1. World War II

2. Japan and its expansion
Japan had modernised from 1860s
A model for China
Beginnings of empire
1895 Defeated China for control of Korea
1900s Taiwan and Korea both colonies
1904 Defeated Russia for control of Manchuria
Felt threatened by growth of a powerful new Chinese state

4. The Situation in China Warlords Communists
Nearly equal balance of power with Chiang Kaishek
Communists

5. The Communist Party Origins: May 4th debates about ideology
Early years
Emphasis on urban working class
Alliance with Nationalist Party
Northern Expedition → Nationalist attack
→ Communists flee from cities
Debate
Urban workers (Li Lisan) vs peasants (Mao Zedong)

6. Control part of Jiangxi
Nationalist government military campaigns against them
→ The Long March
(retreat to a remote part of Shaanxi)

8. Mao Zedong in Yan’an

9. Peng Dehuai and other CCP leaders in Yan’an

10. Japanese attacks Manchuria 1931 Shanghai 1931 North China 1933
Chiang Kaishek more concerned with balance of power with warlords
Japanese establish Manchukuo
Shanghai 1931
Chinese troops refuse to obey orders to retreat
Violent fighting
Japanese win then withdraw
North China 1933

12. Shanghai after Japanese bombing 1932

13. Chinese Responses
Chiang Kaishek “First pacification then resistance” BUT
Very unpopular
Warlords and Communists claim to be more nationalist than the government
Resistance movement
National Salvation Associations
1937 outbreak of war with Japan

14. The War against Japan 1937-1945 1937 fighting round Shanghai
Nationalist government pushed inland
The situation in 1938
Japan controls north and east China
The Nationalist Government controls southwest China
The Communists control parts of Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia