Maos Victory In Chinese Civil Wars

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Mao Zedong's accession to power on October 1, 1949, was a moment of victory for the once insignificant Chinese Communist Party (CCP) which overcame the Nationalists, who had attained power after the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. This IA will examine the extent to which Mao’s successful military strategies were significant in CCP victory in Chinese Civil Wars. Other factors important in his rise to power were the Guomindang's internal weaknesses, and the loyalty of the peasants that the CCP gained which increased their party membership and made them a popular alternative to the GMD. Research was carried out primarily by using secondary sources, but Jung Chang's personal account of Mao's China was also taken into significant consideration.

Section B: Summary of Evidence

Mao was born into a Hunanese middleclass family on December 26th, 1893. [1] In 1911, he joined the revolutionary army for "half a year." [2] Then, after finishing his studies, he went to Beijing, where, as an assistant librarian, he was inspired by Li Dazhao, his supervisor, who believed that the peasantry must be involved to instigate a successful revolution. [3] Mao joined the Communist party in 1921. [4] The Guomindang, China's leading party after the Qing Dynasty's collapse, led by Sun Yat-sen, and the CCP cooperated amiably. After Sun Yat-sen's death, Chiang Kai-shek, his successor, launched the Northern Expedition [5] in 1926 in alliance with the CCP. [6] This period of cooperation ended when Chiang Kai-shek, already suspicious of the CCP's ambitions, started purging communists in different cities to remove the threat of a possible coup. [7] 

After the Shanghai Massacre in April 1927, and failed revolts [8] , many Communists fled to the countryside for safety. [9] In the mountainous area between Jiangxi and Fujian provinces', Mao and others established the Jiangxi Soviet and the Red Army. [10] Chiang, determined to weed out any threats, launched the Bandit Extermination Campaign in 1930, which failed four times in defeating the Jiangxi Soviet. [11] Finally, with German WWI commander, General Seeckt's new strategies [12] , and the Jiangxi Soviet's new resolve to use block house tactics, the Soviet was defeated. [13] By 1934, as a last resort, the Communists launched a major attack and broke out of the GMD ring of fire. [14] 

Thus, the Communists went on the Long March, during which they encountered thousands of peasants, and "in many cases…vastly impressed them." [15] The March improved the CCP's popularity, and spread their ideals of overthrowing colonialism and defeating the Japanese. The March "announced to some 200 million people…that the road of the Red Army is their only road to liberation." [16] After travelling for "368 days, 12,500 km, across 11 provinces, crossing 18 mountain ranges and 24 major rivers," the Communist Party established base in Yenan. [17] The Japanese, with the slogan 'Burn all, kill all, loot all,' invaded China in the summer of 1937. [18] The CCP tried to form a United Front with the GMD, but Chiang could not overcome his aversion of the Communists. [19] As Japanese troops drew closer, Chiang retreated to safety. [20] 

The CCP, closer to the front, used guerrilla warfare techniques to fight the Japanese. Yenan became a safe haven for thousands of refugees. [21] The Japanese finally evacuated in 1945 when the USA dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, [22] and the Russian army, in collaboration with the CCP, took control of Manchuria. [23] The angered GMD decided to attack, and as Russian forces withdrew, the Communists faced defeat at an alarming rate; however, the fateful Halt Order lost the GMD their chance for total victory. In June 1946, General Marshall of the US Army, in an effort to improve relations between the two parties, told Chiang to stop advancing. Chiang obeyed. [24] The Nationalists lost their momentum and the CCP had a chance to recover. [25] After that, key military Communist victories, making proficient use of guerrilla warfare, lost the Nationalists their hold over China, and, as 1949 drew to a close, Chiang and his followers fled to Taiwan. [26] Mao Zedong declared the creation of the People's Republic of China at the Gate of Heavenly Peace on 1st October, 1949. [27] 

Word Count: 546

Section C: Evaluation of Sources

Chang, Jung and Halliday, Jon, Mao – The Unknown Story (New York: Knopf, 2005)

