the civil war 1945 - 49

• GMD Strengths:

  • Controlled lots of China's cities, which resulted in control over factories
  • Had support from other countries, such as the USA
  • It controlled China's densely populated areas, around 75% of the population
  • Its army had 2.5 million soldiers, twice as many as the PLA
• GMD Weaknesses:

  • Bad working conditions in factories meant it lost support from the workers
  • Government corruption made the party unpopular
  • Refusing land reforms meant they lost support from the peasants
  • Poor economic policies led to unemployment and inflation
  • Failure to address women's rights lost the support from women
• CCP Strengths:

  • The CCP supported land reforms, gaining support from the peasants
  • They controlled the countryside in Northern China, allowing them to influence a whole reigion
  • The PLA were experienced guerilla fighters
• CCP Weaknesses:

  • Had a weaker army, as they had less soldiers, and weren't as well equipped
  • It held control of very few cities
• Nationalist: someone who believes their country should be independent and run to benefit its people.
• In November 1948, the GMD lost control of Manchuria to the PLA.
• Siginificance of the loss of Manchuria:

  • Manchuria was rich in modern industry
  • The CCP's support of land reform made them popular in Manchuria (by October 1948, 1.6 million peasants had joined the PLA)
  • The GMD lost a third of its troops
• • The Huai-Hai Campaign was the last major battle of the Civil War.
  • The GMD had 800,000 troops, 200,000 more than the PLA, but the PLA also had 600,000 guerilla fighters and 1 million peasants supporting it.
  • The campaign lasted from 6 November 1948 to 10 January 1949.
  • The PLA won.
• Impacts of the Huai-Hai Campaign:

  • Morale among GMD troops was low - thousands deserted to join the PLA
  • By January 1949, the GMD had lost 500,000 troops, which meant it had no chance at stopping the PLA's advance into southern China
  • Chaing resigned after the PLA won the Huai-Hai Campaign
• Reasons for CCP support:

  • Peasant support
  • Leadership
  • Economic factors
  • Strategy
• Reasons for CCP support: Peasant support

  • Peasants wanted land, the CCP gave land while the GMD blocked land reform
  • Peasants fed the PLA, helped transport supplies for it and fought alongside it
  • Mao speeded up land reform and made sure the PLA treated peasants well
• Reasons for CCP success: Leadership

  • Mao ordered PLA troops to retreat, meaning the PLA kept its military strength despite defeats
  • Chiang did not stop government corruption and opposed land reforms, reducing support for the GMD
• Reasons for CCP success: Economic factors

  • Unemployment and inflation due to GMD policies
  • This caused strikes in GMD-controlled cities, and the CCP helped organise them
• Reasons for CCP success: Strategy

  • Mao worked well with his generals, allowing for the PLA to act quick
  • Chiang however disagreed with some of his generals, which caused military confusion
  • Guerilla tactics helped preserve PLA forces