Detailed notes covering the Chinese Civil War, the Huai-Hai Campaign and the Establishment of the CCP party and Mao's involvement within it, to be used as a revision source for the Edexcel (9-1) GCSE History Mao's China Course.
Mao’s China GCSE
Revision
Chinese Civil War, 1945-49
- Between the nationalist Guomindang - GMD (nationalist – fights for the
independence of their nation) and the Chinese Communist Party – CCP
(communist – wants to establish a society in which everyone is equal and has
the same opportunities)
- CCP wins in 1949 by their use of tactics, strength of their army, popular
support and foreign help.
Events of the Civil War
- From February to April 1946, the US led peace negotiations between the CCP
and the GMD. In February they agreed to a ceasefire. however, the peace
was unstable, and fighting began in April and a full-scale war in July due to:
o The very different beliefs of the two sides.
o The mistrust between them due to years of conflict.
o The competition to become leader of China between Mao (CCP) and
Chiang (GMD)
The CCP victory and the conquering of Manchuria
- Mao’s role in the PLA helped them win the civil war by:
, o He suggested and supported a highly successful two-part strategy:
First the PLA gained control of the countryside, cutting off the
GMD in the cities.
Secondly, the PLA stormed the cities.
o Ordering the PLA to retreat when the GMD advanced north – the CCP
lost control of their cities but it kept the army alive.
o He consolidated CCP control of the northern countryside by speeding
up the process of land reform – leading to more northern peasants
joining the PLA.
o After the northern cities had lost faith in the GMD role due to the
inflation, unemployment, corruption and lack of reform by mid-1947,
Mao ordered the PLA’s first major attacks which were in extremely
useful in June 1947.
Around 40,000 PLA troops attacked across the Sungari River.
PLA also pushed further south as Liu Bocheng – one of the PLA’s
best generals – attacked across the Yellow River. This was also
backed by Mao.
Their counter attacks led to a change in the balance of power.
The GMD lost control of much of Manchuria and the PLA secured
its control of north-east China. The PLA changed from a guerrilla
army in 1946 to a functioning regular army from mis-1947.
- The significance of the loss of Manchuria for the GMD and the success for the
CCP
o The GMD had large numbers of troops defending their region and when
the PLA surrounded their cities they could not retreat. By 1948, the
GMD had lost around one-third of its troops.
o By October 1948, 1.6 million peasants had joined the PLA.
o The PLA captured the GMD’s weapons.
o The loss of Manchuria was a major PLA victory and a big psychological
blow for the GMD.
The Huai-Hai Campaign – 6th November 1948 – 10th January 1949
- The largest battle and the turning point in the Civil War.
- Chiang’s army consisted of 800,000 troops whereas Mao had an army
consisting of 600,000 soldiers, 600,000 guerrilla fighters and a further 1
million peasants that provided support. The PLA also had spies which
infiltrated the GMD and supplied Mao with Chiang’s plans.
o Morale was so low in the GMD that many thousands of soldiers
switched sides and joined the PLA.
- The significance of the Huai-Hai Campaign
o The GMD lost 500,000 troops: the majority were captured but 200,000
were killed or injured.
o It destroyed the GMD’s last line of defence, and they could do little to
stop the PLA’s advance over the Yangtze River into the south of China.
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