THE CHINESE CIVIL WAR EXPLAINED - CHINESE CIVIL WAR DOCUMENTARY PART 1 - TEN YEAR CIVIL WAR

Summary

In 1921, amidst warlord chaos in China, the Communist Party of China (CPC) was founded on a boat in Jiaxing, marking a pivotal moment in history. Backed by the Soviet Union's Comintern, the CPC grew, recruiting workers and forming alliances. Chiang Kai-shek, educated in Moscow, distrusted the left and the CPC, leading to the Canton Coup and the Shanghai Massacre, which shattered the United Front. Despite setbacks, the CPC, led by figures like Zhou Enlai and Mao Zedong, persisted, forming the Red Army and adopting guerrilla warfare. Chiang's focus on the northern expedition and eventual severance of Soviet ties marked the end of the warlord era but the beginning of the Chinese Civil War.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The year 1921 marked a significant turning point in Chinese history with the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on a boat at the South Lake of Jiaxing.
• 🌐 The CPC's growth was supported by the Soviet Union's Communist International (Comintern), which also facilitated an alliance with Sun Yat-sen's Kuomintang (KMT), leading to the formation of the first United Front.
• 🎓 Chiang Kai-shek, a key figure in the KMT, was sent to Moscow for military and political studies, which later positioned him as the head of the Whampoa Military Academy, a crucial institution for the KMT's military strength.
• 🔄 The political landscape of China was complex, with regional warlords holding power and the Beiyang government nominally in control, while Sun Yat-sen's KMT and the CPC vied for influence.
• 🛑 The Canton Coup in 1926, led by Chiang Kai-shek, marked a significant rift between the KMT and the CPC, with the expulsion of communist officers and the solidification of the right-wing faction within the KMT.
• 🗡️ The Northern Expedition, launched by Chiang Kai-shek in 1926, aimed to defeat regional warlords and the Beiyang government, leading to the reunification of China under the KMT.
• 🔫 The Shanghai Massacre of April 1927 was a pivotal event where Chiang Kai-shek's forces, along with local gangs, arrested and executed hundreds of communists, effectively ending the first United Front.
• 🛑 The subsequent purges in Wuhan and Nanjing further fractured the alliance between the KMT and the CPC, with the CPC figures like Zhou Enlai being forced to flee and go underground.
• 🚩 The CPC, under pressure, reorganized and began to mobilize peasants and workers, forming the Chinese Red Army and initiating uprisings, such as the Autumn Harvest Uprising led by Mao Zedong.
• 💥 The failure of the Guangzhou uprising in December 1927 and the subsequent crackdowns led the CPC to adopt guerrilla warfare tactics, marking the beginning of a protracted struggle for power.
• 🌏 The end of the Northern Expedition and the breakdown of relations with the Soviet Union led Chiang Kai-shek to seek financial support from Britain and the United States, setting the stage for the Chinese Civil War.

Q & A

What was the political situation in China in 1921?

In 1921, China was divided by regional military warlords, with the Beiyang government nominally controlling the Republic but lacking real power, while real power was held by local military cliques.

Who was Sun Yat-sen and what role did he play in the early 20th century?

Sun Yat-sen was the founder of the Republic of China who originally led the movement against the Qing Dynasty. However, he lost control of the Republic and led the Whampoa Movement to resist the corrupt Beiyang government.

What significant event occurred on July 31, 1921, involving a group of intellectuals?

On July 31, 1921, a dozen young intellectuals met on a tourist boat on the South Lake of Jiaxing and declared the founding of the Communist Party of China, an event that would significantly alter the course of Chinese history.

How did the Soviet Union support the Communist Party of China (CPC)?

The Soviet Union, through the Communist International (Comintern), provided backing to the CPC, including recruiting workers living in harsh conditions and offering financial and military support to aid the Kuomintang in its efforts against the Beiyang government.

Who was Chiang Kai-shek and what mission was he given by Sun Yat-sen?

Chiang Kai-shek was a young person who followed Sun Yat-sen since before the revolution against Imperial rule. Sun Yat-sen sent him to Moscow to study military and political sciences.

What was the significance of the First United Front and how was it formed?

