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Surrender of Japan
In the Potsdam Declaration, Japan accepted terms of surrender. This would set off a territory race between the Nationalist and Communist political Parties for northern China and Manchuria. Photo source en.wikipedia.org -
Post War Peace Talks
Chiang Kai-shek invited Mao, accompanied by American ambassador Patrick Hurley to Chongqing to discuss the possibility of reuniting the Nationalist and Communist Party. Initial peace talks were held in the hopes of rebuilding China and avoiding civil war. Photo source: en.wikipedia.org -
The Double Tenth Agreement
The Double Tenth Agreement was signed by the Nationalist Party and the Communist Party. An Agreement was announced towards uniting both parties into a democratic China. A pair of committees were to convene to address issues not resolved during the agreement. However, the agreement was not established as fighting between the Communist and Nationalist Party would occur before the committee could be held. Photo source: en.wikipedia.org -
Russian Withdrawal from China
The soviet Red Army lead by Marshal Rodion Malinovsky would delay the retreat of troops from Manchuria. Secret communication between Malinovsky and the Communist Party (CCP) would allow CCP forces to move in after Russian withdrawal, effectively allowing the CCP to claim previously held Soviet territory instead of the Kuomintang (KMT) in direct violation of the Friendship Agreement. Photo source: en.wikipedia.org -
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Phase One Fighting
To combat the stronger KMT, the CCP would use a defense strategy, where the CCP would avoid direct confrontation with the KMT army and would concede territory to maintain the CCP fighting force. During this phase much of the countryside would come under the CCP which would allow the CCP to gain strength while applying guerrilla warfare tactics. By the end of 1947, the war flipped favor from the KMT to the CCP as 1.12 million KMT troops were decimated while the CCP grew by 2 million troops. -
Temporary Armistice
An armistice occurred between the Nationalists and Communists as a result of American influence from General George C. Marshall. A conference was held on the 31 of January, where a goal was established to re-organize the armies and have joint rule in China by both Nationalist and Communist Parties. -
Civil War Breaks Out
All peace negotiations were in complete breakdown as full-scale war commences between the nationalist (KMT) and Communist (CCP) parties. China enters Civil War. -
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Phase Two Fighting
The CCP would capture the cities of Shenyang and Changchun in the Lioashen Campaign. The CCP would switch from guerrilla tactics to conventional fighting in this phase. The KMT would suffer staggering losses during this time and moral of the KMT would enter a rapid decline with the surrender of KMT's best army during the six month siege of Changchun. -
Communist Land Reform
Land reforms were made by Communist party leader Mao. These reforms would gain Mao and the Communist party more political power, as vast numbers of starving, landless peasants would join the CCP, as the CCP would promise to grant land after the war was won. The land reforms and subsequent enlistment of the peasants would enable the CCP to gain enough manpower to fight the KMT.
Photo source: en.wikipedia.org -
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Phase Three Fighting
The CCP would continue to press their campaign with the fall of Lyoyang in April 1948, the capture of Jinan and Shandong provinces on September 24, 1948. the Huaihai campaign in late 1948 to early 1949 led to CCP capture of east-central China. The Pingjin Campaign would result in the conquest of northern China for the CPC. Heavy losses were suffered on both sides during these campaigns. The CCP would press the KMT until only tibet was left. -
Liaoshen Campaign
The CCP launched the Liaoning–Shenyang campaign against the KMT. The campaign started on September and ended November 1948. The Campaign resulted in a victory for CCP with the capture of Jinzhou, changchun, and Shenyang. The end of the campaign saw the CCP capturing Manchuria Photo source: en.wikipedia.org -
The Huaihai Campaign
The CCP started the Huaihai campaign on 6 November 1948 and ended on 10 January 1949. CCP campaign was to surround the KMT army stationed in Shandong. The results of the campaign allowed the CCP to capture the Shandong province. This allowed the CCP to gain access to railroads and the ability to head south towards the Yangtze river. Photo source: en.wikipedia.org -
The Pingjin Campaign
The campaign began on 29 November 1948 and ended on 31 January 1949. The result of the campaign led to the CCP taking control of east-central China and the capture of the city of Beiping. Photo source: en.wikipedia.org -
Yangtze River Crossing Campaign
The campaign was launched by the CCP to cross the Yangtze river and capture the KMT capital of Nanjing. The offensive was launched on April 20 1949 and was continued until June 2, 1949 with the capture of Nanjing by the CCP. Photo source: en.wikipedia.org -
Founding of the People's Republic of China
Mao proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China. It's capital name was changed from Beiping to Beijing. Photo source: en.wikipedia.org -
Retreat to Taiwan
Chaing Kai-shek and the remaining 2 million nationalist soldiers would retreat to Taiwan and establish a new government there after the People's Republic of China army entered the southern Sichuan Province Photo source: en.wikipedia.org
