World War II.

K

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Laurent-Désiré Kabila  Democratic Republic of the CongoPresident of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–2001)Served in the Simba Rebellion and First Congo War.
Joseph Kabila  Democratic Republic of the CongoPresident of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2001–2019)Major-General
Paul Kagame  Uganda
 Rwanda
President of Rwanda (2000–present)1979–2000Served in the Ugandan Bush War. Commanded the Rwandan Patriotic Front during the Rwandan Civil War.
Urho Kekkonen  FinlandPresident of Finland (1956-1981)1918Sergeant (1920)Served on the 'White' side in the Finnish Civil War in 1918.
John F. Kennedy  United StatesPresident of the United States (1961–1963)1941–1945LieutenantServed in World War II.
Mohammad Khatami  IranPresident of Iran (1997–2005)1968–1970Second Lieutenant
Khin Nyunt  MyanmarPrime Minister of Myanmar (2003–2004)1960–2004General
Nikita Khrushchev  Soviet UnionFirst Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1953-1964)
Chairman of the Council of Ministers (1958-1964)
1941–1945Lieutenant-General (Commissar)Served in World War II.
Lazar Koliševski  Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaPresident of the Presidency of Yugoslavia (1980)1941–1980Major-GeneralServed in the Yugoslav partisans during World War II.
Horst Köhler  GermanyPresident of Germany (2004–2010)1963–1965Reserve Lieutenant
Mauno Koivisto  FinlandPresident of Finland (1982-1994)1939-1944CorporalServed in the Winter War and the Continuation War.

L

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Arvid Lindman  SwedenPrime Minister of Sweden (1906-1911 and 1928-1930)1882–1892Reserve Rear-Admiral
Li Xiannian Communist ChinaPresident of the People's Republic of China (1983–1988)1927–1949Served in Communist Chinese forces during the Chinese Civil War and World War II.
Li Yuanhong  Qing Dynasty
Republic of China
President of the Republic of China (1916–1917, 1922–1923)1889–1912Served in the First Sino-Japanese War.
Liu Shaoqi Communist ChinaChairman of the People's Republic of China (1959–1968)1941–1949Served in Communist Chinese forces during the Chinese Civil War and World War II.
Alexander Lukashenko  BelarusPresident of Belarus (1994–present)1994–presentLieutenant-Colonel
Heinrich Lübke  West GermanyPresident of West Germany (1959–1969)1914–1918CaptainServed in World War I.

M

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Gustaf Mannerheim  FinlandRegent of Finland (1918-1919)
President of Finland (1944–1946)
1891-1917 (Russia)
1918, 1939-1944 (Finland)
Lieutenant-General (Russia)
Marshal of Finland (Finland)
Served in World War I for Imperial Russia.
Led the Finnish government armed forces (the "White" forces) in the Finnish Civil War, led the Finnish armed forces in the Winter War, Continuation War, Lapland War
Mao Zedong Communist ChinaChairman of the Chinese Communist Party (1943–1976)
Chairman of the People's Republic of China (1949–1959)
1927–1949Led Communist Chinese forces during the Chinese Civil War and World War II.
Maung Maung Kha  Empire of Japan
 Myanmar
Prime Minister of Burma (1977–1988)1941–1948ColonelServed in World War II.
William McKinley  United StatesPresident of the United States (1897–1901)1861–1865Brevet MajorServed in American Civil War.
Dmitry Medvedev  RussiaPresident of Russia (2008-2012)
Prime Minister of Russia (2012-2020)
2008-2012Colonel
Min Aung Hlaing  MyanmarChairman of the State Administration Council (2021–present)
Prime Minister of Myanmar (2021–present)
1972–presentSenior General
Mobutu Sese Seko  Belgian Congo
 Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville)
 Zaire
President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1965–1971)
President of Zaire (1971–1997)
1949–1997NCO
Field Marshal (as president)
Served in the Congo Crisis and First Congo War.
Alfred Moisiu  People's Socialist Republic of AlbaniaPresident of Albania (2002–2007)1949–1985General
Sibghatullah Mojaddedi Afghan mujahideenPresident of Afghanistan (1992)1979–1992Served in the Soviet–Afghan War.
Lazar Mojsov  Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaPresident of the Presidency of Yugoslavia (1987–1988)1941–1945Served in the Yugoslav partisans during World War II.
Yoweri Museveni  UgandaPresident of Uganda (1986–present)1971–2004General (as president)Served in the 1972 invasion of Uganda, Uganda–Tanzania War, Ugandan Bush War, First Congo War, and Second Congo War.
Myint Swe  MyanmarPresident of Myanmar (2018, 2021–present)Lieutenant-General1971–2010
Mohammed Najibullah  Democratic Republic of AfghanistanGeneral Secretary of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (1986–1992)Major-General (KHAD)
General (as General Secretary)
1965–1992Served in the Soviet–Afghan War.