The First United Front was an alliance between the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Communist Party of China (CPC), formed under the direction of the Comintern, which instructed the CPC to ally with the KMT to consolidate their power against the Beiyang government.

What was the Canton Coup and what were its consequences?

The Canton Coup, also known as the Zhongshan Warship Incident, was an event where Chiang Kai-shek purged Guangzhou of communist officers in response to suspicions of a coup. This significantly degraded relations with both the left wing of the KMT and the CPC.

What was the Northern Expedition and what were its goals?

The Northern Expedition was a military campaign launched by Chiang Kai-shek in 1926 to defeat the Beiyang government and reunify China by challenging regional warlords and consolidating power under the KMT.

What was the Shanghai Massacre and how did it impact the relationship between the KMT and the CPC?

The Shanghai Massacre was an event on April 12, 1927, where troops of the KMT and recruited gangs arrested and executed hundreds of communists. This event shattered the alliance between the KMT and the CPC and led to a significant number of communist sympathizers joining the CPC.

Who was Zhou Enlai and what role did he play during the Northern Expedition?

Zhou Enlai was a member of the Communist Party who became an instructor at the Whampoa Military Academy and often acted as second-in-command to Chiang Kai-shek. He played a significant part in the strikes and militias that weakened the power of local warlords during the Northern Expedition.

What was the outcome of the various uprisings led by the Communist Party after the Shanghai Massacre?

The various uprisings led by the Communist Party, including the Autumn Harvest Uprising and the Guangzhou Uprising, were ultimately suppressed by the National Revolutionary Army. However, these events solidified the CPC's determination to seize power and led to the formation of the Chinese Red Army.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Founding of the Communist Party of China

In 1921, amidst the chaos of warlordism in China, intellectuals influenced by Western politics convened on a boat in Jiaxing, South Lake, and founded the Communist Party of China (CPC). Unbeknownst to them, they were setting the stage for a monumental shift in history. The CPC grew with the support of the Soviet Union's Comintern, recruiting workers and forming alliances. Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Republic of China, led the Whampoa Movement against the Beiyang Government and sent Chiang Kai-shek to study in Moscow. Upon his return, Chiang became the head of the Whampoa Military Academy, which was financed by the Soviets. The CPC joined the Kuomintang (KMT), forming the first United Front. However, internal tensions and Chiang's distrust of the left wing and the CPC led to the Canton Coup, purging communist officers and straining relations with the CPC.

05:02

🛡️ The Northern Expedition and the Shanghai Massacre

Chiang Kai-shek, distrusting the left wing of the KMT and the CPC, initiated the Northern Expedition in 1926 to reunify China by defeating regional warlords and the Beiyang Government. Despite initial successes, including the capture of Shanghai and Nanjing, the alliance between the KMT and CPC was shattered by the Shanghai Massacre, where Chiang's troops and Shanghai gangs arrested and executed hundreds of communists. This led to a wave of communist sympathizers joining the CPC, and the CPC began to organize its own forces, including the formation of the Chinese Red Army. The subsequent 7:15 Incident saw further purges of communists, forcing many, including Zhou Enlai, to go underground. The Red Army, though initially successful in uprisings, faced setbacks and had to retreat to the countryside, adopting guerrilla warfare tactics.

10:03

📢 Conclusion and Call to Action

The video concludes with the end of the Northern Expedition and the beginning of the Chinese Civil War. Chiang Kai-shek severed ties with the Soviet Union, which reassured Britain and the United States, leading to financial support for the KMT. The video invites viewers to like, subscribe, and comment with any questions they may have, ending with a musical note.

Keywords

💡Regional Military Warlords

Regional military warlords refer to the autonomous military leaders who controlled different provinces in China during the early 20th century, effectively fragmenting the country's governance. In the video, these warlords are depicted as a significant factor contributing to the political instability of the time, which set the stage for the rise of various factions and movements, including the Communist Party of China.

💡Sun Yat-sen

Sun Yat-sen is a pivotal historical figure who founded the Republic of China but later lost control to the Beiyang government. His efforts to resist the corrupt Beiyang government and his leadership of the Whampoa Movement are highlighted in the video as key to the formation of the Communist Party of China and the eventual establishment of the Kuomintang's military force, the National Revolutionary Army.

