China in the War:
Is this the Beginning?
China was the first Allied nation to engage in the war. Since summer 1937 the Chinese and Japanese had been fighting in eastern China, however neither side declared war on each other. This is known as the Second Sino - Japanese War. It is commonly considered as a precursor to the Second World War. But because the Second Sino - Japanese War did not directly cause a global conflict, it is usually not considered as the beginning of the Second World War.
China was the first Allied nation to engage in the war. Since summer 1937 the Chinese and Japanese had been fighting in eastern China, however neither side declared war on each other. This is known as the Second Sino - Japanese War. It is commonly considered as a precursor to the Second World War. But because the Second Sino - Japanese War did not directly cause a global conflict, it is usually not considered as the beginning of the Second World War.
Pre-1937:
Before war broke out in 1937, Chinese - Japanese relationships were already strained. In 1931 Japan had occupied Northeastern China (also known as Manchuria). This was considered an act of aggression. However, the League of nations did not effectively intervene. In the end, Japan managed to occupy a portion of China that's about the size of Western Europe. Note that Japan had already occupied Taiwan (Formosa) and the Korean Peninsula before 1931. After the occupation of Manchuria, Japan set up a puppet state called Manchukuo there. Border clashes also occurred during 1931 - 1937, but did not escalate to significant levels.
Before war broke out in 1937, Chinese - Japanese relationships were already strained. In 1931 Japan had occupied Northeastern China (also known as Manchuria). This was considered an act of aggression. However, the League of nations did not effectively intervene. In the end, Japan managed to occupy a portion of China that's about the size of Western Europe. Note that Japan had already occupied Taiwan (Formosa) and the Korean Peninsula before 1931. After the occupation of Manchuria, Japan set up a puppet state called Manchukuo there. Border clashes also occurred during 1931 - 1937, but did not escalate to significant levels.
Foreign Support:
At the outbreak of war in China, German foreign officials assured China that Germany would provide it with support and mediation. However, as the war went on, Germany believed that Japan would be a stronger ally against the spread of communism in Asia. Therefore German aid to China stopped. Furthermore, the Soviet Union also provided China with material aid, but this too was stopped after 1941. The only major suppliers of war material to China after 1941 were the United States and United Kingdom. Consequently, by the end of the war, the Chinese army employed a mix of German, Soviet, American, British, Chinese, and captured Japanese equipment. Besides providing some military assistance to the British in Burma, the Chinese military was too preoccupied with the war in China to provide direct military assistance to its allies elsewhere. Due to its relative geographic isolation, China received little direct military aid until the end of the war. However, American and Commonwealth campaigns in the Pacific drew Japanese resources and manpower away from China, thus aiding China indirectly. |
Internal unrest:
Although the Chinese were in theory united in war, there was a deep divide between two rivaling political factions - the Nationalists and the Communists. The two factions were allied on paper but enemies in practice. At the beginning of the war both factions cooperated to resist the Japanese, but as the war went on, the Communists began solidifying control over its territory, which were also claimed by the Nationalists. As a result, the relationship between the rival factions worsened, and cooperation ultimately broke in the early 1940's.
Although the Chinese were in theory united in war, there was a deep divide between two rivaling political factions - the Nationalists and the Communists. The two factions were allied on paper but enemies in practice. At the beginning of the war both factions cooperated to resist the Japanese, but as the war went on, the Communists began solidifying control over its territory, which were also claimed by the Nationalists. As a result, the relationship between the rival factions worsened, and cooperation ultimately broke in the early 1940's.
Overview:
When unofficial war broke out in 1937, Japan expected a swift victory over the ill - equipped Chinese military. However, the Chinese managed to put up stiff resistance, notably in the Battle of Shanghai. In the meantime, Chinese industry began expanding in western China. Chinese militarists believed that China can win a war with superior numbers if its industry was strengthened. Therefore they deployed a strategy which allowed them to trade space for time (a strategy that the Soviets later employed). China's relatively large landmass allowed the Chinese to steadily retreat further into China, employing guerrilla warfare against the Japanese as the latter's supply lines became overextended. As a result, Japanese control of occupied territory was largely limited to cities, rails, and large roads. The Chinese resistance deterred the enemy from moving into the countrysides.
When unofficial war broke out in 1937, Japan expected a swift victory over the ill - equipped Chinese military. However, the Chinese managed to put up stiff resistance, notably in the Battle of Shanghai. In the meantime, Chinese industry began expanding in western China. Chinese militarists believed that China can win a war with superior numbers if its industry was strengthened. Therefore they deployed a strategy which allowed them to trade space for time (a strategy that the Soviets later employed). China's relatively large landmass allowed the Chinese to steadily retreat further into China, employing guerrilla warfare against the Japanese as the latter's supply lines became overextended. As a result, Japanese control of occupied territory was largely limited to cities, rails, and large roads. The Chinese resistance deterred the enemy from moving into the countrysides.
Events took a turn in 1941, when the British and Americans blocked off oil exports to Japan. This diminished the Japanese advantage in transport, armour, and air control. In the same year, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour brought the United States into the war; very soon the Germans were defeated at Moscow. These events meant that Allied victory was now highly likely, therefore China finally declared war on Japan. Interestingly enough, the two countries had waged unofficial war for four years. The United States and Britain agreed to provide China with more material assistance, but the closing of the Burma Road and the lack of other viable routes limited these efforts.
The Pacific Theatre soon drew significant amounts of Japanese air power away from China, as a result the Japanese advance was largely stopped. However, Chinese militarists were not content with the Western Allies' grand strategy to defeat Germany before focusing on Japan. Instead the Chinese wanted to defeat Japan first and then deal with Germany. This created some diplomatic problems between the Chinese and the Western Allies, but finally the "Germany First" policy had prevailed.
The rapid mobilization of Chinese and American industry / manpower in 1943 and 1944 greatly increased the Allies' military capability in the Far Eastern Front. Consequently the Japanese strategical position was seriously undermined by a string of Allied victories in the Pacific and Burma. In late 1944 a supply route to China through Burma was opened, thus allowing a flow of modernized equipment into China. A series of major Chinese offensives in 1945 drove the already - deteriorated Japanese out of many occupied cities in southern China.
Germany was defeated in May 1945, thus allowing for the transfer of Allied soldiers to the Far Eastern Front. The Soviet Union invaded Japanese - occupied Manchuria in August 1945 (their non - aggression pact was recently denounced by the Soviet Union). On August 6th and 9th, two atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively. Consequently Japan declared its capitulation on August 15th. However the formal instrument of surrender would not be signed until September 2nd.
The Pacific Theatre soon drew significant amounts of Japanese air power away from China, as a result the Japanese advance was largely stopped. However, Chinese militarists were not content with the Western Allies' grand strategy to defeat Germany before focusing on Japan. Instead the Chinese wanted to defeat Japan first and then deal with Germany. This created some diplomatic problems between the Chinese and the Western Allies, but finally the "Germany First" policy had prevailed.
The rapid mobilization of Chinese and American industry / manpower in 1943 and 1944 greatly increased the Allies' military capability in the Far Eastern Front. Consequently the Japanese strategical position was seriously undermined by a string of Allied victories in the Pacific and Burma. In late 1944 a supply route to China through Burma was opened, thus allowing a flow of modernized equipment into China. A series of major Chinese offensives in 1945 drove the already - deteriorated Japanese out of many occupied cities in southern China.
Germany was defeated in May 1945, thus allowing for the transfer of Allied soldiers to the Far Eastern Front. The Soviet Union invaded Japanese - occupied Manchuria in August 1945 (their non - aggression pact was recently denounced by the Soviet Union). On August 6th and 9th, two atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively. Consequently Japan declared its capitulation on August 15th. However the formal instrument of surrender would not be signed until September 2nd.