Chinese Civil War

Kuomintang Army

The military wing of the Kuomintang political party, which fought against the Communist Party of China during the Chinese Civil War. Established as a revolutionary force, it aimed to unify China under a nationalist government.

Second Sino-Japanese War

The conflict fought between China and Japan from 1937 to 1945, which merged into the broader context of World War II. It was crucial in weakening the China's Kuomintang and Communist forces, impacting the outcome of the subsequent Chinese Civil War.

Rural poverty

• The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) strategically targeted rural peasants, who made up over 80% of China’s population.

Chinese Warlord era

A period of political fragmentation and military conflict in China from the 1910s to the late 1920s, characterized by the rule of various warlords following the fall of the Qing Dynasty.

United Front

An alliance formed between the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) and the Chinese Communist Party in the 1920s to combat warlordism and Japanese aggression.

Northern Expedition

A military campaign launched by the Nationalist Party in 1926 to unify China and eliminate warlord rule.

Mao Zedong

The founding father of the People's Republic of China and a key figure in the Chinese Communist Party. He developed the philosophy of Maoism and led the communist victory in the Chinese Civil War.

Peasants as agents of revolution

The belief that the rural peasantry could lead the revolutionary movement against feudalism and imperialism, central to Maoist ideology.

White Terror campaigns

Violent suppressions of communists and leftist factions by the Nationalist government in the late 1920s.

Chiang Kai-shek OR Jiang Jieshi

The leader of the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) and a key figure in the opposition to the Chinese Communist Party during the Chinese Civil War. He served as the head of the Nationalist government from 1928 until 1949 and advocated for a unified China.

Encirclement campaigns

Military strategies employed by the Nationalists to surround and eliminate communist strongholds during the Chinese Civil War, aimed at suppressing the Communist Party's influence.

The Long March

A strategic retreat by the Red Army of the Chinese Communist Party, lasting from 1934 to 1935, which helped to consolidate communist power and ideology.

Yanan Province

Yanan Province was a key base for the Chinese Communist Party during the Chinese Civil War, serving as the center of revolutionary activities and leadership, particularly during the late 1930s and early 1940s.

Zhang Xeuliang

A prominent warlord in northeastern China who initially allied with the Nationalists but later supported the Communists against Japanese invasion. He played a key role in the Xi'an Incident, which led to a united front against Japan.

Joseph Stilwell

A general in the United States Army who served as the chief of staff to Chiang Kai-shek during the Second Sino-Japanese War, known for his efforts to support Chinese forces against Japan.

Soviet retreat from Manchuria

The withdrawal of Soviet forces from Manchuria in 1946, which allowed the Chinese Nationalists and Communists to vie for control over the region.

Mobile defense strategy

A military tactic used to defeat stronger opponents by avoiding direct confrontation, focusing instead on mobility and flexibility to engage the enemy where they are weakest.

Race to control Manchuria

A struggle between the Chinese Nationalists and Communists for dominance over Manchuria after the withdrawal of Soviet forces.

Huai-Hai Campaign

A major military campaign from November 1948 to January 1949, where the People's Liberation Army defeated Nationalist forces in central China, significantly shifting the balance of power in the Civil War.

Civilian support for CCP

The crucial backing from the general population that helped the Chinese Communist Party gain strength and legitimacy during the Chinese Civil War, influencing public sentiment and recruitment.

Principles of the Red Army

The guiding ideologies and operational strategies of the Chinese Red Army, focusing on guerrilla warfare and peasant support to sustain revolutionary efforts during the civil conflict.

Corruption of GMD

The weakening of the Nationalist government due to bribery, mismanagement, and loss of public trust, which contributed to their defeat in the Chinese Civil War.