Mao- Chinese Civil War Flashcards
When was civil war?
1945- 1949
GMD AND CCP after war
Bad economy after 8 yrs of devastation- national debt- inflation- mass discontent
CCP expanded territories from 116 to 175 counties from Japanese surrounder- geographical advantage in North
GMD on east coat- US support to regain important hubs
owever, following Japan’s surrender, with the help of USSR and USA Chiang took over cities from the Japanese and blockaded these cities to control countryside inflation, corruption, and infrastructural problems.
This policy was extremely unpopular, turned middle class against Chiang, and ending American support for Chiang in 1947
US Policy
Mediators- many attempts
Chiang difficult to work with had 5-1 military advtange, would not compromise
Thought he could win without US meddling
US no longer unconditional support
Truman- no direct US military involvement no arms
US Policy
Mediators- many attempts
Chiang difficult to work with had 5-1 military advtange, would not compromise
Thought he could win without US meddling
US no longer unconditional support
Truman- no direct US military involvement no arms
Outbreak of full scale fighting
Stalin did not withdraw from Manchuria, went slowly so CCP could control countrysides
Chiang had early successes thought victory would take 8-10 months
US warned to negotiate becayse they weren’t supporting
HOw many troops did CCP and GMD have?
2 mil, 3.7 mil
Turning Point?
1947
Nationalists captured more areas- spread thin, CCP numbers grow in countryside
Lin Biao winning battles in Manchuria, Chiang commit more troops
Mao prepared for long battle 5 yrs
Manchurian campaigns cost Chiang 470,000 troops
Victory?
Mao declared October 1949, with guerrilla tactics drove GMD from Chongqing to Taiwan
GMD weaknesses in war
20 yrs in power [1927-1949]
- Corrupt
- Ineffective in rural areas
- Disease of Heart [self serving], BLue shirts attacked peasants
- Brutal treatment of forced conscription soldiers
- 1945 hyper inflation, Financial mismanagement, 1.5 billion debt to US from 1941-5
Marc Blecher - weaknesses of GMD
GMD base began to crumble rapidly - couldn’t finance forced, corruption, unbeneficial taxes (to neither capitalists or landlords), inflation etc.
Workers joined shop keepers in staging riots and strikes in Shanghai to protest at the rising cost of food and declining standard of living
Peasant unrest grew - CHiang responded with repression which alienated many
Key liberals withdrew support, 1946 assisination of Wen Yido, gentle poet
SHanghai cost of living increase from 1947-8
5800%
Difference in GMD and CCP propaganda?
CCP able to control propaganda and what info was released to journalists on guided tours of Yanan, GMD open to public scutiny- Jack Gray
