The History of~The Chinese Civil War (Part 2: Round 2)

The Chinese Civil War came at one of the most pivotal and the most inconvenient times in world history. Not only was it to be put on hold for a bigger, more deadlier conflict in World War 2, but it also helped ramp up the impending Cold War.

This is the final part of this 2-part wiki page series on the Chinese Civil War. In this part, we will talk about the continuing of the Chinese Civil War after World War 2, and how the Communists won and took over China.

## Prelude

For the next 8 years, the Chinese Civil War was on "pause" so to say as both the Nationalists and the Communists had a common enemy in the Japanese Empire who invaded and took several Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and (infamously) Nanking. Both the Nationalists and the Communists tried to keep the Japanese at bay, and soon neither side gained the advantage. It wouldn't be until 1945 when the United States dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Soviet Union invading Manchuria where Japan was forced to surrender. Though the Chinese Civil war would resume the day after the Japanese surrendered, but active fighting wouldn't resume until July of 1946.

## Round 2

On July 20, 1946, Chiang Kai-Shek launched an offensive on areas in Northern China that are held by the Communists, and he had more men (1.6 Million strong) than Mao's Commies at the time.

But it wouldn't be long until Chaing's offensive would fail as the communists would use gorilla warfare to wear down the Nationalists.

This is despite aid from the west, namely the United States, who helped China (somewhat) during the second Sino-Japanese War and World War 2, even going as far as using American weapons and equipment (as they had during World War 2).

### Communist Breakthrough

Despite taking the Chinese city of Yan'an in 1947, the KMT would begin to lose their grip on the war as the Communists would eventually gain the upper hand and take more Chinese Cities, in the Summer of 1947 the Commies would cross the Yellow River and into Dabie Mountain region, and even counter attack in other regions in Northern China as well as Eastern China. After a failed KMT offensive to take Harbin from the Communists (which was backed up by American commanders) the KMT would lose even more ground. By 1948, the KMT's best unit (the 1st army) surrendered after a 6-month long siege of Changchun.

The KMT weren't just losing battles, or resources, they were also losing morale and even the support of the Chinese people. Because of Chaing Kai-Shek's handling of the second phase of the war as well as his brutal methods in World War 2 against Japan, more and more Chinese people began to support the Communist cause.

By 1949, the war looked hopeless for the KMT as the CCP continue to capture city after city. Eventually, on November 1, Mao Tse-Tung would announce the establishment of the "People's Republic of China" which was the beginning of the end of the Chinese Civil War, forcing Chaing Kai-Shek and his Nationalists to flee to Taiwan, but it wouldn't be until 1950 when the Chinese Civil War would officially end.

The new Chinese communist government under Mao would be as sinister and evil as the Soviet Union under Stalin, as Mao's China would see millions of it's own people die in not just the Great Leap Forward, but also the Cultural Revolution. It wouldn't be until Mao's death in 1975 where a lot of his policies would be done away with, thus allowing China to be more open and (somewhat) democratic.

That'll do it for this 2-part wiki page series. Don't forget to check out my Games and Movies wikis too. Until next time, this is JohnnyOTGS signing out.