The Battle for Manchuria and the Fate of China: Siping, 1946 (2013)[Twentieth-Century Battles]

“A well-organized and excellently researched work” (H-War) on one of the crucial battles of China's civil war. In the spring of 1946, Communists and Nationalist Chinese were battled for control of Manchuria and supremacy in the civil war. The Nationalist attack on Siping ended with a Communist withdrawal, but further pursuit was halted by a ceasefire brokered by the American general, George Marshall. Within three years, Mao Zedong's troops had captured Manchuria and would soon drive Chiang Kai-shek's forces off the mainland. Did Marshall, as Chiang later claimed, save the Communists and determine China's fate? Putting the battle into the context of the military and political struggles fought, Harold M. Tanner casts light on all sides of this historic confrontation and shows how the outcome has been, and continues to be, interpreted to suit the needs of competing visions of China's past and future. “A genuine addition to our knowledge about this battle and the Chinese civil war in general.” —Mark Wilkinson, Virginia Military Institute In the spring of 1946, Communists and Nationalist Chinese were battlied for control of Manchuria and supremacy in the civil war. The Nationalist attack on Siping ended with a Communist withdrawal, but further pursuit was halted by a cease-fire brokered by the American general, George Marshall. Within three years, Mao Zedong's troops had captured Manchuria and would soon drive Chiang Kai-shek's forces off the mainland. Did Marshall, as Chiang later claimed, save the Communists and determine China's fate? Putting the battle into the context of the military and political struggles fought, Harold M. Tanner casts light on all sides of this historic confrontation and shows how the outcome has been, and continues to be, interpreted to suit the needs of competing visions of China's past and future. A Note On Chinese Names -- Siping, 1946 : Decisive Battle Or Lost Opportunity? -- The Manchurian Chessboard, August-september 1945 -- The Communist Retreat, October-december 1945 -- George Marshall's Mission, December 1945-march 1946 -- The Second Battle Of Siping : Phase One -- From Outer Defense To Stalemate, March-april 1946 -- The Second Battle Of Siping : Phase Two -- From Defense To Retreat, April-may 1946 -- The Chase And The Ceasefire, May-june 1946 -- Visions Of The Past And Future. Harold M. Tanner. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgments A Note on Chinese Names 1 Siping, 1946: Decisive Battle or Lost Opportunity? 2 The Manchurian Chessboard, August–September 1945 3 The Communist Retreat, October–December 1945 4 George Marshall's Mission, December 1945–March 1946 5 The Second Battle of Siping: Phase One—From Outer Defense to Stalemate, March–April 1946 6 The Second Battle of Siping: Phase Two—From Defense to Retreat, April–May 1946 7 The Chase and the Ceasefire, May–June 1946 8 Visions of the Past and Future Notes Bibliography Index Casts light on how the outcome of the battle has been interpreted to suit the needs of competing visions of China's past and future