3. The Sino-Japanese War 1937-45

Question 1

Who was Zhang Xueliang (3)?

Answer 1

1) Nicknamed the ‘Young Marshal’, Zhang Xueliang was the military commander in the Shaanxi Province
and the military ruler of north-eastern China.
2) He had supported Jiang to defeat warlords attempting to overthrow him in the 1930s, but was critical of
Jiang’s reluctance to fight the Japanese.
3) After the Xian Incident, he was placed under house arrest by Jiang for 50 years.

Question 2

What did Jiang Jieshi say about the communists and the Japanese?

Answer 2

Jiang saw the Japanese as ‘a disease of the skin’, and the communists as ‘a disease of the heart’.

Question 3

When was the Xian Incident?

Answer 3

December 1936

Question 4

What was the main reason for the Xian Incident?

Answer 4

Discontent amongst GMD military commanders in regards to Jiang’s belief that the communists must first be
defeated before the Japanese.

Question 5

What were the events of the Xian Incident (3)?

Answer 5

1) Jiang arrived in Xian to plan the final offensive against the remaining CCP forces, however was captured
by soldiers under the command of Zhang Xueliang.
2) In touch with Zhang, the CCP wanted Jiang executed, but Stalin intervened, believing Jiang the only man
capable of leading China against the Japanese. The CCP modified their stance, however Jiang had to agree to
a GMD-CCP United Front.
3) Jiang refused a written agreement, but gave verbal assurance, calling off the final offensive on the CCP
and returning to Nanjing.

Question 6

When was the Marco Polo Bridge Incident?

Answer 6

7 July 1937.

Question 7

What were the events of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident (2)?

Answer 7

1) The Japanese army guarding the Southern Manchurian Railway conducted a night-time exercise when one
soldier went missing.
2) Although he was found soon after, the commander used it as an excuse to attack the Chinese. An
ultimatum was issued for China to withdraw from the area, before Japan took Beijing and the surrounding
area.

Question 8

What were the two main consequences of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident?

Answer 8

1) Jiang prepared for a full scale war against Japan, stating ‘the limits of endurance have been reached’.
2) The Second United Front was formally agreed between the CCP and the GMD. - MZ ‘total resistance by the whole nation is necessary’

Question 9

What were the 4 main agreements under the Second United Front?

Answer 9

1) The CCP were to accept Jiang’s leadership and their military forces were to be placed under the command
of the NRA to coordinate efforts against Japan.
2) The GMD were to cease all operations against the CCP.
3) Financial support was to be given to communist forces from the central government.
4) The GMD were to end their political repressions of the CCP.

Question 10

What was the National Political Consultative Counsel (NPCC) and how successful was it?

Answer 10

Created by Jiang in 1938, it aimed to unite all forces and ideas to formulate national policy. The council
would have 200 members, with 120 members coming from non-GMD parties. In practice, the NPCC had
little power and Jiang retained his autocracy.

Question 11

What did Japan do after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident?

Answer 11

Attacked Beijing, extending their control in northern China.

Question 12

How did the war spread to central China?

Answer 12

Jiang launched an attack on Japanese forces in Shanghai.

Question 13

What happened in the fight for Shanghai?

Answer 13

August - November 1937 - CKS bombs the French concession when aiming for warships (in Japanese controlled Yangtze river) - 1000 civilians killed. Japan sends 200,000 soldiers, killed 500,000 Chinese. Fighting continues till Japan lands troops to Hangzhou (up river w/ pincer movements) - CKS doesn’t let soldiers leave - 250,000 Chinese civilian deaths compared to 70,000 Japanese
8th Nov - China surrenders Shanghai

Question 14

What 2 major cities did Japan take in 1938 and when?

Answer 14

After taking Shanghai, Japan advanced up the Yangzi river, taking the capital of Nanjing in January 1938 and
then the new capital, Wuhan, in October 1938.

Question 15

What events led to the Nanjing massacre?

Answer 15

Nationalist Government left as Japan was arriving, leaving 90,000 troops under an ‘opium smoking warlord’ - in 3 days most troops leave. Japan moves into Nanjing on 13th December - by which 50,000 people have attempted to flee + thousands die trying to move up/cross the Yangtze river.

Question 16

What was the rape of Nanjing?

Answer 16

Attacking Nanjing in December 1937, Japanese forces killed 100,000-300,000 Chinese.
Prisoners were
burned, machine gunned, buried alive, used as bayonet practice, hung up by their tongues or sprayed with
acid. A large number of women were raped and then killed.

Question 17

What was CKS’s ‘space for time strategy’?

Answer 17

1937 onwards - to go inland to prepare for Japanese attack (route from

Question 18

What happened in the battle over Taierzhuang, Xuzhou?

Answer 18

Center/hub of railways/roads - connecting place + strategic, desirable area.
March - April 1938 - CHINESE VICTORY in bloody battle. Led by General Li Zhongren - Guangxi. Lures Japanese into the city, killing 8,000 in the town, more outside. ‘First happiest occasion since the war of resistance started.’

Question 19

What does the Chinese success in Taierzhuang, Xuzhou show?

Answer 19

If China is well led and trained, they can be victorious. Demonstrates how at the heart of their loss is CKS’s autocratic leadership - doesn’t trust Li Zhongren - placing a female spy in his headquarters.
City falls in May 1938 - Li forced to retreat

Question 20

What happened in the breaking of the Yellow River’s dam in Henan?

Answer 20

June 1938 - Ordered by CKS in an attempt to ward off Japan coming close to Wuhan - creates floods 20 miles wide, affects 6 million people, 4 thousand villages drowned

Question 21

What were the consequences of Chiang Kai Shek’s breaking the Yellow River’s dam?

Answer 21

CKS uses this time to move to Chongqing (last major city inland) to make base - population goes from 300,000 to 1 million
Seen to be done without reason - causing extreme anger and resentment

Question 22

When does Wuhan fall to Japan?

Answer 22

From the 11th June to 27th October 1938

Question 23

Where did Jiang Jieshi move the Chinese capital to?

Answer 23

Chongqing, where the GMD government and Jiang remained for the rest of the war. Secluded location - good for hiding not for transport

Question 24

How did Japan apply pressure on Chongqing?

Answer 24

After establishing airbases in central China, Japan were able to use aircrafts to launch bombing attacks on
Chongqing - in May 1939 6 - 8,000 people die from a bombing raid.

Question 25

What issues did China have with it's army during the war?

Answer 25

Lack of: 1) food - prices rose by 1400% in 1940-41 2) infrastructure 3) numbers - most divisions have lost a third of people (1940-41), desertion common

Question 26

How does CKS attempt to improve the Chinese army?

Answer 26

Attempts conscription - fails - population not healthy enough for the army - in Sezchan (Sichuan province) only 1/3 of people healthy enough to recruit

Question 27

What main areas did the Japanese have control of by the end of 1938?

Answer 27

Most of northern China including Beijing, Shanghai, the lower Yangzi river basin and Guangzhou (including Nanjing 1938 January)

Question 28

Who was Peng Dehuai (2)?

Answer 28

1) A professional soldier who joined the CCP in the 1920s, becoming a senior military commander in the Eighth Route Army. 2) Peng became the Defence Minister of the PRC in 1949, before he was purged in 1959.

Question 29

Who was Zhu De (4)?

Answer 29

A professional soldier who defected from the GMD to the CCP in 1927. He worked closely with Mao in Jiangxi and during the Long March. During the war, he was the Commander-in-Chief of the CCP forces, and became Commander-in-Chief of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) after 1949.

Question 30

What was the Hundred Regiments Offensive?

Answer 30

20th Aug - 5th Dec 1940. An offensive against the Japanese in the Hebei and Shandong provinces in northern China by CCP forces led by Peng Dehuai and Zhu De. They destroyed approx. 600 miles of railways and briefly shutdown a strategic Jingxing coal mine. But it was a huge failure (the Japanese reasserted control over the area + railways) and was the last time that CCP forces engaged the Japanese in an all-out attack in the war.

Question 31

When did the Hundred Regiments Offensive take place?

Answer 31

August - December 1940.

Question 32

What were the CCP casualties compared to the Japanese casualties following the Hundred Regiments Offensive?

Answer 32

The CCP lost around 22,000 (in the New Fourth Army) and the Japanese only 3,000-4,000.

Question 33

How did Japan respond to the Hundred Regiments Offensive?

Answer 33

Japan launched the ‘Three All’ campaigns (kill all, burn all, loot all) against the CCP in their Shaanxi (Yan'an) base area, forcing them to give up large amounts of their territory - Yan'an population goes from 40,000 - 25,000 as CCP moves inland

Question 34

What was the Japanese strategy 1939-1940?

Answer 34

To consolidate their Chinese territories.

Question 35

What and when was Pearl Harbour?

Answer 35

After the USA imposed sanctions on Japan when they extended their military operations in 1940-1941, Japan decided that the only way to have an east Asian empire was to deal with the USA. Hoping to destroy the US fleet, Japan bombed Pearl Harbour, a large USA naval base in Hawaii and home of the US Pacific Fleet in December 1941.

Question 36

What were the consequences of Pearl Harbour (2)?

Answer 36

1) The USA entered WW2. 2) The USA regarded China as an important theatre of war against Japan, making an alliance alongside Britain with Jiang Jieshi’s GMD government.

Question 37

How did the USA aid China militarily against Japan (3)?