This book, written by Jung Chang and her husband, Jon Halliday, a historian of Russia, is aimed at dismantling Mao's reputation as a great leader, especially among historians. Chang, born in the Sichuan province in 1952, led a luxurious life as her parents were important CCP members. She joined the Army at the age of 14 and her disenchantment with Mao stemmed from the fact that her parents had been prosecuted for speaking against him. The text's value is that it provides historiography concerning the Third Civil War, such as examples of Russia's assistance to the CCP, and how Mao chose to starve cities to ensure surrender. However, it does not provide much evidence of Mao's other tactics, such as guerrilla warfare, maintaining that it was luck, foreign aid and brutal tactics that won Mao the war.

Short, Philip, Mao: A Life (New York: Owl Books, 1999)

Short had been a BBC correspondent for several years, and published his book, Mao: A Life to provide a complete account of Mao's life, which accepts the fact that Mao caused the death of million. However, Short's purpose was to emphasize the humanness of Mao's character, and defend his tyranny as it was necessary for freeing China of its age-old traditions and making it progressive and industrial. Its value is that provides specifics on Mao's use of guerrilla warfare, such as his "tactics of wear and tear," which explain how Mao was able to win against considerable odds. [28] Short also draws on Chiang's mistakes to explain Mao's victory, such as the maltreatment of soldiers, which forced thousands to flee or die. A limitation is that Short portrays Mao as one who could do no wrong, and led the CCP to greatness on his own, with no external help. For instance, he does not mention the Halt Order.

Word Count: 319

Section D: Analysis

Despite Mao's repute for successful military tactics and strategies, it is not true to say that they were the sole reason for the victory of the CCP. Other significant factors which led to his victory included the Guomindang's ineptitude and the ties the Communists developed with peasants, which made them a popular alternative when the GMD proved inadequate. However, Mao's military capabilities were vital for him to come to power, because they helped the CCP survive and overcome its adversaries. The Guomindang's unsatisfactory leadership earned them a bad reputation, lost Chiang his hold on China, and made the CCP comparatively more popular. The GMD's decision to not fight the Japanese, even with the aid of American troops and guidance, made them disloyal to the Chinese. [29] The GMD troops 'became soft' and leadership proved 'inept, untrained and petty...' [30] The morale of conscripted soldiers was deplorable. [31] In cities, suppressive conditions and inflation led to increased resentment against the GMD. [32] Still, the GMD had well-trained soldiers and the financial support of the USA. [33] Despite this, the GMD made several strategic errors. By agreeing to pass the Halt Order when the Nationalists were gaining ground in Manchuria, Chiang lost his advance over the CCP. [34] Also, Mao's military victories weakened the GMD army, which was already 'spread too thin' and had ineffective communication lines. [35] Chiang stated that sending his best troops to the north-east without securing victory in provinces near him "had been a major strategic error." [36] Employing outsiders to govern Manchuria lost Chiang the loyalty of the previously supportive elite class. [37] In these ways, although the GMD had a lot of potential, inept leadership and untimely military tactics lost the GMD their rule over China.

The popularity Mao gained among peasants played an important role in spreading his ideology, making the CCP a shelter for war-weary peasants and increasing their popularity. Mao established better military decorum to improve relations between the army and the peasants. [38] Conscripting peasants tremendously increased the party's membership. [39] Mao saw the Long March as "a propaganda force...to proclaim to the world that the Red Army is an army of heroes." [40] The decision to fight the Japanese won the support of peasants. Families were thrown into pits by the "Japanese Devils" and bombardments caused "huge civilian casualties." [41] The Yenan base became a sanctuary for thousands of refugees. [42] Mao also carried out land reforms, in which the "local tyrants" were executed, which showed his solidarity with the poorer classes. [43] There were, however, times when Mao showed a severe lack of empathy for civilians. [44] Thus, Mao acquired the loyalty of a significant proportion of the population – even though evidence shows he didn't necessarily empathize with them himself – which made the CCP extremely popular and the ideal party to support. Mao's military tactics were imperative in achieving power, as they helped the CCP survive, assisted Mao in consolidating his power within the party, and ensured victory over the army's adversaries. Mao's most influential tactics involved guerrilla warfare. During the Bandit Extermination Campaign, Mao made guerrilla warfare the Red Army's main policy, which proved successful during assaults. [45] During the Japanese invasion from 1937 to ‟, Peng Dehuai originally used blockhouses to battle the Japanese, who were militarily superior to the CCP. [46] 

