Triumph of Mao and the CCP: 1934-49 Flashcards
Jiangxi Soviet
The site of the CCP’s efforts to create a peasant based government following Communist values.
When was the Jiangxi Soviet operational?
1927/31-34
Reforms made within the Jiangxi Soviet
> 1930- Land Law passed. Divided up the cultivated land among the farming population.
Taxes on land were reduced.
Peasant Councils were set up to give peasants some say in running their own affairs.
The strict discipline of the Red Army meant peasants were treated with respect.
The Five Encirclement Campaigns
> 1930-34
GMD launched attacks and tried to take over CCP areas by winning battles.
CCP employed Guerilla tactics.
GMD Problems- 5 Encirclement Campaigns
They made no progress, but were instead just continuously ambushed.
CCP Problems- 5 Encirclement Campaigns
They made no progress, were just defending + being gradually worn down. Many also deemed Guerrilla tactics to be cowardly.
The Fifth Encirclement Campaign
> Autumn 1933
By October 1934 60,000 Red Army soldiers killed and Jiangxi was completely surrounded.
Led to the necessity of the Long March.
What was revolutionary warfare?
The CCP taught the peasants about their ideology, and showed them how life could be better for them under a communist government, therefore earning themselves the support of the people.
The Long March
Oct 1934- Jan 1935
> 16th October > 87,000 soldiers fled Jiangxi. > Took as much equipment as they could carry. > Took 6 weeks to break out. > Lost half of their men. > Had been going in a straight line.
The Long March
Jan 1935
> Braun (current commander) was removed from power.
> Mao and Zhu De put in charge.
The Long March
Jan - Oct 1935
> Army took an erratic route to confuse the GMD.
Split up at times.
Crossed the Dadu river.
Traversed the Snowy Mountains and Grasslands.
Constantly battling the GMD.
Crossing of the Dadu River
> May 1935
22 soldiers, under enemy fire, swung across a gorge on suspension bridge chains to make it possible for the rest of the army to follow.
The Long March
Oct 1935
> an estimated 10% of the army arrived at Yunan, after crossing 6,000 miles in 368 days.
Why was the Long March important?
> The CCP now had a safe and secure base.
Mao was seen as a great leader and became unchallenged in his power.
The Long March became immortalised in Communist propaganda.
By crossing so many different provinces, the CCP were able to circulate the Communist message.
The Second United Front
> 1936- 46
> Chiang was kidnapped and forced into working with the CCP against the invading Japanese.
Start of war with Japan
July 1937
Japanese capture Shanghai
November 1937
What tactical mistake did Chiang make during the Second Sino-Japanese war?
> Flooding of the yellow river to halt the Japanese.
> 11 cities were wiped out. hundreds of thousands died.
GMD Corruption 1940’s
> Millions of dollars were given to fund the GMD.
Most of it disappeared.
Soldiers weren’t given food or clothing. 1.5 million soldiers died as a result.
Example of GMD’s continual focus on the CCP during the Second Sino-Japanese war.
> Jan 1941, GMD attacked CCP and were wiped out.
> Chiang sent his best forced to Yunan and hoped the Americans would win the war for him.
When/ Why did the U.S agree to back the GMD against the Japanese?
> December 1941
> Pearl Harbour.
Who was sent from America to boost the GMD’s war effort?
> Stilwell.
He saw the corruption and demanded direct control of GMD forces.
Disagreed with Chiang over arming the CCP.
Where did the GMD retreat to?
Chongqing.
Madam Chiang
> Visited the U.S in 1943.
Asked for money + supplies.
Most of it disappeared.
Damaged the Nationalist’s reputation as they were seen as corrupt.
Rape of Nanjing
> December 1937
200,000 civillians killed.
Genocide.
How did the Japanese treat Chinese civilians?
> Massacred them.
> Killed animals and burnt property.
What tactics did the CCP use against the Japanese?
> Guerilla Warfare
Land mines
Gunfire
Peasant’s hatred of the Japanese.
What reforms were made in Communist controlled areas?
> Reduced land rent + taxes
Held elections
Built middle class support by asking them to donate just whatever they could.
Men + Women were equal.
Japanese Surrender
> Aug 1945
> Hiroshima
Marco Polo Bridge Incident
July 1937
First Phase of Civil War
1927 (Shanghai Massacre) - 1937 (Japanese Invasion)
Second Phase of Civil War
1946 (End of Second Sino Japanese War) - 1949 (CCP victory)
Why were the CCP able to survive the First Chinese Civil War?
> Guerilla Tactics
Mao’s leadership
The safety of Yunan + Shaanxi Province
Mao’s Clever ploy
Mao’s Clever Ploy
Mao’s plan to make the CCP seem more nationalist by attacking the Japanese.
Strengths of the CCP
> Guerilla Tactics
Better Leadership
Appeal of Communism to peasants
Spies in GMD and Peasantry
Weaknesses of the GMD
> Failure to reform China. > Corruption > Economic Collapse (Inflation led to EC in 1949) > Low morale of GMD army > Poor military decisions
American aid to the GMD
> USA helped both at first but favoured GMD.
> USA restricted GMD with negotiations at crucial points in the war.
Why was the Second Sino Japanese was bad for the GMD?
> No tax income > Corruption > Lack of training for officers. > Conventional warfare. > Planned to rely on America.
Why was the Second Sino Japanese was good for the CCP?
> Social reform
Rectification Campaigns
CCP resisted, GMD fled
Mao’s propaganda.
USSR aid to the GMD
> USSR encouraged a coalition but favoured CCP.
USSR gave less aid than USA.
USSR gave military help to the CCP, but also tried to control them.
Stalin tried to limit Mao.
Military mistakes made by the GMD during the Second Phase of the Civil War
> Focused too heavily on Manchuria where they had no power base.
Called a ceasefire which allowed the CCP to regroup.
CCP strengths in the 2nd Civil War
> The leadership of Mao who ensured that the PLA was well behaved.
The support of the peasants who were impressed with the policies of the CCP and the behaviour of the PLA which contrasted to the soldiers of the Kuomintang who treated the peasants badly.
Successful guerrilla tactics 1946- 48.
The Red Army had grown to 1,000,000 men by 1945 because of peasant support. By 1949 the CCP claimed that it was 4,000,000.
GMD weaknesses in the 2nd Civil War
> Chiang’s government was unpopular because it was seen as corrupt.
High inflation and the brutality of the Blueshirts in Kuomintang controlled areas.
The American government, which had given Chiang $200 million in aid since 1945, could see that the Kuomintang were going to be defeated and, in 1947, cut off all aid.
At the same time the GMD forces had fallen to 1,500,000 as many deserted to the PLA.
Battle of Huai-Hai
> November 1948
Turning point of the Civil War
First head on battle
GMD lost half a million men and masses of equipment.
It became clear that the GMD were losing.
Allowed the CCP to capture Shanghai and Beijing.
Chiang’s Resignation
21st January 1949
Mao establishes the People’s Republic of China
> 1st October 1949
> In Tiananmen Square, as a sign that the Communists now held complete control.
