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Chinese Civil War - Coggle Diagram

- - - - used US naval and air forces to move troops quickly - helped them get north china in 1945 and halt expansion of CCP power
      - focused on cities - but this meant they were not attacking strong CCP areas and left the forces overstretched
    - - mobile defence
        
        focused on weakening the enemy throuhg ambush and sabotage in order to inflict casualties and disrupt supply lines
        
        slowly wear down the enemy
        
        infleunced by guerilla warfare tactics but tended to have larger-scale than guerilla
        
        knowledge of local terrain helps and troops need to be able to survive without returning to base camp
        
        used small arms - played to CCP strengths as they did not have larger military technology
        
        enabled CCP to continue as they woulld easily lose using conventional strategies as they were severely outnumbered and outarmed
      - shift to focus on urban areas
        
        after late 1947
        
        they were in a stronger position because they had increased their weaposn but also Nationalists were weaker (thin forces, supplies disrupted)
      - knowledge/defectors
        
        understood the importance of having knowledge of what the GMD was going to do
        
        tried to encourage defectors so that he could use what they know to his advantage
  - - - substantial resources made it valuable
      - soviet occupation assisted the CCP but not by that much
        
        gave CCP arms, troops, and prevented nationalist troops from entering key cities
        
        but they were ordered to abandon manchuria and take the industry with them
      - GMD responds by sending lots of troops into Manchuria - goes against advice from the US which suggests they secure northern regions instead of overextending their troops
      - Harbin 1945-1946
        
        CCP took control right after soviets left but this was shortlived and the GMD then took it form them
        
        communsits forced to retreat to the north
        
        looks like CCP will have to abandon their last urban stronghold in Manchuria (Harbin)
        
        Ceasefire 1946
        
        US organised a truce
        
        CCP and GMD both agreed although Chiang later regretted this
        
        fortuitous for CCP as they could rebuild and strengthen
        
        GMD reasoning: US pressure, forces were overstretched, thought a brief truce would not affect his long term chances of victory
        
        crucial point in the war that potentially sacved teh CCP
        
        lasted 4 months
        
        Fighting Resumed October 1946
        
        CCP successfully defended Harbin - had used propaganda and local money to build armies - Lin Biao had trained and reorgansied guerilla units into larger more conventional armies able to use artillery
        
        success shown by counterattack at the Sungari River
        
        although failed to seize the junction, they took lots of weapons with them
        
        impact of foreign influence - potentially changed the course of the war
      - March 1947 Chiang wanted a symbolic victory in Yanan, but although victorious, Mao had already been warned so they had left
    - - first CCP urban victory
      - 12 november 1947
      - followed by capture of Siping 1947
    - - transformed growing advantage into victory
      - Liaoshen
        
        Manchuria - assaults on cities
        
        destruction of nationalist bases at Jinzhou, Changchun, Shenyang
        
        left Manchuria under CCP control
      - Huaihai
        
        Xuchou, city was a key junction on a railway
        
        CCP attacks quickly as GMD forces are still on their way their
        
        GMD fled due to lack of food and supplies - encouraged by CCP propaganda to become defectors (promised food and good conditions)
      - Pingjin
        
        ran simultaneously to Huaihai
        
        increased use of artillery
        
        took xinbaoan, Zhangjiakou, Taiyuan
        
        Beijing ended up being surrendered
        
        Chiang suggested peace talks and suggested US and USSR as mediators, but Mao refused as he could see the communist victory
  - - - neither side manufactured many armaments so relied on foreign and stolen from each toher
      - GMD - from the US (they said at the end that what US had supplied should have been enouhg for a victory so the loss comes down to strategy Dean Acheson Secretary of State), not all arrived in time, not all was used for military supplies (Freda Utley)
      - CCP - most captured from Japan and then GMD, USSR assisted in getting the Japanese weapons, USSR provided training, no physical assistance from Russia,
    - - CCP gained troops with territory
      - nationalists started with more
      - not decisive in the war
      - both armies relied on conscripts - Chiang issues a bill that meant he had full control of conscription so sent recruitment gangs to forcibly get people
      - red army gained lots of nationalist defectors and prisoners - actively encouraged by promises of good treatment
      - using former enemy troops was a risk, but Mao showed willingness to execute any suspected of duplicity so created an atmosphere of terror
    - - crucial to raise supply of troops
      - CCP
        
        propaganda: songs taught to villagers emphasising fighting a people's war to bring social change
        
        policies: land reforms (very successful, he did not target moderate landlords as did not want to alienate them), improved lives of urban population, made sure red army were disciplined and nice to people
      - GMD
        
