The End of the War Flashcards
After the PLA victory in Beijing, Chiang resigned the GMD leadership in name only. Explain this statement.
While Chiang resigned the GMD leadership, he still held power within the party as the effective leader. Specifically, “he kept the title Generalissimo and continued to consult and direct the GMD’s military commanders as if he were their leader, behaviour that they reciprocated by treating him as their chief”.
What were the benefits and disadvantages of Taiwan as a refuge for the GMD in 1949?
In terms of benefits, it was a location that allowed Chiang some refuge from mainland China, which he was losing to the communists. A disadvantage was that it had people who didn’t want his control.
How did the GMD actions in the defence of Nanjing and Shanghai demonstrate the lack of unity in GMD leadership that had plagued the GMD since the start of the war?
The GMD’s actions in the defence of Nanjing and Shanghai demonstrated a lack of unity in GMd leadership, evident in the conflicting interests and lack of unified communication between commanders.
Would you describe Chiang’s actions in the last couple of months of the war as
- A captain abandoning his ship or
- A pragmatic response to a hopeless situation.
Explain the reasons for your answer
Chiang’s actions in the last couple of months of the war was a pragmatic response to a hopeless situation as there was nothing else he could have done to stop a communist takeover. His only option left was to move all his resources to Taiwan and establish power there.
What role did the ethnic and religious differences in Western China play during and after the Civil War?
The ethnic and religious differences in Western China played a problem during and after the Civil war as it divided them and consequently resistance movements developed and troops had to be mobilised to ensure the situation was under control. There were issues between Chiang and the Tibet government and after the war there were issues between Western China and authority from Beijing.
