Introduction
From 1937 to 1945, the Second Sino Japanese War was a military conflict between China and Japan. In this battle spanning eight years, China achieved victory after soliciting economic and military assistance from Germany, United States and Russia. However, the human casualties involved in both sides are significant and the economic toll on the two nations is heavy. This project site will be exploring the different perspectives to the war through interviews with people at the time, as well as its effect on the cultural and political development in the aftermath, notably the cultural revolution.
Timeline
The complete duration of the war can be marked by nine events:
1912- Beginning with the 21 Demands and May 4th movement, Japan its eyes set on China
1931- Unofficial battles begin, two significant ones including the Mukden incident and Shanghai assault
1936- Xi'an incident leads to the temporary unison of the two Chinese political parties
1937- Japan officially launches the war at Marco Polo Bridge
1939- Japan attempts to control China through puppet governments at Nanking, etc.
1940- Large-scale migration of Chinese people from North to South (Heilongjiang and Shandong to Szechuan and Yunnan) to escape Japanese bombings
1941- Allies communicates the prioritization of Europe first, Asia second in WWII
1942-China faces unprecedented inflation, and is in danger of losing Yunming to Japan
1945-Japan's political system collapses, the demise of Japanese imperialism leads to China's subsequent victory in the SJ War
1912- Beginning with the 21 Demands and May 4th movement, Japan its eyes set on China
1931- Unofficial battles begin, two significant ones including the Mukden incident and Shanghai assault
1936- Xi'an incident leads to the temporary unison of the two Chinese political parties
1937- Japan officially launches the war at Marco Polo Bridge
1939- Japan attempts to control China through puppet governments at Nanking, etc.
1940- Large-scale migration of Chinese people from North to South (Heilongjiang and Shandong to Szechuan and Yunnan) to escape Japanese bombings
1941- Allies communicates the prioritization of Europe first, Asia second in WWII
1942-China faces unprecedented inflation, and is in danger of losing Yunming to Japan
1945-Japan's political system collapses, the demise of Japanese imperialism leads to China's subsequent victory in the SJ War
Aftermath
Foreign Relations:
For more than four years up to the Pearl Harbor Invasion, China fought Japan alone. When the United States and other allied forces finally declared war against Japan, and China declared war on Italy and Germany, China became heavily influenced by battle outcomes in the Pacific as well, although the opposite is not often the case. In 1945, US’s nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Russia’s opposition against Japan, coupled with the Allies’ success in seizing island bases. naval and air control set Japan in a precarious situation and ultimately brought about Japan’s defeat. Additionally, although Britain and the U.S. offered financial and military support to China, China’s military strength remained weak until mid 1950s.
Cultural Revolution:
The cultural revolution was a social and political movement that took place in China from 1966 to 1971. It was initiated by Communist leader Mao to purge capitalistic and “impure” elements to enforce Communistic regime in the Chinese society. After the failure of the “Great Leap Forward”, Mao aggregated radicals to bolster his authority and permeate the Chinese people with his own ideals-known as Maoist orthodoxy. One of the policy of this time was “Down to the Countryside Movement” where educated youth from urban areas were coerced to work in the rural areas to better understand the lower division of agricultural labor. Besides education, advancement in other fields are also compromised, including the Arts. Artists whose work seemed novel or anti-socialist were not only heavily fined but also persecuted.
For more than four years up to the Pearl Harbor Invasion, China fought Japan alone. When the United States and other allied forces finally declared war against Japan, and China declared war on Italy and Germany, China became heavily influenced by battle outcomes in the Pacific as well, although the opposite is not often the case. In 1945, US’s nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Russia’s opposition against Japan, coupled with the Allies’ success in seizing island bases. naval and air control set Japan in a precarious situation and ultimately brought about Japan’s defeat. Additionally, although Britain and the U.S. offered financial and military support to China, China’s military strength remained weak until mid 1950s.
Cultural Revolution:
The cultural revolution was a social and political movement that took place in China from 1966 to 1971. It was initiated by Communist leader Mao to purge capitalistic and “impure” elements to enforce Communistic regime in the Chinese society. After the failure of the “Great Leap Forward”, Mao aggregated radicals to bolster his authority and permeate the Chinese people with his own ideals-known as Maoist orthodoxy. One of the policy of this time was “Down to the Countryside Movement” where educated youth from urban areas were coerced to work in the rural areas to better understand the lower division of agricultural labor. Besides education, advancement in other fields are also compromised, including the Arts. Artists whose work seemed novel or anti-socialist were not only heavily fined but also persecuted.