💡Communist Party of China (CPC)

The Communist Party of China is the founding subject of the video, established on the South Lake of Jiaxing in 1921. The CPC's growth and alliance with the Kuomintang, as well as its struggle against regional warlords and the Beiyang government, are central to the video's narrative, illustrating the party's role in shaping modern Chinese history.

💡Kuomintang (KMT)

The Kuomintang, also known as the Nationalist Party, is depicted in the video as a significant political and military force in China during the 1920s. The KMT's alliance with the CPC, the establishment of the Whampoa Military Academy, and the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek are all integral to the video's exploration of the political dynamics of the era.

💡Chiang Kai-shek

Chiang Kai-shek is portrayed as a key military and political leader in the video, initially educated in Moscow and later becoming the head of the Whampoa Military Academy and the leader of the National Revolutionary Army. His actions, including the purge of communists and the Northern Expedition, are central to the video's depiction of the political shifts and conflicts of the period.

💡Northern Expedition

The Northern Expedition was a military campaign launched by the National Revolutionary Army to unify China by defeating the Beiyang government and regional warlords. The video describes this campaign as a critical turning point in Chinese history, leading to the temporary unification under the KMT and setting the stage for the eventual Chinese Civil War.

💡Comintern

The Communist International, or Comintern, was an international organization that supported the growth of communist parties worldwide, including the CPC. The video mentions the Comintern's backing of the CPC and its role in facilitating the alliance between the CPC and the KMT, which was crucial for the political landscape of 1920s China.

💡Zhang Zuolin

Zhang Zuolin, known as the 'Great Martial' leader of the Fengtian clique, was one of the powerful regional warlords who controlled a significant part of Northern China, including Beijing. The video discusses his role as a major adversary during the Northern Expedition, highlighting the complexity of the military and political challenges faced by the National Revolutionary Army.

💡Shanghai Massacre

The Shanghai Massacre refers to the violent purge of communists in Shanghai by the KMT in 1927. The video describes this event as a tragic and pivotal moment that shattered the alliance between the KMT and the CPC, leading to a significant escalation in the conflict between the two parties.

💡Guangzhou Soviet

The Guangzhou Soviet was a short-lived Soviet government established after an uprising led by communist forces in Guangzhou in December 1927. The video mentions this event as an example of the CPC's attempts to seize power, which ultimately failed due to the superior forces of the National Revolutionary Army.

💡Chinese Civil War

The Chinese Civil War is the broader conflict that emerged from the political and military struggles depicted in the video. It began with the breakdown of the alliance between the KMT and the CPC and continued intermittently for decades. The video concludes by setting the stage for this prolonged conflict, which would have lasting implications for China's political development.

Highlights

1921 saw China divided by regional warlords, with the Beiyang government holding nominal control.

Sun Yat-sen led the Whampoa Movement against the corrupt Beiyang government.

The Communist Party of China was founded on July 31st on a boat in Jiaxing.

The CPC grew with support from the Soviet Union's Comintern, recruiting workers in harsh conditions.

Chiang Kai-shek was sent to Moscow for military and political studies, influencing the formation of the first United Front.

The Whampoa Military Academy was established with Soviet financing, integrating CPC members into the Kuomintang.

Zhou Enlai became an instructor at the Academy, later playing a significant role in the political landscape.

Chiang Kai-shek purged Guangzhou to consolidate power, leading to strained relations with the CPC.

The Northern Expedition was launched in 1926 to reunify China and defeat the Beiyang government.

The CPC and left-wing Kuomintang collaborated despite internal distrust, contributing to the Northern Expedition's success.

The Shanghai Massacre on April 12, 1927, marked a turning point with the execution of many communists.

Zhou Enlai's unexpected release and escape to Wuhan signified a shift in communist strategy.

Chiang Kai-shek declared Nanjing the new capital, signaling a break from the left-wing Kuomintang.

The CPC organized the Chinese Red Army, marking the beginning of a guerrilla warfare approach.

The Autumn Harvest Uprising led by Mao Zedong was suppressed, but the Red Army persisted.

The Guangzhou Soviet rebellion in December 1927 was crushed, but the Red Army's determination grew.

