China 1937 to 1945: Sino-Japanese War Flashcards
to understand the factors which led to the defeat of the Japanese by 1945
What was the Boxer Protocol, 1901?
The treaty which ended the Boxer Uprising. One of its clauses allowed foreign troops stationed in Beijing to conduct military manoeuvres without telling China’s government first.
When was the first Sino-Japanese War?
1894-1895 – China, then under the Qing dynasty, lost and was forced to cede Formosa (Taiwan) and recognise Korea’s independence.
How did the Boxer Protocol of 1901 lead to the Marco Polo Bridge Incident of 1937?
Japanese soldiers were conducting military exercises around the Bridge in Beiping and clashed with Chinese forces.
What was the impact of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident of 1937?
The Marco Polo Bridge Incident escalated into Japanese attacking and then occupying Beiping. When the Nationalist government refused to accept this and launched an attack on the Japanese forces in Shanghai, this led to the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Why did Chiang Kaishek not back down in 1937 in the face of Japanese aggression?
He had backed down before but now felt he could not do so yet again. He declared “the limits of endurance had been reached”. His response was more in line with the agreement he had made with the CCP after the Xian Incident of 1936.
How far was Japan expecting war in 1937?
Tokyo was initially reluctant to get sucked into a war with China, content with the gains they had made already. However the Nationalists refusal to accept any further Japanese aggression and to attack the Japanese forces in Shanghai, forced Japan into a war with China.
How successful was the Nationalist attack on Shanghai in 1937?
They lost 250,000 of their best troops and were pushed back by the Japanese. The Japanese then marched on Nanjing and entered it on 13th December 1937.
What was the Rape of Nanjing, December 1937 to January 1938?
The mass murder and war rape of the civilian population and disarmed soldiers in Nanjing by the Japanese troops over a six week period after their occupation of the city.
How many people died in the Nanjing Massacre?
The figures are disputed. Some Japanese historians deny there was any systematic killing. Other Historians and witnesses have estimated that 250,000 to 300,000 people were killed.
Where did the Nationalist government retreat to following the fall of Nanjing to the Japanese?
Wuhan, in Hubei province
How did the Nationalists try to slow the Japanese advance in May 1938?
They blew the dykes holding back the Yellow River. This flooded thousands of acres, destroyed 4,000 villages and drowned thousands. It held up the Japanese advance for 3 months. It also led to reduced support for the GMD after the war.
How did USSR help the Nationalists?
They sent Soviet planes to support them; there were also a series of clashed between the Red Army and the Japanese along the borders with Manchuria.
What did the Japanese do after they captured Nanjing?
Tokyo was keen to call a halt to the war, but they had lost control of the Japanese army in China. The Japanese forces marched on to Wuhan and captured it in October 1938
Where did the Nationalist government retreat to following the fall of Wuhan to the Japanese?
Chongqing, in Sichuan province – far inland, beyond the Yangtze gorges
In 1937, how did Mao differ from the USSR’s view of the newly re-established United Front?
Moscow argued all of CCP’s military actions should take place within the United Front. Mao argued that the CCP should retain its own identity and not trust Chiang and the GMD.
How was China divided by 1938?
3 main areas: Nationalist China based in Chongqing, Communist China based in Shaanxi and Japanese-occupied China in the east and north. However Japanese-occupied area was further fragmented into sub-divisions like Manchukuo
