In June 1946, Chiang Kai-shek launched
an all-out attack on the liberated areas. Both soldiers and civilians of the liberated
areas rose as one against enemy. War of Liberation had started. At the beginning
of civil war, the KMT had an obvious military superiority. They possessed a massive
army of over 4,300,000 soldiers, controlled all the big cities and most of the main
lines of transportation in China, and received military and financial support from
the US.
In February 1947, the people and the army in the liberated areas repelled an all-out
attack by the KMT army. In March 1947, the KMT began to focus their forces sgainst
Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia and Shandong liberated areas, but these two areas helds out
against all the odds. By June 1947, the strength of the armed forces of the CPC
and the KMT reversed remarkably, with the KMT troops shrinking to 3,730,000 soldiers.
At the same time, National Government fell into grave political and economic crises.
By now People's Liberation Army (PLA), increasing in number from 1,270,000 to 1,950,000
and improving in equipment, had begun to move to the phase of strategic offensive.
From July 1947, three wings of the PLA advanced southward to Central Plains. By
August 1948, the strength of the armed forces of two sides had changed further,
with the PLA increasing to 2,300,000 soldiers and the liberated areas expanding
rapidly. From September 12th 1948 to January 31st 1949, Central Committee of the
CPC had launched three major campaigns of Liaoxi-Shenyang, Huai-Hai and Beiping-Tianjin,
which basically destroyed the main forces of the KMT army, and liberated most of
China.
After three decisive campaigns, the KMT deployed its troops on the south bank of
Yangtze River, which was a natural barrier. On April 21st, 1949, Mao Zedong and
Zhu De ordered the PLA to force across the river in three places along a front of
over 500 km, starting 23rd, the PLA occupied Nanjing, and Chiang Kai-shek clique
fled to Taiwan. By June 1950, large-scale operations of the War of Liberation had
ended.
Reference data
Presidential Palace
Presidential Palace is located at 292 Changjiang Road, Nanjing. It was residence
of Prince Han in the beginning of Ming Dynasty. Sun Yat-sen used it as his headquarters
when he was interim President in 1912. Chiang Kai-shek made it the site of National
Govenment for 14 years before and after Anti-Japanese War.
Peaceful Liberation of Beiping In January 1949, General Fu Zuoyi, commander-in-chief
of the KMT's North China Bandit Sppression Headquarters, signed a statement on the
peaceful liberation of Beiping after negotiating with the PLA. Later, the PLA held
a ceremony to enter the city, marking the peaceful liberation of Beiping, an ancient
capital with a long history and rich cultural resources. This greatly propelled
the liberation process of the whole China.
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