The United Front

1. The United Front 1937-1945

2. Objectives Students will: Understand the role of the GMD and the CCP during the Japanese invasion of China Evaluate the impact of WWII on the Chinese Civil War

3. Marco Polo Bridge Incident In 1937, Japanese and Nationalist Chinese forces clash at the Marco Polo Bridge in Beijing Thousands of Chinese troops die Japan uses the incident as justification for taking over Northern China Unlike previous responses to Japanese aggression, however, Chiang announces a policy of resistance to the Japanese. The Communists offer their support to the resistance effort

4. Japanese Advances Chiang decides to attack Japanese forces in Shanghai In the end, however, he is forced to retreat inland Later, the Japanese attack Nanjing and carry out brutal atrocities in that city This became known as the Rape of Nanjing

5. Japanese Expansion in Japan

6. Chiang Moves Capital to Chonqqing

7. Growth of the Communist Party The CCP grew significantly in terms of numbers during this period It expanded its influence rapidly in the rural areas Mao modified his extermination policies against the landlord class in favor of a more inclusive CCP Stops confiscating property; instead, promotes a decrease in land rents At the same time, it was able to frame Chinese communism as a new form of Chinese nationalism

8. Did the Japanese invasion strengthen the CCP? The Japanese invaders made their unintended contribution to the revolution by removing the Nationalist [GMD] army and bureaucracy from much of China, thereby permitting the Communists to organize the peasantry for both nationalist and social revolutionary ends. Historian Maurice Meisner

9. Yan’an Spirit Hard work and plain living Harsh conditions of the war gave the rise for self sufficiency Young idealist converts to Communism congregated in Yan’an The Yan’an Spirit becomes part of the myth of the CCP

10. Rectification Campaign Mao used the rectification campaign to consolidate his authority within the CCP His opponents within the party, such as Wang Ming and Bo Gu, were publically forced to “confess” their errors through self-criticism Even Mao loyalists such as Zhou Enlai were forced to publically express this past shortcomings Thousands were killed as a result of these purges Mao establishes a cult of personality around himself His power increases and in 1945, he is named Chairman of the CCP

11. Guerilla Warfare Zhu De and Lin Biao lead the CCP’s guerilla warfare attacks against the Japanese Large scale CCP attacks, with a few exceptions such as the Hundred Regiment offensive, were the exception Generally, organized cooperation with the GMD is minimal In truth, however, most of the fighting against the Japanese was done by Chiang Kai Shek’s forces

12. Role of USSR During the late 1930s, the USSR and Japan engage in clashes along the USSR/Manchurian border The USSR provides financial military assistance to the GMD as a means of stopping Japanese aggression in the Far East

13. US Involvement in China During WWII, the US sends military support to help China defend itself against Japan US General Joseph Stilwell was given charge of the Chinese Army However, disagreements with Chiang led to his replacement with General Wedermeyer In the US press, Stilwell publically denounced the GMD incompetency and corruption

14. Stilwell with Chiang Kai Shek and Madame Chiang

15. Claire Chennault Chennault was an American airman who helped train the Chinese air force during WWII He also organized the Flying Tigers, a group of US airmen who volunteered to serve in China

16. Dixie Mission In 1944, a group of American army officials decide to meet Mao in Yan’an. They establish a mission there to try to foster relations between the US and the CCP They are impressed with the CCP’s energy and aggression compared to the GMD

17. Dixie Mission