N

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Ne Win  Empire of Japan
 Myanmar
President of Burma (1962–1981)
Prime Minister of Burma (1958–1960, 1962–1974)
1931–1974GeneralServed in World War II.
Richard M. Nixon  United StatesPresident of the United States (1969-1974)1942-1946CommanderServed in World War II.

O

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Tito Okello  UgandaPresident of Uganda (1985–1986)1940–1971
1979–1986
GeneralServed in World War II, the 1972 invasion of Uganda, Uganda–Tanzania War, and the Ugandan Bush War.
Bazilio Olara-Okello  UgandaPresident of Uganda (1985)1950–1971
1979–1986
Lieutenant-GeneralServed in the 1972 invasion of Uganda, Uganda–Tanzania War, and Ugandan Bush War.
Petteri Orpo  FinlandPrime Minister of Finland (2023-)Reserve Captain

P

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Olof Palme  SwedenPrime Minister of Sweden (1969-1976, 1982-1986)Reserve Captain
Petr Pavel  Czech RepublicPresident of the Czech Republic (2023–present)1983–2018GeneralServed in United Nations Protection Force during which he led a military operation which save over 50 French soldiers.
Józef Piłsudski  PolandPrime Minister of Poland (1926-1928)
Chief of State (1918–1922)
1914–1935Marshal of PolandCommander of Polish Legions in World War I.
Augusto Pinochet  ChilePresident of Chile (1974–1990)
President of the Government Junta of Chile (1973–1981)
1931–1998Captain General
Vladimir Putin  RussiaPresident of Russia (1999-2008; 2012-current)
Prime Minister of Russia (2008-2012)
2000–presentColonel (KGB)

Q

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Abdul Qadir  Democratic Republic of AfghanistanHead of state of Afghanistan (1978)Colonel-General1962–1989Served in the Soviet–Afghan War.
Abd al-Karim Qasim IraqPrime Minister of Iraq (1958–1963)1932–1963Major-GeneralServed in World War II.

R

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Burhanuddin Rabbani Afghan mujahideenPresident of Afghanistan (1992–2001)1979–1992Served in the Soviet–Afghan War.
Yitzhak Rabin  IsraelPrime Minister of Israel (1974–1977, 1992–1995)1948–1974Lieutenant-GeneralServed in the Syria–Lebanon campaign, Jewish insurgency in Mandatory Palestine, 1948 Palestine war, and Six-Day War.
Rumen Radev  BulgariaPresident of Bulgaria (2017-current)1987–2017Major general
Ronald Reagan  United StatesPresident of the United States (1981–1989)1942–1945CaptainServed on American Theater of World War II.
Theodore Roosevelt  United StatesPresident of the United States (1901–1909)1882–1886ColonelServed in Spanish–American War.

S

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Sa Zhenbing  Qing Dynasty
Republic of China
Premier of the Republic of China (1920)1869–1946AdmiralServed in the National Protection War.
San Yu  MyanmarPresident of Burma (1981–1988)General1942–1980
Saw Maung  MyanmarChairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (1988–1992)
Prime Minister of Burma (1988–1992)
Senior General1945–1992
Walter Scheel  West GermanyPresident of West Germany (1974–1979)1939–1945First LieutenantServed as combat pilot during World War II.[3]
Sein Lwin  MyanmarPrime Minister of Burma (1974–1977)1943–1988Brigadier-General
Sein Win  Empire of Japan
 Myanmar
Prime Minister of Burma (1974–1977)1942–1972Brigadier-GeneralServed in World War II.
Ariel Sharon  IsraelPrime Minister of Israel (2001–2006)1948–1974Major-GeneralServed in the 1948 Palestine war, Suez Crisis, Six-Day War, and Yom Kippur War.
Mehmet Shehu  People's Socialist Republic of AlbaniaPrime Minister of Albania (1954–1981)1936–1939
1942–1948
GeneralServed in the Spanish Civil War, Albanian partisan leader during World War II.
Juha SipiläPrime Minister of Finland (2015-2019)Reserve Captain
Sao Shwe Thaik  United KingdomPresident of Burma (1948–1952)Served in World War I.
Soe Win  MyanmarPrime Minister of Myanmar (2004–2007)General1965–2007
Ludvík Svoboda  CzechoslovakiaPresident of Czechoslovakia (1968–1975)1915–1950GeneralServed in World War I and Commanded Czechoslovak units on Eastern front during World War II.
Jan Syrový  CzechoslovakiaPrime Minister of Czechoslovakia (1938)1914-1938GeneralServed in World War I and commanded Czechoslovak Legion in Russia.

