BY C H R I S , VA I D I K , T U H I N

THE CHINESE CIVIL WAR1945-49

GUOMINDANG (GMD) - STRENGTHS

• Military• Larger army of 2.8 million troops compared to 320,000 from CCP• Better equipped with 6,000 artillery pieces compared to 600 in

CCP• Air Force (which CCP didn’t have)• Gained experience in war against Japan  • Territorial Control • Controlled more than CCP • Controlled most of large cities, railway network networks +

waterways • Foreign Support • Guomindang gov. recognised by foreign powers, even USSR, as

legitimate government of China • USA supplied equipment + airlifted Nationalist troops

(Guomindang) to north in August 1945 to be in position to accept Japanese surrender

GUOMINDANG (GMD) – WEAKNESSES

• Military • Many troops poorly trained, low on morale + lacked discipline • Reputation for brutality + ill-discipline among locals who were terrorised

into submission • Mainly conscripted soldiers with little incentive • Troops short on food + water and payment of soldiers often stolen by

officers • Heavy loses + desertion • Territorial Control • Compromise reached with warlords that they (the warlords) could

control their own area while Nationalists in charge of central gov.• Lack of effective control over country weakened ability to mobilise whole

nation in support • Foreign Support • Chiang’s dependence on foreign aid undermined his claim to be true

defender of nation’s interests • Allies grew critical of style of gov. + took personal failings of Chiang Kai-

shek with much frustration

GUOMINDANG (GMD) – WEAKNESSES

• Lack of Popular Support • Failure of Nationalist government to deliver on promises of Nationalism,

Democracy + People’s Livelihood led to a decrease in support • Dictatorial government created with little done to improve people’s livelihood• Guomindang relied on financial backing of wealthy businessmen + landlords and

used the secret police to ruthlessly remove political opposition • Assassinations, torture + execution of Communists without trial were some of

the methods the GMD used to maintain Chiang’s one-party state • Corruption and Inefficiency • Local officials abused power • Taxes not collected efficiently + much of tax revenue failed to reach gov. • This meant that the Nationalists were forced to borrow heavily which led to large

amounts of debt • Chiang’s Leadership • Regime weak + divided by factional rivalry • Decisions often impractical + contradictory • Chiang was a poor judge of people trusting those that were working against him • Didn’t act decisively to stamp out corruption or remove incompetent officials • Dictatorial nature meant that many serious strategic decisions were made by

him alone without any help from advisors

COMMUNIST PARTY (CCP) - STRENGTHS

• Political Unity • Mao established himself as undisputed leader by winning arguments, outwitting and

removing opponents• Authoritarian leadership ensuring his political line- ‘Mao Zedong Thought’ • Debate allowed within top party leadership, but no bitter division between part members • Part unity gave top-ranking political + military leaders confidence and authority • This unity and authority impressed low-ranking Communist + non-members• Democratic Dictatorship • In area of Communist rule, the government combined elements of dictatorship +

democracy • All political activity + decisions made by guidance and leadership of CCP but at a local

level- ‘revolutionary committees’ set up which allowed non-members to participate in meetings

• Communists set up the first effective local administration that rural areas had ever seen before

• Experience on Battlefield • Skills of guerrilla warfare developed against Japan- this would be of great value to the

CCP in the civil war • Motivation • Political in doctrine vital part of training- as a committed soldier who believed in what he

was fighting, would endure war better than someone who had no commitment • Troops would also spread propaganda and help win over the local population

COMMUNIST PARTY (CCP)- WEAKNESSES

• Fewer troops, ammunition than GMD• No air force • Between 1945-1946- Communist forces were

driven out of most of their base areas (by the GMD)

KEY EVENTS

• The Chinese Civil war began in June 1946• Struggle for Manchuria 1946-1947• Nationalists wanted to regain Manchuria (north China)

from Communists (after the removal of Japanese troops)

• Reasons why- knockout blow to Communists which would bring a successful end to the war Manchuria most industrially advanced region of China

• Nationalists met much resistance by Communists• Chiang failed to secure Manchuria which raised doubts

over his leadership + gave Communists a base from which they can launch their attacks

KEY EVENTS 2

• The ‘Strong Point Offensive’ 1947• NRA captured Yanan raising morale • Chiang claimed that the victory at Yanan was the beginning of the ‘strong

point offensive’ • However, PLA (People’s Liberation Army) launched counter-attack + by late

