The Chinese Civil War - The importance of Manchuria Micheal Lynch, The Chinese Civil War, 1945-49 p. 17-22 Flashcards
Why did Chiang make capturing Manchuria a key objective?
Chiang made capturing Manchuria a key objective as it was the only place where the communists had a strong grip and by eliminating them there would effectively make him ruler of China.
- essentially if the GMD captured Manchuria, it woulf effectively destroy the CCP’s influence in northern China, the only area where the Communists had strong bases.
Why and how did the Nationalists experience problems in controlling Manchuria? See also the reading from Suzanne Pepper
The Nationalists experienced problems in controlling Manchuria due to the truce set out by the Americans which allowed the communists to recover from gains by the Nationalists, as well as the pulling out of Russian and Japanese troops which allowed the CCP to gain control faster than the Nationalists. The Communists were also able to defend themselves and were able to hold off the Nationalists. Additionally, the Nationalists faced loyalty issues from the people of Manchuria who appealed more to the Communists and sabotaged the Nationalists. The combination of factors lead to the Nationalists leaving Manchuria.
How did the PLA gain popular support in Manchuria?
The PLA or ‘People’s Liberation Army’ gained popular support in Manchuria by posing as friends to the people of Manchuria.
How did the CCP assert control in Harbin?
The CCP asserted control over Harbin by defeating the Nationalists who formerly occupied the city.
How did control of Harbin assist the military strategy of the CCP?
The control of Harbin assisted the military strategy of the CCP by providing sufficient troops for the regime. Specifically, Harbin served as a training ground for Lin’s troops who became more than guerilla warfare soldiers, but rather a more sophisticated army that could take on large scale forces.
Explain how Nationalist successes in the winter of 1946-7 were mitigated by CCP actions.
Nationalists successes in the winter of 1946-7 were mitigated by CCP who stormed an unexpecting Nationalist army who didn’t expect the Communists to charge across the iced lake. The communists effectively pushed back the Nationalists, capturing hundreds of thousands of Nationalists weapons.
Explain how the CCP were able to nullify the Nationalist superiority in air power and troop numbers.
The CCP were able to nullify the Nationalist superiority in air power by destroying the airstrips and runways. Nationalists troop movement was reduced via the sabotage of railway lines which made it extremely difficult to move large quantities of Nationalist troops.
Why was the GMD’s focus on Manchuria a mistake?
The GMD’s focus on Manchuria was a mistake as it left north China vulnerable to CCP troop invasion which occurred in some locations across Northern China such as Chang=dong which had been cut off from China for 15 years.
Although Lary and Taylor both criticise Chiang for his focus on Manchuria, how did Chiang
defend his actions there? (Taylor notes under the heading “problems in Manchuria”
Chiang was severely manipulated by the Soviets who annoyingly occupied the former Chinese territory.
Why did the GMD have minimal popular support in Manchuria?
The GMD have minimal popular support in Manchuria because they mistreated the locals. Specifically, they treated them as lackeys of the Japanese and stole their property and possessions on the basis of “war booty”.
Explain why table 2.2 is useful for a historian studying how the GMD benefited from Japanese surrender.
Table 2.2 is useful for a historian studying how the GMD benefited from Japanese surrender because it gives them a better understanding of their military standing at the time. Specifically, the 685 000 rifles/carbines, 180 000 000 rounds of ammunition, 383 tanks, 15 785 trucks, 6000 tons of bombs, 1400 small chips and 150 armoured cars that the GMD attained from the raid, helps historians analyse the righteousness of military decisions and helps historian come to grips with what Chiang Kai Shek was thinking. Specifically, the figures raise the question: what is he to do with all the weaponry, and did he take the best course of action? The data thus leads historians on the right track, in terms of asking the right questions to further their understanding of how the GMD benefited from Japanese surrender.
Pg 79 Read the “ceasefire decision box, why was the ceasefire decision seen as a turning point in the war?
The ceasefire decision box was seen as a turning point as it negatively changed the course of the war for the GMD. Had it not occured, the CCP would have endured further losses.
Hans van de Ven China at War 1937-1952, p89-90
What assistance did the Soviets provide the CCP - both in Manchuria and in the Soviet Union
The Soviets provided both several thousand soviet military personnel which offered “…technical guidance and medical aid”. Also theSoviets provided artillery which resulted in the CCP having at least 4 times the amount of artillery as the GMD between 1947 to 1948. The Soviets also provided 2.7 million Japanese soldiers to the Soviet Union across 700 labour camps and a large majority were conscripted into labour camps.Additionally, the soviets provided training of CP forces.
Hans van de Ven China at War 1937-1952, p89-90
Explain how Lin Biao changed tactics of the CCP for guerilla warfare to pitched battles
Lin Biao added artillery and flanking techniques into his army. Indirect firing techniques and other military tactics, along with the training of large groups of soldiers to form a large army, as opposed to small groups of guerilla soldiers were one of the many changes Chiang made in the transition from guerilla warfare to pitched battles.
Hans van de Ven China at War 1937-1952, p89-90
What role did morale play in the training of CCP forces?
Morale was low in the CCP forces which gave them a sense of bitterness which spurred them to fight.