Answer 37

1) American military advisors helped train the NRA. 2) US airbases were set up in China, and the USA flew supplies of weapons and equipment to Chongqing. 3) The USA used their airbases to bomb Japan itself after 1944. [Also repealed the Chinese Exclusion Act in '43 to improve diplomatic relations (allows Chinese immigrant to the US)

Question 38

What was the Ichigo Offensive, and what was the US reaction to it?

Answer 38

Wanting to relieve USA bombings on Japan, Japan launched an offensive to capture the US airbases in southern China. This was successful in capturing many bases, and some important cities, such as Changsha. The USA were appalled at the NRA, and very frustrated by Jiang’s refusal to move forces blockading Yan’an in the North to the South (1944).

Question 39

What was US strategy in the Pacific 1944-1945?

Answer 39

To capture Islands close to Japan, in order to use as staging posts for an invasion of Japan.

Question 40

How did the USSR help China after their victory in Europe?

Answer 40

In August 1945, Soviet troops entered the Far East, in alliance with the GMD government, advancing into Manchuria.

Question 41

Why did the Japanese surrender 15 August 1945?

Answer 41

Because of the US dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima (6 August 1945) and Nagasaki (9 August 1945).

Question 42

What was the New Fourth Army (2)?

Answer 42

A CCP military force established in December 1937 from the remnants of CCP forces left behind in the south after the Long March. They were led by Ye Ting and were 10,000 strong at the time of establishment.

Question 43

What was the Eighth Route Army?

Answer 43

The larger of the two communist military forces that fought in the Sino-Japanese War.

Question 44

How successful was the Second United Front prior to 1941 (4)?

Answer 44

1) The CCP were too suspicious of Jiang and his military commanders to allow them to control their forces. 2) Jiang never abandoned the objective of irradicating the CCP. 3) Each side focused on defending their own areas, and attacks were separate and uncoordinated. 4) Both sides believed that there would be a power struggle after the end of the war.

Question 45

Why did Jiang Jieshi break the Second United Front?

Answer 45

Ye Ting refused to move the New Fourth Army north, as ordered by Jiang Jieshi. Jiang then ordered an attack (of 80,000 people) on the New Fourth Army in the South, lasting 6 days in January 1941.

Question 46

What were the consequences of the New Fourth Army Incident (2)?

Answer 46

1) Only 2,000 out of 9,000 of the New Fourth Army escaped and were forced to regroup in the North (7,000 died). 2) Jiang then formed a GMD perimeter around the CCP base in Yan’an.

Question 47

In December 1941 how many army divisions does Japan have in China ?

Answer 47

34/50 - when US attacks Japan - hence their China strategy had a negative impact on their outcome in WW2.

Question 48

Why did the USA get frustrated with Jiang Jieshi?

Answer 48

For refusing the American request to move the NRA from Yan’an (north) to the south, in order to fight against the Ichigo Offensive.

Question 49

Who was Patrick Hurley?

Answer 49

The US ambassador for China.

Question 50

How did the USA try to mend the Second United Front?

Answer 50

By sending Patrick Hurley to mediate between the GMD and the CCP.

Question 51

What did Jiang Jieshi refuse to accommodate?

Answer 51

The CCP demanded to be included in a coalition government with the GMD, that their combined military would be placed under the command of a joint military council, and that all communists being held as political prisoners were to be released. Jiang refused, instead insisting that the CCP forces should be placed under the command of the NRA.

Question 52

What were the impacts of the Sino-Japanese War on China (5)?

Answer 52

1) Cities (e.g. Shanghai and Nanjing) had been devastated by Japanese forces. 2) Lots of northern industrial equipment had been moved south under Jiang’s orders. 3) 3-4 million Chinese soldier deaths. 4) 10-20 million Chinese civilian deaths. 5) The destruction of dykes on the Yellow River by the retreating NRA caused a flood destroying 1.4 million acres of farmland in the Henan province, with over a million deaths, and another million left homeless and without food.

Question 53

What was the impact of the Second World War/Sino-Japanese War on China’s international standing (4)?

Answer 53

1) Greater international recognition through their war-time alliance. 2) President Roosevelt named China as their most important ally against Japan (1942). 3) The USA and Britain forfeited all territorial and extra-territorial rights on the Chinese mainland (1943). 4) Jiang was invited to the allied conference at Cairo with Roosevelt and Churchill, where it was agreed that China would gain back Manchuria and Taiwan upon the Japanese defeat (November 1943) - puts the country on the world stage. 5) Greater presence on the world stage helped by economic growth - from 15% of GDP in 1936 to 70% by 1942

Question 54

Why did tension between the GMD and the USA escalate further (2)?