Chiang Kai-shek severed ties with the Soviet Union, gaining financial support from Britain and the US.

The end of the Northern Expedition and the start of the Chinese Civil War marked a new era of conflict.

Transcripts

the year is 1921 China is torn apart by

regional military warlords in every

province

although the post dynastic Bay young

government controls the Republic the

military clicks hold true power locally

in parallel Sun yat-sen who originally

founded the Republic but lost its

control leads the warming Tung a

movements to resist the corrupt and

incompetent Bay young government in all

this turmoil the young intellectuals of

the nation study Western politics in

modern academies or foreign schools on

the 31st of July a dozen of them meet on

a tourist boat on the south lake of gia

steam and declare the founding of the

Communist Party of China they are

unaware that they have changed the

course of history

the Communist Party grew steadily backed

by the Soviet Union's Communist

international also known as Comintern

recruiting many workers living in harsh

conditions the Soviet Union also agreed

to help the flourishing calming tongue

in its efforts against the bay young

government providing money and military

equipment Sun yat-sen gave a mission to

a young person who had followed him

since before the revolution against

Imperial rule that man was chiang

kai-shek

he was sent to Moscow to study military

and political sciences meanwhile the

Comintern told the CPC to make an

alliance with the warming tongue thus

the first United Front was born upon

Chang's returned in 1924 he became head

of the newly founded one power Military

Academy financed by the Soviets many

individuals of the Communist Party

joined the Kuomintang that reached over

fifty thousand members one of them Joe

Enlai even became an instructor in the

Academy often acting as

second-in-command

after Chiang kai-shek keep an eye on him

as he'll play an important role later on

finally the Kuomintang had an army

baptized the National Revolutionary Army

it could now challenge warlords and the

Bey young government an event would

however disturb the collaboration of the

Chinese Communist Party and the coaming

Tung condemning the nation to the next

few decades at the age of 58 Sun yat-sen

the father of the Republic died of

illness the calming tongues leadership

was split between a left-wing faction

led by winding way and the right wing

led by Ho Chi Minh true power was

however held by Chiang kai-shek leader

of the national revolutionary army

although educated in Moscow he

distrusted the left wing as well as the

Communist Party of China on the 20th of

March 1926 in order to reduce their

influence and consolidate his power

Chang purged Guangzhou the capital city

of the resistance government and

headquarters of the calling tongue of

communist officers in response to

suspicions of an imminent coup Joe and

Lai who is still an instructor of the

academy was therefore expelled among

many others the one power academy was

now firmly at the hands of the right

wing faction of the warming tank the

event known as

the Canton COO greatly degraded

relations with both the left wing and

the Communist Party Chiang officially

took leadership of the Kuomintang on the

6th of July 1926 just three days later

he launched the northern expedition the

military campaign to defeat the bay

young government and finally reunified

China the Communist Party of China was

however post to it as well as wanting

ways left-wing of the warming tongue but

in an effort to put an end to the

warlord era they however complied and

collaborated on the expedition three

major coalition's that against them will

pay for that the Jurlique lee a seasoned

general nicknamed the jade marshal

directly to the north son trent fung the

Nanking world also member of the jelly

click to the northeast but most

importantly they had to defeat Zhang

tahleen the great martial head of the

function click and master of the bay

young government he held great territory

including Beijing Singh doll and the

whole of Manchuria Chiang kai-shek

leaving the NRA marched north and

promptly defeated will pay for whose

armies disintegrated by September 1926

wallpaper would no longer be a threat to

the Warmington

in the intent of centralizing the

Revolutionary Government Chiang kai-shek

moved the capital city from Canton to

Wuhan City there had been taken from

what a fool

winding way head of the left wing of the

corny Tang stayed for administration in

the city and Chiang kai-shek moved east

to pursue his campaign in the end of

September 1926 he began offensive

strikes against sultry and fun who

controlled what remained of the jellied

Lee but had to ask from help from Zhang

d'orléans function click that sent

reinforcements furthermore many local

officers defected to the warming tongue

and kameena strikes as well as armed

militias organized by the Communist

Party broke out in major cities such as

Shanghai