        propaganda: focused on what CCP would do and how they should be fearful of the revolution, struggled to stop the dissatisfaction due to increasing harship, popular discontent was exacerabated by rumours of corruption in the officials and many believed they had a chance and failed
      - both sides used terror and coercion - CCP: taxes, recruits, food, labour, donations, GMD: taxes, recruits
    - - CCP: provisions from countryside, mobile defence was possible as could live off their countryside land bases
      - GMD: food shortages, dependent on railways, massive inflation in cities, corruption meant officials hoarded food, led to decline in morale
  - - - casued the ceasefire
      - supplied NRA with money - but it is suggested that not all this money was spent on military weapons some went to chiang and supporters
      - physically withdrew from China in 1947
    - - left manchuria and stripped it of industry
      - wanted peace but did it differently to US, they just let the GMD enter Manchuria as they don't think CCP will ever actually gain full control
      - feared China may become a communist rival
- - - - police state and dictatorship
      - local committees established to get more members and have control over smaller areas
    - - all other political organisations are banned
      - anyone that speaks against the regime is persecuted
      - very loose defintion for 'working against the regime' allows people to get back at people by dobbing them in
      - growth of fear leading to more compliance
      - Anti-Campaigns
        
        campaigns of terror
        
        3 antis 1951
        
        5 antis 1952
    - - War in Tibet
        
        brutal
        
        1950, reunification campaigns
        
        forcibly incorporated
        
        buddhism banned, teaching tibetan banned, history of tibet banned
        
        national uprising in 1959 but suppressed with 87000 killed
      - Xinjiang
        
        another region that was outside effective control of the nationalists
    - - legitimacy of PRC was challenged by Chiang Kai Shek
      - government in Taiwan
      - clashes between PRC and ROC, often i the Taiwanese Strait
  - - - 4-6 million between 1945-1949 alone
      - about 4 million executed during counter-revolutionary supression in 1950
      - Sino-Japanese War: about 18 million civilians from famine and destruction
    - - GMD Areas
        
        expanded legal rights - civil code 1930 rights to marriage and divorce, 1931 labout law so they get equal pay for work
        
        changes were often offficial but not put into practice
      - CCP areas
        
        greater equality in theory
        
        encouraged to serve in CCP committees
        
        arranged marriages discouraged
        
        source of labour
        
        serve in army and militias
        
        catering to the needs of the red army, ie making clothes, nursing, transporting supplies
      - After the war
        
        marriage Law 1950: abolished arranged marriages, granted right to seek divorce, equality in management and inheritance of family property, husband could not apply for divorce if wife was pregnant or had children under one
        
        social customs meant little change in reality for the majority of women
    - - introduction of communism led to social reforms
      - peasants owned land for the first time - expedient mesaure to appeal to peasants before the revolution took it away
      - cooperative farming and collective farms 1950s once they had secured power
    - - number of studetns in primary school doubled
      - key schools established, best teachers, entrance exams, selection was supposed to be on merit of the children but often places were just granted to high ranking offficials
  - - - left industry production even weaker
      - Soviet removal of manchurian industry
      - agricultural land disrupted
      - social upheaval had impact on agriculte
      - fewer people so less can work
    - - larger more genuine efforts were delayed until power was consolidated
      - intially aimed to stop inflation and the black market
      - later on there is the five year plan, great leap forward, and collectivisation
      - small things but focus on what will make people like them
  - - - intensified hatred against communismf
      - feeling not enough was done to help nationalists
      - Formosa Resolution 1955 - authorised troops to be sent to defend Taiwain in the first Taiwan Strait Crisis
      - increasing commitment to non-communist regime in Vietnam
        
        Vietnam War example of how Chinese communism would ahunt US presidents and contribute to more interventionist policies
- - - - there were significant inequalities in both rural and urban areas
      - Rural Poverty
        
        85% of population were peasants
        
        vast majority did not own their own land but they rented it for high prices (70% of their earnings) from wealthy landlords
        
        no electricity, no running water, one bad harvest could lead to famine
      - created the environment needed for a civil war
      - Urban Poverty
        
        very small urban population
        
        China only had a small industrial sector, less than 10% of China's GDP
        
        Industrial growth in 1920s and 1930s stimulated by foreign investment and new techniques in manufacturing, which brought about an increase in population as peasants migrated in
        
        huge polarisation of wealth between employers and workers
        
        slum conditions on the outskirts of cities - in Shanghai deaths and disease on slums was common, about 20000 dead bodies collected from the streets each year
        
        Trade Unions
        
        attempts made to campaign for improvement but the organisation of the workforce into unions was hard - becasue most were illiterate
        
        members were increasing and CCP organised a strike but impact remained minimal
    - - instability
      - Qing dynasty collapsed Feb 1912, due to the revolution which had nationalist ideas and Qing was seen as a foreigner
      - republic formed but still failed to meet the needs of the country, couldn't get rid of foreign influence
      - warlords
        
        made themselves regional dictators
      - 1923: Nationalist party reorganised with help, 1924: United front with CCP and GMD to eliminate the warlords power
      - Northern Expedition 1926
        
