The war against Japan in 1937 played a part in the downfall of the GMD, therefore doesn’t agree with the statement. In 1938 Japan controlled most of the northern Chinese railways; the GMD weren’t seen as doing anything, whereas the CCP were trying to fight the Japanese invasion. Therefore it was seen that the CCP had launched a more effective resistance against the Japanese as oppose to the GMD. The GMD were regarded as a nationalist force which had refused to accept the humiliation of the Japanese invasion so instead just sat back blissfully in watched.
The CCP had many advantages that helped win the fight against the nationalist, therefore doesn’t agree with the statement, as the CCP’s Land Reform Policy pay attention to the needs of the local communities. In communist areas the CCP had created effective political structures and administrations which was a vast difference to the GMD corruption. In addition the role of Mao as there inspirational political leader won the loyalty of a vast percentage of the population. Furthermore there are military factors to take into consideration such as The Long March was significant as the many years of conflict at Yanan with the Japanese gave the CCP prospect to develop a winning military strategy. Moreover the CCP had an overall better strategy and higher morale than the GMD. The CCP were aware of the GMD’s military superiority and so avoided set battles that they wouldn’t win, so as to lose as little of men as possible.
There was a lot of inefficiency and corruption amongst the GMD officials. Also the many different GMD fractions lead to rivalries for instance the Guomindang Revolutionary Alliance and the Democratic League. To top things off desertion of troops and generals was not uncommon. The corruption of the GMD was noted in 1948 General Joseph Stilwell (American wartime liaison officer) reported that what he saw of the GMD was “corruption, neglect, chaos, economy, taxes…hoarding, black market”. By 1935 GMD was politically weak and had failed to prove themselves despite having ten years of government. They were as not being in touch with the main needs of China and the peasants (made up most of the population) were willing to rebel against a government that they didn’t trust.
The Long March was where the communist escaped from the Nationalist, from their base in Yanan and started marching in a large retreat. The march started with 100000 people and ended with just 4000-8000 people, and the marched was about 6000 miles, which included going up mountains, their was no real destination, so they just kept moving. Form this Mao gained the position of sole leader of the revolution during the Long March, which got lots of coverage and overall helped him win the civil war, therefore doesn’t agree with the statement.
Chiang Kaishek was the leader of the Nationalists and the KMT and in the northern expedition gave unity to southern China and gave the nationalists control over the Lower Yangzi. Also he launched a massacre of the CCP, however a failure of this was that Mao Zedong escaped, therefore he didn’t eliminate the cancer of communism, furthermore Chiang Kaishek was so occupied with fighting the communists that when Japan invaded he didn’t launch an effective attack on them therefore made it easier for the communists to win the civil war and doesn’t agree with the statement.
To conclude the Japanese surrender meant that the CCP and the KMT started the civil war again. The KMT appeared to have the advantage with more military power and support from other countries, with gave weapons and money; however the CCP won not only down to the economic incompetence of the GMD, but also Mao influence, as under him people were more motivated to fight for the CCP. Also the CCP won because their guerrilla warfare was successful and had well planned and good fighting tactics.
