In 1963, China launched a national campaign to turn a simple soldier into a cultural icon
Following the death of a young soldier, Chairman Mao Zedong transformed a humble diary into a massive propaganda campaign that made Lei Feng the ultimate symbol of selflessness in China.
On March 5, 1963, Chairman Mao Zedong officially launched the 'Learn from Comrade Lei Feng' campaign. Lei Feng was a modest PLA soldier who had died in a freak accident the previous year. After his death, his alleged diary was discovered, filled with entries expressing absolute devotion to the Communist Party and a desire to be a 'rustless screw' in the revolutionary machine.
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