Later, Mao succeeded using his strategy to "pull back your fist before striking." [47] Mao carefully used guerrilla warfare in the final stage of GMD-CCP rivalry during Civil War from 1945 to ‟Manipulating the regiments" desire to capture Mao, the latter would stay just out of reach to tire the soldiers following him, "deliberately [telegraphing] his moves", and then successfully attacked the weakest enemy brigade. [48] With these strategies, about fifty of 218 brigades were defeated by February 1947. Using guerrilla warfare tactics brought the Red Army victory against Chiang's army, while doing otherwise resulted in huge losses, a fact which increased Mao's credibility as a leader. [49] During the Futien incident in 1930, Mao "conducted a two-month campaign," accusing a rival faction in the Jiangxi Soviet of being against the correct ideology. [50] Mao held rallies to motivate troops to follow his ideology. [51] Mao also used spies, a tactic he used especially in the last Civil War." [52] Despite efficient tactics, Mao would have probably lost without the foreign aid he received, intentionally or not. The Halt Order stopped Nationalist armies when they were on the verge of total victory over China, which gave the Communists enough time to recover. [53] In this time, the CCP was able to establish ties with Russia again, and receive weapons through railway lines. [54] Also, the Japanese armies were forced to retreat in 1945 because the US had dropped the atomic bomb in August, but this seemed another victory for Mao. [55] So, Mao's military tactics and strategies helped him, helped the CCP survive despite the GMD‟s constant assaults, and ultimately aided Mao in defeating the Japanese and the GMD, although not without some decisive external help.

Word Count: 821

Section E: Conclusion

Mao evidently had significant factors other than his military skills which helped CCP''s victory in the Chinese Civil War. The Guomindang's inefficient control over the nation and their military mistakes proved advantageous in helping Mao defeat them, despite their large forces and US funding. The loyalty Mao gained among the peasants, especially due to his decision to fight the Japanese, made the Red Army heroes and gained the CCP popularity that made them a better alternative when GMD rule proved wanting. [56] Still, Mao is understandably famous for his successful military strategies in face of hurdles that were seemingly too high to overcome. His military planning helped him gain respect among his peers, and gained him loyalty among his troops. His use of spies and guerrilla warfare helped him defeat what seemed like an insurmountable adversary, Chiang; however, Mao had some fortunate assistance, without which he may not have defeated the GMD. Perhaps this is why he is not counted among great military heroes such as Napoleon, but what he would do in the years to come would forever mark him as one of the turning points of history.

Word Count: 188

Section F: Bibliography

Breslin, Shaun, Mao (London: Addison Wesley Longman Limited, 1998)

Chang, Jung and Halliday, Jon, Mao – The Unknown Story (New York: Knopf, 2005)

Lynch, Michael, China: From Empire to People’s Republic 1900-1949 (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1996)

Short, Philip, Mao: A Life (New York: Owl Books, 1999)

Spence, Jonathan, The Search for Modern China (New York: W. W. Norton and Company, Inc., 1999)

Todd, Alan, Modern World (London: Oxford University Press, 2001)

Waldron, Arthur, "China Without Tears." In What If? Eminent Military Historians Imagine What Might Have Been Ed. Robert Cowley, Stephen Ambrose. (Berkeley, USA: Berkeley Publishing Group, 2000)

Ward, Harriet, China in the 20th Century (Oxford: Heinemann Educational, 1990)

Williams, Sue, dir and prod. China: A Century of Revolution. Ambrica Productions, 1989.