One of the founders of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam’s (DRV) Public Security Services. He became politically active in the 1920s and joined in the general student strikes triggered by the death of Phan Chu Trinh in 1926. He joined the Indochinese Communist Party (ICP) in the 1930s. In April 1940, the French arrested and incarcerated him at Son La, then administered by the interim Résident Jean Cousseau. Le Gian was then deported to Madagascar in June 1941 where he served time with Tran Hieu, Hoang Huu Nam, and Hoang Dinh Giong. Cao Dai leader Pham Cong Tac later joined them. With the Allied occupation of Madagascar in 1943, the British recruited Le Gian and the other communist nationalists to work in Allied propaganda and intelligence operations against the Japanese in Indochina. Le Gian’s knowledge of English, anti-fascist credentials and willingness to fight the Japanese trumped his communist affiliation. The British transferred him to India and trained him in guerrilla warfare, radio operations, and espionage. Despite initial hesitations, Le Gian agreed to work in the Allied intelligence operations, providing information on the Japanese and helping to free downed Allied pilots. In August 1944, the British or Americans parachuted him into northern Vietnam, where he immediately went to work providing intelligence on the Japanese to the Allies, all the while entering into contact with the ICP whose leaders were eager to assist the Allied war effort while preparing to launch an uprising in conjunction with an Allied invasion of Indochina. In February 1946, the DRV created the Public Security Department (Viet Nam Cong An Vu) with Le Gian serving as its general director. He held this post under one title or another until Tran Quoc Hoan replaced him in 1953. Le Gian played a particularly important role in helping to eliminate non-communist nationalist parties in northern Vietnam in 1946. See also CIVIL WAR; H122 AFFAIR; VIETNAMESE NATIONALIST PARTY.