Chinese Civil War

(Beijing 4ever ❤️)

Guerilla warfare
● = war between opponents of unequal strength

● aim to defeat the enemy invasion

○ Yes but also win popular support and political influence

How Significant Was the Contribution of Guerrilla Warfare to the

Chinese Civil War?
➔ Guerilla warfare was the central part of Mao’s plan

➔ War was between two forces

◆ trigger of the war → GMD attack on the CCP

➔ The CCP already had support from the industrial workers and peasants → due to a promise of
land

➔ GMD was sympathetic to the middle class and warlords

◆ not peasants because they attacked the warlords and seized their lands + they
supported the CCP

➔ Japanese invasion in 1937

◆ forced GMD + CCP to form a second united front

◆ CCP: was an opportunity to clear the title of “bandits”

◆ GMD: began to lose popularity and money as the Japanese conquer GMD territories

● no revenue from taxes

● Jiang decided to print more money → inflation

● middle class in favour of the GMD were going away

● GMD lost control and respect among the public

➔ GMD and CCP went to war in Manchuria

◆ CCP was outnumbered

◆ GMD gained back control (but were corrupt)

◆ GMD popularity declined

 ◆ USA encouraged a ceasefire

● prevented Mao to lose

➔ Fighting resumed in 1947

◆ Mao used guerilla tactics to overcome the big enemy forces

◆ Split the army and attacked in units → within a year he gained control of Manchuria

◆ then they used more conventional tactics

● GMD crushed

● CCP victorious and Mao proclaimed the People’s Republic of China in 1949

➔ Communists used guerilla warfare

◆ eventual success but didn’t always work

◆ it would have been a failure if the US didn’t enforce a ceasefire

➔ Michael Lynch

◆ economic problems had the greatest effect on the outcome

➔ Immanuel Hsu

◆ the Sino-Japanese war was extremely significant in the outcome

➔ James Sheridan

◆ Guerilla warfare was the main reason why the CCP won the

Main key figures:

● Mao Zedong

● Mao Tse-Tung

China:
➔ great power in Asia

➔ inventions associated
◆ compass, paper, gunpowder ecc

➔ political relationships that China had with its neighbouring countries

➔ impact of confucianism

➔ the Qing Dynasty

 Parties
● GMD → nationalists → Jiang Jiesm
● CCP → communists → Mao Zedong
Causes
Short term causes
➔ 1926 Northern Expedition
➔ Jiang Jieshi’s attack
◆ traditional Chinese values linked to modern
capitalism
◆ peasant and working class China would not
deliver this progress
➔ Shanghai Massacre of 1927
◆ April 1927, Jiang turned on the communists
and lasted until 1949
◆ Jiang wanted to move to Shanghai and
control the city
◆ Needed support of the Green Gang
Long term causes
Developments 1900-1918:
➔ Boxer rebellion
◆ For time the underdeveloped economy and the
system of government made China weak. It was
exploited by European powers to profit from
Chinese trade and this caused a rebellion to break
out in 1900 but it ended up as a humiliation for
China because the European military put down the
Boxer Rebellion
◆ In 1917, splits in the ruling class led to a
revolution and as a consequence the Manchu
dynasty was removed from power
◆ Happened in Sichuan and saw a regional uprising
against the regime
➔ China disintegrated into regional regimes dominated by
 ◆ Allied with their leader local army commanders

➔ Communist survival and resistance ◆ The republic was called the Guomindang (GMD).
Sun developed a democratic republic and pursued
➔ One war or two wars social revolution to create more equality in
landholding and wealth, inspired by the West and
socialism.

◆ In 1905 created the Chinese United League, a

forerunner of the Chinese Nationalist Party which
was established to bring together the various
reforming groups.

◆ In 1913, Yuan Shikai ordered the assassination of

one of the leading members of the MD. Sun
attempted a second revolution, but it was a failure
and in November 1912 the party was banned and
Sun had to flee

◆ He remained in exile in Japan until 1917 and made

little progress in uniting the nationalist groups as
China became deeply divided among the warlords

➔ Fourth of May Movement

◆ offered opportunities for reforming groups and it

was the movement that inspired Sun to reform the
GMD in 1920

◆ Sun died in 1925 and Jiang Jieshi emerged as the

leader of the GMD

◆ The announcement of the peace terms that ended

the First World War was the spark for a massive
protest movement in China in 1919

◆ Intellectuals and reformers realised that China must

undergo radical change: Confucianism, regional
divisions, weak central government, low economic
growth and a largely rural economy

Warlords after 1916:

➔ Warlord Era (1916-27)
➔ central government in China disintegrated and the country broke apart into many regions
◆ controlled by powerful local leaders
◆ took advantage of weakening national authority to expand own power and
profit-seeking
◆ marked by political stagnation, exploitation and suffering for most Chinese peasants
➔ Yuan Shikai was first warlord
➔ Rule divided into various military groups after Yuan Shikai died
➔ Difficult to define warlords as a whole - different qualities
May 4th Movement
➔ offered opportunities for reforming groups and it was the movement that inspired Sun to
reform the GMD in 1920
➔ Sun died in 1925 and Jiang Jieshi emerged as the leader of the GMD
➔ The announcement of the peace terms that ended the First World War was the spark for a
massive protest movement in China in 1919
➔ Intellectuals and reformers realized that China must undergo radical change to break away
from its old way of life: Confucianism, regional divisions, weak central government, low
economic growth and a largely rural economy

Why was the CCP successful against the GMD?

