2.3- Key features of the civil war Flashcards
What events occurred leading up to the Civil War?
The Dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan ended the second world war. This was before either the GMD or the CCP were ready to take control of China. Neither side was prepared to start the civil war, yet it could not be avoided. Nationalist held a large area in southern and central China. The communist controlled the countryside in northern and north eastern China from base Yanan. As Japanese retreated and left both sides tried to occupy as much territory as possible, further complications introduced by Soviet Union which sent the red army to Manchuria to take control.
How was war first instigated
Chiang was in the strongest position. GMD was recognised as the real government of China. Americans insisted that the Japanese admit defeat to them. The Americans persuaded that the Nationalist and Communist stop fighting to stop chances of the Soviet union exploiting the divisions in China to expand their control.
When Chiang tried to set up a new government which gave total control to the GMD , the communist left the talks more fighting resumed Dec 1945 both sides were at war. In July 1946 clear that there were no chances of a negotiated agreement
What was the first key stages of the Civil war?
Between 1946 and may 1947, GMD was initially successful. captured a number of large cities in the north and established a route through to Manchuria. Communist lost control of Yanan. The communist army now known as the Peoples liberation Army developed successful guerrilla tactics and by may 1947. secured control of northern Manchuria. strengthened the communist.
What was the second key stage of the civil war.
The second stage of the conflict occurred between May 1947 and November 1948. PLA launched large scale attacks on GMD and switched to conventional warfare .The army pushed into central and western China. The GMD became increasingly cut- off from the rest of China because of shrinking territory.
What was the third key stage of the Civil war
The third stage lasted from December 1948 until October 1949. The battles required great effort from both sides communist enjoyed a large victory this time.
What was the battle of Huia-Hai November 1948 - January 1949?
Most decisive campaign fought in the Civil was was the Huai - Hai campaign ; this brought the final stage of the conflict. Chiang had already lost control of northen China and he was determined to prevent communism spreading to rest of China. He chose to make a stand at Xuzhou, a site on the Longhai railway linking central China to GMD capital Nanjing and port of Shanghai. Campaign was disaster for Chiang. Strength of the PLA was strengthened by men who abandoned Chiang’s NRA lacked aircraft to protect it forces. Mao’s orders to the PLA to destroy the area Surrondings the Xuzhou. Nationalist did not have enough food to feed the NRA troops. Battle lasted for 2 months. Chiang refused to allow the leader of his army units to retreat resulted in the lost of 200,000 men. Finally surrendered on 10 January 1949
Campaign essential in brining communist victory in Civil war. It broke the strength of the NRA and opened up central China to the communist. From this point onwards the USA removed any more funding to the GMD already given 3 billion USA and believed Chiang wasted it. Without US aid Chiang had little chance of defeating communist
In January 1949 communist taken control of large areas of the north, including the capital city Beijing then they moved south. By late September 1949, most of China under communist rule. In 1949 Mao declared the new government the peoples republic of China with himself as leader. Chiang fled to Taiwan and set up an alternative GMD government there.