T

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Than Shwe  MyanmarChairman of the State Peace and Development Council (1992–2011)
Prime Minister of Myanmar (1992–2003)
Senior General
Thein Sein  MyanmarPresident of Myanmar (2011–2016)
Prime Minister of Myanmar (2007–2010)
First Secretary of the State Peace and Development Council (2004–2007)
Senior General
Tin Aung Myint Oo  MyanmarFirst Secretary of the State Peace and Development Council (2007–2010)General
Josip Broz Tito  Austria-Hungary
 Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
President of Yugoslavia (1953–1980)
Prime Minister of Yugoslavia (1944–1963)
1913–1915
1918–1920
1941–1980
Marshal (as president)Served in World War I and the Russian Civil War, led the Yugoslav partisans during World War II.
Harry S. Truman  United StatesPresident of the United States (1945–1953)1917–1919ColonelServed in World War I.
Franjo Tuđman  Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
 Croatia
President of Croatia (1990–1999)1942–1961
1995–1999
Served in the Yugoslav partisans during World War II, led Croatian forces during the Croatian War of Independence.
Tun Tin  MyanmarPrime Minister of Burma (1988)Brigadier-General

W

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
George Washington  United StatesPresident of the United States (1789–1797)1752–1799General of the Armies
Wang Jingwei  Republic of ChinaPresident of the Republic of China (Reorganized National Government, 1940–1944)
Premier of the Republic of China (1932–1935)
1940–1944GeneralissimoLed collaborationist Chinese forces during World War II.
Ezer Weizmann  United Kingdom
 Israel
President of Israel (1993–2000)1942–1945
1946–1969
Major-GeneralServed in World War II, the 1948 Palestine War, Suez Crisis, Six-Day War, and War of Attrition.
Richard von Weizsäcker  GermanyPresident of Germany (1984–1994)1938–1945CaptainServed in World War II.[4]

Y

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Yang Shangkun Communist ChinaPresident of the People's Republic of China (1988–1993)1931–1949Served in Communist Chinese forces during the Chinese Civil War and World War II.
Ye Jianying  Republic of China
Communist China
 China
Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (1978–1983)1917–1985Lieutenant-General (Republic of China)
Marshal (People's Republic of China)
Served in Communist Chinese forces during the Chinese Civil War and World War II. Also participated in the Nanchang uprising.
Yuan Shikai  Qing Dynasty
Republic of China
Emperor of China (1915–1916)
President of the Republic of China (1912–1915, 1916)
Prime Minister of the Qing Dynasty (1911–1912)
1881–1916GeneralissimoServed in the First Sino-Japanese War and National Protection War.

Z

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Antonín Zápotocký  CzechoslovakiaPresident of Czechoslovakia (1953–1957) Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia (1948–1953)1914–1918Served in World War I.[5]
Zhang Shaozeng  Qing Dynasty
Republic of China
Premier of the Republic of China (1923)
Zhang Zuolin  Qing Dynasty
Republic of China
Generalissimo of the Military Government of China (1927–1928)1900–1928Grand Marshal
Generalissimo
Served in the First Sino-Japanese War, Boxer Rebellion, Warlord Era, and Northern Expedition.
Zhao Ziyang Communist China
 China
General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (1987–1989)
Premier of the People's Republic of China (1980–1987)
Served in Communist Chinese forces during the Chinese Civil War and World War II.
Zhou Enlai  Republic of China
Communist China
 China
Premier of the People's Republic of China (1949–1976)1937–1949Lieutenant general (Republic of China)Served in Communist Chinese forces during the Chinese Civil War and World War II. Also served in the Northern Expedition, encirclement campaigns, and Nanchang uprising.
Zhou Ziqi  Qing Dynasty
Republic of China
President of the Republic of China (1922)
Zhu De  Republic of China
Communist China
 China
Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (1975–1976)1927–1976General (Republic of China)
Marshal (People's Republic of China)
Served in Communist Chinese forces during the Chinese Civil War and World War II. Also served in the Northern Expedition and encirclement campaigns.