➔ support of the common people

➔ Soviets setting up:

◆ 8 hour day
◆ raised wages
◆ plans for the unemployed
◆ landlords, militarists and officials property → confiscated
◆ cancelled debts
◆ Justice Department mass trialed the reactionaries (shot whoever commit a serious
crime)

➔ Tactics
◆ partisans cannot participate in lost battles unless they can win
◆ surprise was the main offensive attack
◆ static warfare were avoided
◆ careful and detailed plans of attack and retreat
◆ partisans have superior intelligence of the people and must win the support and
participation of the masses
 The Long March

Military strategy 1930 - 1934

1930 - 1931 1932 - 1933 1934

★ Mao in charge ★ Zhu De in charge of Red Army ★ 28 Bolsheviks in charge of Red Army

★ Guerilla warfare ★ Guerilla warfare ★ “Stand and fight”

★ GMD encirclement campaign 1 - 3 ★ GMD encirclement campaign 4 ★ GMD encirclement campaign 4

(began 1933)

★ GMD campaigns 1 - 3 fail ★ GMD campaigns 4 fail ★ GMD campaigns 5 succeeds -

German military advice. Red Army
breaks out / Long March

➔ military retreat during the Chinese Civil War undertaken by the Communist Red Army

➔ most celebrated part of the Chinese Civil War

➔ Jiangxi Soviet: In 1934, the Red Army of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was encircled
by Nationalist forces in the Jiangxi Soviet.

➔ Communist Retreat: The Long March began on October 16, 1934, as the Red Army embarked
on a grueling retreat to escape the encirclement.

➔ Challenges Abound: The Red Army faced harsh weather, tough terrain, and attacks from both
 Nationalist forces and local warlords.

➔ Epic Journey: The Long March covered about 6,000 miles (9,600 kilometers), making it one
of the most remarkable retreats in history.

➔ Leadership Shift: Lin Biao emerged as a key strategist and leader during the march,
alongside Mao Zedong.

➔ Endurance and Sacrifice: The Long March resulted in significant casualties due to battles,
disease, and hunger.

➔ Iconic Luding Bridge: The Red Army's successful defense of Luding Bridge in Sichuan
Province became a symbol of their determination.

➔ Arrival in Shaanxi: In 1935, after over a year of hardship, the Long March reached its
destination in northern Shaanxi Province.

➔ New Base Established: In Shaanxi, the CCP established a new base, which became pivotal in
their struggle against the Nationalists.

➔ International Attention: The Long March garnered international attention and support for the
CCP's cause.

➔ Reunification Efforts: During the march, Red Army units sometimes split and reunited,
demonstrating their resilience and determination.

➔ Turning Point: The Long March laid the foundation for the CCP's eventual victory in the
Chinese Civil War and the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Key events
Crossing the Xiang River - Xiang river strongly defended by the GMD
- Jiang determined not to let the CCP escape

- The 28 Bolsheviks led the CCP in a line into the river

Zunyi Conference - Jan 1935

- CCP using guerilla tactics captured the town
Zunyi

- 28 Bolsheviks had been discredited (bc of Xiang River)

- Mao Zedong emerged

Upper Yangtze River Crossing - Mao declared his forces “march north to fight the
Japanese”

- Red Army towards Sichuan with 40K communists under

Zhang Guotao

- GMD destroyed all boats at Yangtze River crossing to rout

Mao’s forces

- Mao sent units to a town at 136 km

- GMD was building the bridge
- CCP crossed the river in another place
 - Mao got across before the GMD realized

The Luding Bridge - CCP arrives at Dadu River

- Bridge: made of planks and chains

- GMD removed the planks that covered the chains

- ambush with machine gun posts and granades

- 5 attackers survived but took out the machine gun posts

- re put the planks to allow the Red Army to cross

- Their courage turned members of the GMD to switch sides

Battle of Huaihai
➔ largest battle fought
➔ lasted 65 days
➔ GMD lost 600k

Significant Women
➔ JJ’s wife:
◆ founded the New Life Movement
◆ active in the ruling council of party

➔ Liu Hulan:
◆ died at 15 years old
◆ to be continued in canva