        CCP and GMD launch a campaign to defeat the warlords
        
        most warlords were stopped and GMD takes power in 1927
        
        after GMD takes power difference between CCP and GMD become clear and start conflict between them
    - - GMD
        
        modern unified China
        
        'Three Principles of the People' identified in the 'Manifesto of the First National Congress of the Nationalist Party' 1930
        
        nationalism - eliminate foreign infleunce, bring about reunification, ensure equality
        
        popular sovereignty - Chinese people vote in elections
        
        'principle of the people's livelihood' - redistribution of land, helping peasants economically, state support for old/disabled/sick, nationalisation of key industries
        
        based on the thinking of Sun Yatsen who establihsed the party in 1912
        
        popular - people didn't like foreign powers, wanted democracy, social reforms appealed to the peasantry (but GMD remained a middle class urban movement)
      - CCP
        
        established Shanghai 1921
        
        eradicating foreign concessions
        
        relieve the conditions of the peasantry
        
        restructuring of society with marxist principles - the elimination of land ownership and the bourgeois classes
        
        revolution of the people guided by the CCP
        
        Based on Mao's ideas - slightly different from Marxism
      - differences were fundamental to their dislike of each other which broke up the united front and started the hostilities
    - - lots of foreing railways over the eastern coast - infrastructure built so they could exploit China and trade
      - foreign powers just built infrastructure in China suggesting it was not very powerful and almost mocking it
      - Chinese population did not like the influence foreign powers had over China
      - Tientsin
        
        allied forces shell and occupy Tientsin during an anti-foreigner demonstration, this was then recaptured by GMD but was reoccupied by Japan in 1937
      - May Fourth Movement 1919
        
        reaction to the treaty of versailles
        
        german territories in China were given to Japan, students carried out a demonstration to urge China to break away from tradition and become more powerful
  - - - White Terror April 1927
        
        Green Gang (criminal organisation in Shaghai) launched attack son CCP headquarters, communists, and workers protesting
        
        assaults were sanctioned by Chiang Kai Shek (leader of GMD since 1926)
        
        GMD army did nothing to stop the attacks - at least 5000 killed and CCP in Shanghai devastated (this was where it was born)
        
        This was a reaction to the fear that the CCP had been building up support during the Northern Expedition
      - Harvest Uprising August-December 1927
        
        Hunan Province
        
        many CCP skirmishes against the GMD
        
        CCP composed of peasants using guerilla tactics - ill-disciplined and ill-equipped
        
        CCP lost
        
        Also attacked Canton in december - they were defeated
      - The Long March 193401935
        
        had been multiple encirclement campaigns against the CCP in Jaingxi - until 1934 they had all been defensive victories due to guerilla tactics but they could not fully break the encirclement so slowly their supplies diminshed
        
        5th encirclement campaign was successful as Chiang used half a million troops, CCP saw they had to evacuate
        
        90000 communists left to retreat from the GMD
        
        went over 9000 km, being attacked by GMD forces along the waya
        
        arrived in Yanan but many had died
        
        created a physical seperation between the two groups
    - - success
        
        strengthened power of the state by making alliances with warlords and reducingt he autonomy of others
        
        reduced the number of foreign concessions from 33-13
        
        strong economic growth - GDP + 9% per annum
        
        5000 km of railways laid
        
        first commercial airline
      - failure
        
        didn't take out the CCP
        
        GMD does not help the peasants and maintains social hierarchy
        
        heavy taxation and loans
        
        failed to address the issue of Japan - Manchurian Crisis, Manhukuo
        
        lack of democracy introduced
    - - Manchurain Crisis 1931
        
        japna attacks their own railways in Manchuria and then blames China so that they can take further actions and territory
        
        leads to the establishment of Manchukuo
      - Manchukuo
        
        japanese-lef state occupying part of China
        
        recognised as an independent nation 15th May 1932
        
        upsets the Chinese people and gives GMD another opponent to fight instead of just Mao
        
        Chiang's response made him appear weak to China - and his reputation was damaged because he was taking aggressive action against the CCP whilst being nice to the foreigners invading the country
        
        Xi'An Incident 1936
        
        Chiagn arrested by Zhuang Xueliang's men (his warlord ally)
        
        forced to discontinue his prioritisation of attacks on the CCP
    - - land reforms - makes them popular
      - abolition of traditional customs - eg foot binding and arranged marriages
      - builds good relations as Red Army not allowed to abuse the Chinese People
      - uses terror and coercion against wealthy peasants and landlords
      - campaigns against Japan using propaganda and trained guerilla soldiers to attack the Japanese Manchuria
      - Mao was accepted as the undisputed leader
    - - united front to combat the japanese
      - rapid advance
        
        shanghai 1937, Nanjing 1937, all southern and eastern china
      - Capital was moved to CHongqing when Najing fell, but this made the chinese people feel they were being abandonned and the GMD were running away
      - inflation and starvation crisis - potentially makes CCP ideas look more appealing
      - Yellow River flood 1938
        
        chiang ordered the rive to be flooded to try prevent japanese advance, but this destroyed villaged, farmland, and killed many
      - japanese surrender after dropping of atomic bombs on hiroshima and nagasaki
      - led to a change in strength and popularity
        
        CCP
        
        enlarged area under their control
        
        increased membership
        
        increased armies
        
        captured japanese weapons
        
        improved popularity
        
        soviet troops in manchuria could help the ccp
        
        GMD
        
        increased military strength and weapons due to aid form US
        
        increased army
        
        reputation damaged
        
        economic pressures
      - After led to a power vacuum and caused the war to be more intense due to improvements in militaries