Heads of state and government of unrecognized states

This list includes leaders of countries that were or are self-proclaimed as independent, but were or are neither members nor observers of the United Nations.

PortraitNameCountriesOfficial positionServiceRank in militaryNotes
Hibatullah Akhundzada  TalibanSupreme Leader of Afghanistan (2016–present)until 1992
1996–2001
Leader of the Taliban. Served during the Soviet–Afghan War, Afghan Civil War (1996–2001), and War in Afghanistan (2001–2021).
Anatoly Bibilov  Soviet Union
 South Ossetia
 Russia
President of South Ossetia (2017–2022)Lieutenant-General1988–2008
Valery Bolotov  Soviet Union
 Luhansk People's Republic
Head of the Luhansk People's Republic (2014)Senior Sergeant1988–1990
2014–2017
Agim Çeku  Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
 Croatia
 Kosovo
Prime Minister of Kosovo (2006–2008)before 1991–1999
1999–2001
Served during the Croatian War of Independence and in the Kosovo Liberation Army during the Kosovo War.
Chen Cheng  Republic of China
 Taiwan
Premier of Taiwan (1950–1954, 1958–1963)General1924–1950Served during the Northern Expedition, Chinese Civil War, and World War II.
Chiang Ching-kuo  Republic of China
 Taiwan
President of Taiwan (1978–1988)
Premier of Taiwan (1972–1978)
General1937–1968
Dzhokhar Dudayev  Soviet Union
 Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (1991–1996)Major-General1962–1990
1991–1996
Served in the Soviet–Afghan War and First Chechen War.
Ramush Haradinaj  KosovoPrime Minister of Kosovo (2004–2005, 2017–2020)1996–2000Served in the Kosovo Liberation Army.
Hau Pei-tsun  Republic of China
 Taiwan
Premier of Taiwan (1990–1993)Senior General1938–1989Served during the Chinese Civil War, World War II, and the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis.
Vadim Krasnoselsky  TransnistriaPresident of Transnistria (2016–present)Major-General1988–2012
Lee Teng-hui  Empire of JapanPresident of Taiwan (1988–2000)Second Lieutenant1944–1945Served in World War II.
Ma Ying-jeou  TaiwanPresident of Taiwan (2008–2016)Lieutenant1972–1974
Aslan Maskhadov  Soviet Union
 Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (1997–2005)Colonel (Soviet Union)1972–1992
1992–2005
Served in the First Chechen War and Second Chechen War.
Mullah Omar Afghan mujahideen
 Taliban
Supreme Leader of Afghanistan (1996–2005)1979–1991
1994–2013
Founder and leader of the Taliban. Served during the Soviet–Afghan War and Afghan Civil War (1992–1996).
Igor Plotnitsky  Soviet Union
 Luhansk People's Republic
Head of the Luhansk People's Republic (2014–2017)Major1982–1991
2014
Mohammad Rabbani Afghan mujahideen
 Taliban
Prime Minister of Afghanistan (1996–2001)1979–1991Served during the Soviet–Afghan War.
Bajram Rexhepi  KosovoPrime Minister of Kosovo (2002–2004)1999Served in the Kosovo Liberation Army during the Kosovo War.
Tang Fei  Republic of China
 Taiwan
Premier of Taiwan (2000)Senior General1944–1999Served during the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis.
Hashim Thaçi  KosovoPresident of Kosovo (2016–2020)
Prime Minister of Kosovo (1999–2000, 2008–2014)
1993–1999Served in the Kosovo Liberation Army during the Kosovo War.
Yan Xishan  Republic of China
 Taiwan
Premier of Taiwan (1949–1950)General1911–1949Served during the Northern Expedition, Central Plains War, Chinese Civil War, and World War II.
Alexander Zakharchenko  Donetsk People's RepublicHead of the Donetsk People's Republic (2014–2018)Major-General2014–2018

References