Answer 54

1) US military commanders were very critical of the GMD government and Jiang’s military strategy. 2) Wanting the USSR to join the War in the Pacific, Roosevelt offered Stalin the restoration of Soviet rights in Manchuria if the USSR joined the war within 3 months of Victory in Europe at the Yalta Conference. Jiang was not invited (January 1945). Upon declaring war on Japan (?), the USSR took Manchuria (July 1945).

Question 55

What rights did the Soviets have in Manchuria (2)?

Answer 55

Control over some ports, including Port Arthur, and joint control with China over Manchurian railways.

Question 56

What were the two main terms (for China) in the Friendship Treaty with Russia in 1945?

Answer 56

1) The USSR recognised the GMD as the legitimate government of China. 2) The USSR would not intervene if Chinese forces moved to gain control of Tibet.

Question 57

Why were the NRA such a weak force (2)?

Answer 57

1) The NRA were conscripted, poorly trained, inadequately fed, and provided with minimal basic equipment and medical backup. 2) They were treated harshly by officers, who sometimes took their pay for themselves. This meant that the NRA had low morale and often lacked the will to fight the Japanese. Many conscripts were roped together to prevent desertion.

Question 58

What did the GMD gain from the Sino-Japanese War (2)?

Answer 58

1) Jiang Jieshi and the GMD made large diplomatic gains for being in the alliance against Japan. 2) They had gained large amounts of military equipment from the USA.

Question 59

Why was the Sino-Japanese war a propaganda defeat for Jiang Jieshi and the GMD (3)?

Answer 59

1) Reluctant to engage in offensive operations against the Japanese, coupled with his determination to confine the CCP to Yan’an, allowed the CCP to portray Jiang as lacking the will and courage to fight Japan. 2) The fact that the NRA were reliant on conscripts in order to fill their ranks. 3) The fact that the NRA failed to defend the civilian population.

Question 60

Why was Jiang Jieshi’s reputation as a leader damaged after the Sino-Japanese War (4)?

Answer 60

1) Jiang was highly suspicious of his generals. 2) Jiang valued loyalty over ability. 3) Jiang withheld equipment from commanders he distrusted. 4) Jiang issued contradictory orders, resulting in a lack of coordination amongst GMD forces.

Question 61

How did the Second United Front benefit the CCP?

Answer 61

Although GMD attacks did not end entirely, the Second United Front provided valuable respite from GMD military campaigns, following the great losses sustained on the Long March.

Question 62

What were the sizes of the CCP military in 1936 and in 1945?

Answer 62

1) 1936: Between 15,000-20,000 men. 2) 1945: Approximately 880,000 men.

Question 63

What was the size of CCP membership in 1937 and in 1945?

Answer 63

1) 1937: Around 40,000. 2) 1945: Around 1,200,000.

Question 64

How did the CCP expand territorially around the end of the Sino-Japanese War (2)?

Answer 64

In July 1945, as the war was ending, the CCP advanced eastwards from Yan’an, consolidating their hold over the Shaanxi province and moving into neighbouring Hunan. The CCP also re-established communist groups in and around Shanghai.

Question 65

How did the CCP fight the Japanese after the failure of the Hundred Regiments Offensive?

Answer 65

The CCP utilised guerrilla warfare, allowing for the small, relatively weak but motivated CCP force to fight against the large, better equipped Japanese forces. This allowed the CCP to tied down Japanese forces in northern China.

Question 66

What was Mao’s doctrine in regards to guerrilla warfare?

Answer 66

It involved keeping the CCP forces dispersed before concentrating them for surprise attacks on enemy positions, such as weak points in their defences or key points in supply lines (e.g. a railway junction). Mao developed this after the CCP were forced out of the cities and had to retain bases in rural areas.

Question 67

How did the CCP use guerrilla warfare in the Sino-Japanese War as a propaganda victory?

Answer 67

They claimed that they were more committed to the patriotic fight against the Japanese in comparison to the GMD - drew upon how they were misguided in the NFA incident (Jan '41) + the victories of the CCP by Gin Biao in '37 and the creation of a base NE of Yan'an by Deng Xiaoling. In reality, the CCP did much less fighting than they claimed, due to their heavy losses in the ‘Three Alls’ Campaigns.

Question 68

How much support did the CCP gain during the war?

Answer 68

By 1945, it had the support of 1.2 million + the PLA was 880,000 strong - largely due to social reforms

Question 69

When did Japan surrender?

Answer 69

15th August 1945 - after the US drops atomic bombs

Question 70

What was the significance of Japan's advance on Wuhan?

Answer 70

Fell even though there was 800,000 (or even 1 million) Chinese soldiers to 200,000 Japanese - ineffectively managed - all under CKS direct command (+ supported by Soviet volunteers) - 70% of young officers died

Question 71

Example of how the war lead to infrastructure changes in China

Answer 71

Transportation network was expanded - railroad network growing from 9,600km in 1912 - 25,000km by 1945