1947- GMD lost north-eastern China • Victory of CCP gave Mao confidence • Liaoshen Campaign, September-November 1948 • Mao decided to attack Changchun and Shenyang to bring whole of Manchuria

under control • Liaoshen Campaign- climax to long-running struggle over Manchuria • 15th October 1948- Fall of Jinzhou NRA forces overrun by CCP • 26th October 1948- Fall of Changchun 2 month siege in which some people

resorted to cannibalism 250,000 dead• 2nd November 1948- Fall of Shenyang • Result of Liaoshen Campaign- NRA suffered 3 major defeats losing 400,000

troops, lost Manchuria + whole of north-east China to CCP

KEY EVENTS 3

• Huaihai Campaign, November 1948-January 1949 • Having lost northern China, Chiang focused on defending central provinces

from the CCP • Chose to stand and fight at Xuzhou- key junction on Longhai railway that

connected the central provinces to Nanjing (GMD capital) + Shanghai • CCP + Nationalist fought over Xuzhou • 10th January 1949- Nationalist surrendered Xuzhou to CCP• Nationalists lost 200,000 men + many US equipment to CCP + CCP now

controlled northern and central China • Pingjin Campaign, November 1948-January 1949• PLA undertook capture of Beijing • PLA attacked surrounding areas of Beijing (such as Xinbaoan, Zhangjiakou

and Tianjin) to cut off supplies to Beijing • Zhou Enlai convinced Mao to not bomb Beijing to avoid destroying culture of

city • Instead- talks between PLA and NRA (Nationalist troops) held in which it was

agreed that the NRA would give up Beijing to CCP • Beijing now in control of CCP• 31st January 1949- triumphal procession held to mark official takeover of

Beijing by CCP

KEY EVENTS 4- END OF THE CIVIL WAR

• 21st January 1949- Chiang Kai-shek handed authority over to Li Zongren • April 1949- PLA cross Yangzi River a symbolic

moment • May 1949- Shanghai falls to PLA• 1st October 1949- Mao declares creation of

People’s Republic of China • December 1949- Chiang Kai-shek flees to Taiwan• https://

WHY DID THE CCP WIN?

• 1. The CCP had placed more emphasis on the rights of the peasants than the urban city workers which proved popular. 2. They promised to distribute land to the peasants.  3. The Red Army treated the people well e.g. The Long March.  4. The Long March enabled the CCP to get the attention they required in order to express the parties aims and views and as a result gain more popularity all in all. 5. The GMD leader Chang was oppressive of the people, sparking a desire to rebel. 6. The GMD allowing the invasion of Manchuria sparked further discontent. 7.Greater level of orginisation.

THE WORLD'S REACTION AFTER THE CCP VICTORY

• Sino-soviet relations had turned sensitive after the civil war. Port Arthur and the Manchurian Railways that the Russians used to transport goods etc were, by Russia expected to stay in their control but Mao made it clear that it should be returned to them. There were also navy bases with no ice present that the Russians could've utilised. As a result of the sensitivity the Treaty of friendship and mutual alliance had been proposed by Mao. At first Stalin had declined to sign the Treaty but eventually did. This was obviously the start of a shaky relationship with Russia.

EUROPES REACTION

• Most Eastern European countries such as Albania and Yugoslavia followed in the footsteps of Russia and sought to seek diplomatic relations with China given the shared Communist ideologies and general location, being neighbouring countries. Western Europe also sought diplomatic relationships. This was mainly due to the fear of Communism. To ensure good healthy relations, diplomacy from the onset was key. This would ensure that economic and political relationships could be intact. However all Europeans were restricted to Hong Kong and Macau.

AMERICA’S REACTION

• The United States tried to disrupt, destabilize, and weaken China’s communist government. Washington believed that China was an aggressive, expansionist power that threatened the security of its non-communist neighbours. The United States constructed an off-shore line of military alliances along China's eastern and southern borders. These included the U.S. alliances with Japan, South Korea, and the Nationalist government on Taiwan. With its allies, the United States formed the Southeast Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO) that included Thailand, the Philippines, and South Vietnam, and the ANZUS Treaty that linked Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The United States maintained military bases and in some cases stationed significant numbers of troops in many of these countries, especially Japan and South Korea.

THE VIDEO

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf-6ff2B0yg