Civil war Flashcards
Communist strengths during the Civil War
- CCP utilsed ceasfire oversaw by General Marshall to strengthen hold on Manchurian countryside
- Red army retreated in a disciplined manner and reverted to guerilla tactics that caused GMD to be overstretched
- Mao’s leadership- power and ability as leader = inspired PLA commanders and men + final say in campaigns - shift from defense to offense
- CCP appropriated US supplies + arms of Guandong Army
- peasantry joined in ‘people’s war’ due to land reform and supplied PLA with food, intelligence and recruits
Nationalist weaknesses during the Civil War
- Jaing appointed commanders due to loyalty rather than skill
- GMD attempts to instill own officials in rural areas -> fail to get support from local populations
- US suspended aid due to corruption and misuse
- no popular support due to seizure of land + money, forced enlistment, arrest/ execution of protetors
- exremely low morale among troops after resistance against JP -> three don’t cares
- hyperinflation -> alienated middle class
overview of dates of conflict
Ocotber 1945 - CCP launch campaign in Manchuria
10th Jan 1946- ceasefire signed faciliated by the US
1st of May 1946 - red army renamed to PLA
1947 - ‘strong point offensive’ -GMD captures yan’an, but loses north eastern provinces to Mao, CCP goes on the offensive
Sep ~ Nov 1948 - Liaoshen campaign - GMD lost Manchuria + north eastern China - now on retreat
Nov 1948 ~Jan 1949 - Pingjin campaign - struggle for Beijing -> PLA take Beijing
End of Civil war events overview
After CCP takes Beijing = mopping up excercise
April 1949 - PLA cross Yantze river - another great symbolic moment - river gives geographic definition to China -> April Nanjing, Shanghai, Guangzhou fell
1 Oct 1949 - Mao declares people’s republic of China
3 most important factors to CCP success
1) effective leadership by Mao and PLA commanders
2) CCP = win hearts and minds of People
3) GMD = extremely low morale
