Chiang Kai-shek (October 31, 1887 - April 5, 1975) served as Generalissimo of the national government of the Republic of China (ROC) from 1928 until his death in 1975, taking control of the Kuomintang (KMT) after the death of Sun Yat-sen in 1925. Chiang led nationalist troops in the Northern Expedition to unify China and end the Warlord era. He emerged victorious in 1928 as the overall leader of the ROC. Chiang led China in the Second Sino-Japanese War, during which Chiang's stature within China weakened, but his international prominence grew. He attempted to eradicate the Chinese Communists during the civil war (1927-1949), but ultimately failed, forcing his KMT government to escape to Taiwan, where he continued serving as the President of the Republic of China and Director-General of the KMT for the remainder of his life.