Joanne Lai located in Shanghai took a

significant part in the strikes and

militias as they significantly weakened

the power of local warlords by the 22nd

of March 1927

Shanghai had been captured by Chiang

kai-shek's forces Nanjing was captured

the following day the jelly cleek was

now defeated and only Jung Doyle in room

to eliminate in order to unify China on

the 5th of April wanting way leader of

the war hang government came to the

strongly communist influence Shanghai

and met with the leader of the Communist

Party

Chandu Shah they officially reaffirmed

the United Front and cooperation at the

warning tongue and Communist Party they

were however both unaware that troubling

events were about to shatter the

alliance

in early April Chiang kai-shek and the

right wing of the warming Tung came to

the conclusion that the Communists were

counter-revolutionary in their

destructive social and economical

policies at dawn on the 12th of April

troops of the warming Tung and many

recruited gangs of Shanghai including

the powerful green gang rounded up and

arrested hundreds of communists they

were summarily executed in what would be

remembered as the Shanghai Massacre Joe

and Lai who had been arrested were

surprisingly released and he escaped to

Wuhan shocked many communist

sympathizers from the warming Tung left

to join the Communist Party one Jingwei

in Wuhan declared Chiang kai-shek

stripped of all power and that he was

now the leader of the warning Tong

however with barely any military power

these statements were in name only

in response Chiang kai-shek declared

nanjing the new capital of the

revolutionary government his forces

pressured wang jingwei in the Han

consequently in July 1 comply to Chang's

the man and ordered a local purge of

communists known as the 7:15 incident Jo

and light and many other CPC figures

were forced to go on the ground

later wanting way John Chiang in Nanjing

and the war hang government was

dissolved leaving only Nanjing as seat

of power of the Warmington thinking the

issue was resolved Chiang started

preparations to pursue the northern

expedition against the remaining

Warlord's however the common turn back

CPC now determined not to let the

Shanghai massacre unpunished organized

itself across southern China

Joanne light and other communist figures

started to stir unrest inciting

destitute peasants and workers to join

their ranks soon 20,000 improvised

soldiers were led by the Communist Party

this force was to become the Chinese Red

Army communist sympathizers from the

worming tongue and National

Revolutionary Army also defected to the

communist forces such as her long

this allowed the Communist Party to

acquire superior weapons as they were

planning to march on Guangzhou Chiang

kai-shek sent several superior officers

to suppress the uprising one of them

drew the leading NRA soldiers however

also affected and joined the Red Army

with his troops the city of nan Chang

the Communists on the 1st of August but

a few days later the Red Army had to

retreat when the National Revolutionary

Army reinforcements arrived a month

later another group of the Red Army led

an insurrection its leader was a 33 year

old ex student starting his military

career who had a clear vision of what

communism should be his name was Marta

thorn this movement known as the autumn

harvest stopped rising was averse

oppressed by the national revolutionary

army finally a third rebellion in

December 1927 tried to capture Guangzhou

during the night of the 11th of December

more than 20,000 soldiers and armed

workers prepared the insurrection

executing anyone from within disagreeing

on the rebellion around noon on the next

day the insurgents managed to capture

the city defeating the light garrison

and proclaimed the Guangzhou Soviets

however thousands of NRA soldiers were

located around the city led by Jiang

Parkway the general who had served as

SUNY intense personal bodyguards and

defeated will pay fools armies his

troops were further reinforced by five

more divisions the Communists were

utterly crushed with less than a

thousand managing to escape although the

Chinese Red Army was now disorganized

and on the run it was more determined

than ever before to seize power by any

means open battles and urban fights were

no longer a good strategy so it would

have to rely on guerrilla warfare

tactics following the repression on

communism Chiang kai-shek ended all

remaining relations with the Soviet

Union Britain and the US were reassured

by this and started helping the

Warmington financially Chiang kai-shek

did not consider the Red Army a priority

in the intent of finally ending the

northern expedition his eyes were set on

the Bey young government controlled

Beijing the warlord era was at an end

but the Chinese Civil War had just

started thank you for watching my video

I hope you enjoyed it and if so please

leave a like and subscribe to the

channel if you have any questions please

leave them in a comment section below

[Music]