Practices of Chinese Civil War

Question 1

Jieshi’s 5 Encirclement Campaigns

Answer 1

• 3 between Dec 1930 and Sept 1931, CCP had 300k, guerilla warfare ensured success
• 4 Mar 1933, CCP success
• 5 Oct 1934, JIang had 800k and blockhouses, GMD won

Question 2

The Long March

Answer 2

• Oct 19, 1934, CCP breaks through GMD lines and begins 9.6k km, 368 day march from Jiangxi to Shaanxi
• Starts out with 90k, 90% died, 6k left
• Mao’s strategy was to confuse the GMD with changes in direction

Question 3

Impact of Long March

Answer 3

CCP Success:
1. CCP survival, propaganda to promote support
2. Confirmed Mao as leader
3. United front against Japan shows CCP as true Nationalists

GMD Failures:
1. Many question long term ability
2. Decide to deal with CCP rather than Japan
3. Treatment of peasants lost support

Question 4

Quotes on the Long March

Answer 4

“Mao had not only brought disaster on the army under him … Huge losses were due to him jockeying for power” - Chang and Halliday
“It has proclaimed to the world that the Red Army is an army of heroes.” - Breslin

Question 5

Mukden Incident

Answer 5

• Sept 1931, Jp minister sent to inform Kwantang Army to use “prudence and patience”
• Sept 11 Railway blown up, full scale attack on barracks ensues
• LoN steps in but takes too long, Japan takes Manchuria
• March 1932, Pu YI becomes Chief executive of Manchukuo a Japanese puppet state

Question 6

Second United Front 1937

Answer 6

• Dec 1936, Jiang flew north to Xian, captured by Zhang, forced to work with CCP against Japan
• WW2 starts in Asia with China and Japan on the Marco Polo Bridge in 1937
  Demands of the United Front:
  1. Stop CW
  2. Free political protestors
  3. Carry out aims of Sun
  4. Immediately set up a National Salvation Conference

Question 7

Impact of War with Japan in 1937

Answer 7

GMD: Areas under Japan, lost tax, inflation. Conscription, repressive. Japan at ports means limited foreign aid. Bore brunt of attacks, huge losses

CCP: By 1945, liberated 678/914 towns, land reform, reduces taxes. Peasant support, instilled Maoist support

Question 8

PSQ from Jiang on the Second United Front

Answer 8

“The whole nations must rise as one man and fight these Japanese bandits”

Question 9

War after 1945

Answer 9

• Mao didn’t see Shaanxi as wort saving, starts another north march, “keep the enemy on the run … then look for an opportunity to destroy him”
• CCP had 300k in Manchuria, retake Shaanxi
• Turning Point - Kaifeng, CCP high losses
• Battle of Huhai stretched 4 provinces, 65 days, 600k GMD deaths
• CCP has 1.6m compared to GMD 1.5m
• Oct 1 1949 - Mao declares PRC
• 2m peasants died

Question 10

Mao’s policy on women

Answer 10

“Women hold up the sky”
- 35 were on the long marc
- Mao aimed for equality, Jiang aimed for modern attitudes
- Liu Hulan was a CCP leader killed in 1947 afterwatching the beheading of her comrades

Question 11

Three phases of the CCW after 1945

Answer 11

1945-47: GMD forced CCP back and to revert to policy of bases outside cities, US calls for ceasefires
1947-48: Ceasefires saves CCP main base, guerilla units attack GMD supplies, GMD has control of cities, CCP controls Manchuria
1949: CCP launch conventional attacks, Shanghai and Guangzhou captured by CCP, Mao proclaims PRC