Văn Tiến Dũng (2 May 1917 – 17 March 2002), born Co Nhue commune, Tu Liem district, Hanoi, was a Vietnamese general in the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), PAVN chief of staff (1954–1974); PAVN commander in chief (1974–1980); and Socialist Republic of Vietnam defense minister (1980–1986). He was the only member of North Vietnam's political elite who was of peasant origin. He joined the communist Lao Dong Party in 1936, escaped from a French prison in 1944, and fought against the Japanese occupation force during the Second World War. August 1945, he directed the armed forces to seize power in the province of Hoa Binh, Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa.