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Photograph of Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong, 1945

Chinese Civil War, 1946-1950

The Chinese Civil War, fought between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Nationalist Party (GMD) from 1946-1950, was a defining conflict for China, East Asia, and the world. The Civil War included a number of large battles and campaigns, and was notable for the involvement of both the United States and the Soviet Union. The victory of the CCP and the founding of the People's Republic of China in October 1949 shifted the balance of power in the emerging Cold War. For other collections on China’s modern political history, see: Purges in 1950s China; China’s Great Leap Forward, 1958-1961; China’s Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976; Reform and Opening in China, 1978-; and China, 1989.

Photograph of Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong, 1945

Timeline

Timeline for
Chinese Civil War, 1946-1950

July 20, 1946

Chinese Civil War Begins

Large scale fighting between the Guomindang and the Chinese Communist Party begins, marking the start of the Chinese Civil War.

August 06, 1946

Mao Zedong's Intermediate Zone

During an interview with Anna Louise Strong, Mao Zedong says that "all reactionaries are paper tigers" and discusses the Chinese Civil War. He also introduces the theory of the "intermediate zone," stating that "the United States and the Soviet Union are separated by a vast zone which includes many capitalist, colonial and semi-colonial countries in Europe, Asia and Africa."

September 12, 1948

Liaoshen Campaign Begins

The Liaoshen (Liaoning-Shenyang) Campaign, the first of three major campaigns during the Chinese Civil War, begins on 12 September 1948, and involves more than one-million soldiers from both sides. By the conclusion of the campaign on 2 November 1948, the Chinese Communist Party had defeated the Guomindang in Manchuria and had taken control over some of China's most important industrial centers.

November 06, 1948

Huaihai Campaign Begins

The Huaihai Campaign, the second and largest of the three major military campaigns of the Chinese Civil War, begins on 6 November 1948. The Chinese Communist Party defeats the Guomindang in areas north of the Yangtze River and takes control of crucial rail lines and commercial centers in east China by 10 January 1949.

November 29, 1948

Pingjin Campaign Begins

The Pingjin Campaign, the last of the three major campaigns of the Chinese Civil War, begins on 29 November 1948. The Chinese Communist Party defeats the Guomindang in Beiping (now Beijing), Tianjin, and Zhangjiakou. The conclusion of this campaign on 31 January 1949 marks the decisive victory of the Chinese Communist Party in northern China.

June 30, 1949

Leaning to One Side

In a famous article entitled “On the People’s Democratic Dictatorship,” Mao Zedong announces that China will “lean to one side” in its foreign policy. Mao wrote that China must “ally with the Soviet Union” and “form an international united front.”

October 11, 1949

Founding of the People's Republic of China

Following three years fighting against the Guomindang, Mao Zedong proclaims the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from Tian'anmen Square. Though much of the Guomindang had already fled to Taiwan, huge swathes of Chinese territory, including Tibet, nevertheless had yet to come under the control of the Chinese Communist Party.

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Popular Documents

June 11, 1949

Letter, Jiang Qing to Mao Zedong

Jiang Qing writes to Mao Zedong about her health, developments in the Chinese Civil War, and the problems of Chinese Communist Propaganda.

September 4, 1958

Anastas Mikoyan’s Recollections of his Trip to China

Anastas Mikoyan gives a very detailed summary of his trip to China, to secretly hold talks with Mao Zedong. Begins with a summary of his trip, and choice of delegation members, and his living conditions while visiting with Mao. Describes talks with Mao, which covered a large range of topics, including Mao's divergence of opinion on American imperialism as compared to Stalin's, the CCP's lack of influence in China's cities, and Stalin's advice to arrest two Americans, including Sidney Rittenberg, who were "obvious American spies." Mao does not agree, eventually arrests spy suspects, and Mikoyan notes that after Stalin's death, USSR admitted to having no rationale or evidence for the spy allegations.

February 4, 1949

Cable, Anastas Mikoyan to Joseph Stalin

Cable sent from Mikoyan to Stalin, summarizing a discussion between Mikoyan and Mao. In that conversation, Mikoyan tells Mao that once the USSR opposed foreign mediation between the Guomindang and CCP, England, America and France changed their positions from supporting mediation to refuting mediation. Mikoyan then draws to Stalin's attention that Zhou Enlai noticed permanent representatives of Americans, including "spies, and journalists," among the Chinese Communist Party.

October 1949

Chang Chi-yun, 'Travel to the Philippines and [South] Korea'

A booklet published to commemorate Chiang Kai-shek's visits to the Philippines and South Korea, part of an attempt to enlist support for the Republic of China as it lost control over Mainland China.

April 26, 1948

Cable, Mao Zedong to Filippov [Stalin]

Mao tells Filippov (Stalin) about the move of the Central Committee to a more rural area in China. Mao also discusses his plans for his trip to Moscow.
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