DBWI Chiang moves into Manchuria

World War 2 ended in Asia as it did in Europe, with communist states set up in areas that the Red Army occupied. But though the Red Army overran Manchuria, there were plans to move the Nationalist army into the area. Supposing Chiang had done that. Could he have held the area?
 
With all the US equipment and logistical support he had, CKS coulda easily wiped the commies out. I dont want to hear the bullshit how the ChiComs woulda held out when they lacked all sorts of heavy equipment and didnt have any damn planes to contest the air. Or that the KMT armies woulda mass surrendered at the first sign of trouble and giving up all their equipment to the ChiComs. Just a buncha bullshit excuses and slander of the brave troops who won the RoC it's freedom.

The decision to not head north to clean out the rebels, consigned that whole area to the insanity and depravities of the Cult of Mao.
 
Well someone is feeling Nationalistic today

From a different perspective, the answer is yes he could probably have done it, but there are many reasons he didn't. First, it would cost China a lot in lives, money and equipment, and anger the Soviet Union by taking away the resources of Manchuria, something nobody wanted happen. Second, American support is actually quite contentious since RepChina didn't want to become dependent on it (Chiang was on his own side, no one else's). Plus, the very existence of Red Manchuria was what allowed Chiang to hold onto power for so long, as he could continue to exaggerate the threat of the Cult of Mao (even though Mao became a non-entity after he lost the civil war and became the sock puppets the Soviets always wanted) and Chiang probably knew that, so he probably wouldn't do anything even if he was on a better position
 
With all the US equipment and logistical support he had, CKS coulda easily wiped the commies out. I dont want to hear the bullshit how the ChiComs woulda held out when they lacked all sorts of heavy equipment and didnt have any damn planes to contest the air. Or that the KMT armies woulda mass surrendered at the first sign of trouble and giving up all their equipment to the ChiComs. Just a buncha bullshit excuses and slander of the brave troops who won the RoC it's freedom.

The decision to not head north to clean out the rebels, consigned that whole area to the insanity and depravities of the Cult of Mao.

Eh, I say it was better for China in the long run that the ChiComs got just enough rope to hang themselves. There was a real perception among the peasantry in the 50's that Maoism actually was the solution to their long-time grievances, rather than the broader social development and economic growth capitalism naturally fosters. If it's shortcomings and mad levels of authoritarian oppression weren't allowed to be demonstrated, but rather martyred by a "military dictator", that delusion likely continues for DECADES, and Chaing might need to actually adopt dictatorial means and domestic violence to suppress gurellias (who IOTL largely willingly exiled themselves to Manchuria)
 
By the way, I posted this late at night and see that I posted it in the wrong forum. This should be in the post 1900 forum. I'm not sure how the report to the mods thing works or if you can self-report, can some kind lurker do that?
 
By the way, I posted this late at night and see that I posted it in the wrong forum. This should be in the post 1900 forum. I'm not sure how the report to the mods thing works or if you can self-report, can some kind lurker do that?

You can self-report to ask a mod to move it. No problem.
 
Back in 1984 when with the 3rd Marine Div on Okinawa I had the opportunity to hear Maj Gen Habels opinion of the Chinese Army in 1946. Habel had enlisted in the Marines in 1945, few months before the end of WWII. In 1946 as a PFC he was part of a training team attached to the Chinese Army. During one of the 1946 battles the Marine Sgt who Habel was with took command of a Chinese infantry company and led it in retreat to safety. The Chinese officers had deserted the battalion in advance of a Communist attack. Habel & the Sgt organized a MG team to cover the company as it withdrew from the encirclement & led the company beyond the limit of the communist attack. Habel said the Communist soldiers were completely surprised by the resistance and appeared to be expecting to take the KMT battalion prisoner without a shot. Habel believed the battalions officers had been paid by the Communists to hand over their enlisted ranks. In the same conversation he stated 'We knew the KMT Division commander on the flank was a Communist."

Make of that what you will. As a Captain in the 1950s Habel again served on a training mission to the Chinese Army. That repeat service reinforced his opinion that the leadership of the KMT & their army was utterly corrupt & useless.
 
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