From war to Civil War 1945-46

Question 1

Why was Manchuria an important province?

Answer 1

Bordering the USSR, Manchuria was rich in coal and mineral deposits, and was one of China’s most
industrial areas. It also had lots of fertile land, with thick forests and was very mountainous.

Question 2

By August 1945, what territories did Japan hold?

Answer 2

Northern China, most of central China, much of the coastline and many of the cities. However, they were
waiting to surrender.

Question 3

By August 1945, what territories did the GMD hold?

Answer 3

A larger area of southern and western China from their base in Chongqing

Question 4

By August 1945, what territories did the CCP hold?

Answer 4

Much of the northern and north-eastern countryside from their base in Yan’an.

Question 5

What advantage did the GMD hold over the CCP at the time of Japanese surrender?

Answer 5

The GMD were recognised as the legitimate government of China, and therefore had the right to take the
surrender of Japanese forces, who they used in fighting against the CCP.

Question 6

How did the USA help the GMD in taking territory?

Answer 6

US aircrafts transported 500,000 GMD troops to northern China to fight the communists.

Question 7

How did the CCP respond to the GMD taking more territory?

Answer 7

They began moving into Manchuria.

Question 8

Which foreign powers wanted to avoid a civil war and how did they attempt to do so?

Answer 8

Both the USA and the USSR. The USA pressured Jiang and the USSR pressured Mao to hold peace talks in
October 1945 in Chongqing.

Question 9

What did the CCP and the GMD agree in principle to (October 1945) (4 factors)?

Answer 9

1) A democratic political system with free elections and personal freedoms.
2) The release of political prisoners.
3) A unified military force.
4) Elections for a national assembly.

Question 10

Why did the October 1945 agreement fail?

Answer 10

Mao was not prepared to relinquish control of CCP controlled areas, and Jiang wanted control. Neither could
agree on who would control the unified military force. Jiang then invaded Manchuria to fight the CCP.

Question 11

What was Stalin’s policy towards China after 1945 and why?

Answer 11

Stalin had no faith in the CCP in defeating the GMD, and did not want involvement in a civil war whilst
expanding in eastern Europe. However, as long as the CCP-GMD conflict continued, China would remain
weak to foreign intervention, which was to the advantage of the USSR.

Question 12

How did Stalin help the GMD in Manchuria?

Answer 12

Stalin ordered the CCP to hand the GMD all Manchurian cities.

Question 13

How did Stalin help the CCP in Manchuria (2 factors)?

Answer 13

1) Stalin ordered that the huge stockpiles of weapons and ammunition taken from the Japanese by the Red
Army in Manchuria be handed over to the CCP.
2) He delayed the Soviet withdrawal from Manchuria to April 1946, giving the CCP time to establish a strong
presence in the countryside.

Question 14

Who was General George Marshall?

Answer 14

The US Chief of Staff in WW2, and later became Secretary of State under President Truman after the
Marshall Mission.

Question 15

What was the Marshall Mission?

Answer 15

In December 1945, President Truman sent George Marshall to China to mediate, and in January 1946,
Marshall had a ceasefire and pressured Jiang into calling a political conference. At this conference, all of
China’s main political parties agreed upon a constitution.

Question 16

Why did fighting resume almost immediately after the constitution was signed (1946)?

Answer 16

Jiang tried to change the constitution, providing him and the GMD with autocratic power, causing the other
parties to withdraw their cooperation. The GMD drafted a new constitution on their own, and by Spring of
1946, fighting had resumed in Manchuria and had spread to central China as well.

Question 17

How did Marshall force a ceasefire?

Answer 17

After the development of a battle for Harbin, the last CCP controlled Manchurian city, Marshall threatened
the withdrawal of US aid from the GMD, forcing Jiang to agree to a ceasefire.

Question 18

Why was the ceasefire helpful for the CCP?

Answer 18

Although only 15 days, the CCP gained respite from GMD attacks, halting their advance in Manchuria,
allowing CCP forces to regroup.

Question 19

Why did the USA not want a civil war?

Answer 19

They did not want the USSR, their ideological enemy, exploiting China to their own benefit.

Question 20

How was US policy towards China inconsistent?

Answer 20

The USA wanted to prevent a civil war, however supplied Jiang with weapons in order to prevent a CCP victory

Question 21

When did the Civil War in China ‘begin’.

Answer 21

July 1946.

Question 22

What was the size of the GMD army (August 1945)?

Answer 22

4.3 million men, with 6,000 artillery weapons.

Question 23

What was the size of the CCP army (August 1945)?

Answer 23

880,000 men, with 600 artillery weapons.

Question 24

What were the 5 military features of the GMD in 1945?

Answer 24

1) Experience in conventional warfare.
2) They were a large, well-equipped force, with an air force (provided by the USA), and artillery weapons.
3) Control over large areas of China.
4) The NRA were ill-disciplined, poorly trained and lacked the will to fight.
5) Many GMD commanders were tactically weak.

Question 25

What were the 6 military features of the CCP in 1945?

Answer 25

1) Experience in guerrilla warfare.
2) A small, but tight-knit, force.
3) Gained large quantities of weapons from the USSR in Manchuria.
4) Controlled a small area.
5) Troops were highly motivated and believed in their cause.
6) CCP commanders were tactically competent.

Question 26

What were the 5 political features of the GMD in 1945?

Answer 26

1) Claimed to be the one true party of China.
2) Had control of the central government.
3) GMD possessed factional rivalry and divisions.
4) The GMD were corrupt and inefficient.
5) The GMD had still not fulfilled the ‘Three Principles’ laid out by Sun Yat-Sen.

Question 27

What were the 6 political features of the CCP in 1945?

Answer 27

1) Claimed to be the party of the people.
2) Claimed to be patriotic in fighting the Japanese.
3) CCP were united behind Mao.
4) Involved peasants in local government in CCP controlled areas.
5) Reached out to the ‘national bourgeoise’ to join their revolution.
6) CCP troops spread propaganda in their areas.

Question 28

How many bases did the CCP have in 1945?

Answer 28

19 bases.

Question 29

What was the Chinese population in 1945?

Answer 29

Around 600 million.

Question 30

How many people did the CCP rule over in 1945?

Answer 30

Around 90 million