Transcript PowerPoint #6

Generals Stillwell, Chennault,
Hurley, Wedemeyer
Claire Chennault (1893-1958)
Claire Chennault and Chiang
Kaishek
Claire Chennault

Fighter Pilot

Proponent of air power

United States Army Air Corps

Slated for retirement, resigned

Chinese Aeronautical Commission, 1937

Contract, $1000 Month as advisor
Claire Chennault: Service to
China, Pre-Pearl Harbor

Offered services to Chiang Kaishek after Japanese invasion

Began Training Chinese fighter group in Nanchang, Jiangxi

October 1937, Chinese Air Force at “the end of its rope”

Nationalist retreat to Chongqing

“Guess I am Chinese.”

Air Force base in Kunming, two years trying to rebuild
Chinese Air Force
Claire Chennault: Service to
China, Pre-Pearl Harbor

“Mechanically minded Americans teaching classically
educated Chinese to fly”

US Fifty Million $$ loan, April 1941


“Lend-Lease” Arrangement, May 1941


100 Fighter Planes
American Volunteer Group: “Flying Tigers”


Chennault appeal on behalf of China
101 American Officers, “inactive status”
Claire Chennault: Service to
China, After Pearl Harbor

Flying Tigers Destroyed 300 Japanese Planes/ Lost
50 planes, first six months after Pearl Harbor

Chennault in control of Flying Tigers

Chiang Kaishek pleased no political interference

“Flying Tigers” become China Air Task Force under
US Air Force
Flying Tigers
Wartime China
Chennault vs. Stilwell

Competing US Strategies in China

Air war vs. Ground force

Chennault optimistically claim with enough planes
could defeat Japan

Stilwell wanted ground force, warned of Japanese
ground offensive if air war was escalated

President Roosevelt favored Chennault, April 1943
Chennault’s Declining
Influence

Air war in China did not meet expectation

By 1944, US Chennault out of favor in Washington, US
refuse billion dollar loan to China

Japanese ground offensive successful in 1944

March 1944, Bombing of Japan from Guam and Saipan
Joseph Stilwell
(1883-1946)
Joseph Stilwell (1883-1946)
 Career Army
 Stationed
 Spoke
Officer
in China 1926-29, 1935-39
Chinese
 Witness
Chinese fighting against
Japan in 1930s
 Critical of
Chinese military basic military
strategy, tactics, practice
Joseph Stilwell With the
Chiangs
Joseph Stilwell:
Chongqing March, 1942

Stilwell’s orders: “increase the effectiveness of the United
States assistance to the Chinese Government for the
prosecution of the war and to assist in improving the combat
efficiency of the Chinese Army” January, 1942

Chief of Chiang Kaishek’s Joint Staff

Commanding General of US Forces in India, Burma, and
China

President Roosevelt’s military representative in China

Dispenser of Lend-lease material
Wartime China
Burma Road
Burma Road
The “Hump”
Stilwell: After Loss of Burma Road, 1942

Immediate counterattack to reopen Burma Road

No aid to China unless Chinese fight harder

Chinese armies completely overhauled
Stilwell and Chiang Kaishek:
Political Battles

Military reform had political consequences

Undermine Chiang Kaishek’s power

Stilwell increasingly critical and bitter toward
“Peanut”

Chiang also upset of lack of US diversion of
resources to Europe

Chiang issue demands and hint at separate peace
with Japan
Cario Summit 1943:
Enhance China’s Status
Changing US Policy after
Cairo Conference

Roosevelt sees path to Japan through Pacific

Stilwell priority conduct offensive in Burma

Roosevelt on recommendation of US Joint Chiefs
want to appoint Stilwell to full general give him
command of all Chinese forces, July 1944

Led to Showdown between Stilwell and Chiang

Stilwell recalled October, 1944
General Patrick Hurley:
Chongqing September, 1944

Roosevelt’s Representative in Chongqing
General Hurley in Yenan 1944
Oklahoma Connection
Ambassador Hurley 1945
Albert Wedemeyer (1897-1989)
Chongqing, 1944
Albert Wedemeyer (1897-1989)
 West
Point Graduate
 Two
years study in German War
College
 Expert
in Planning
 Strong Anti-Communist
 Replaced
Stilwell October 1944
Wedemeyer’s Instructions

Primary mission advise and assist Chiang in
military operations against Japan

Carry out air operations from China

Assist Chinese Air and Ground Forces in
operations, training and logistical support

Not use US force to suppress civil strife
Last Year of the War

Wedemeyer avoid confrontation with Chiang

Chiang resist committing troops to battle Japan

Wedemeyer used US advisor to remodel Chinese
armies

Control aid to gain influence

Yalta Conference: Roosevelt, Stalin, Churchill

Secret concessions to Soviets: Ports and rights in Manchuria
US Failure in Wartime China

Military Solutions

Not pay enough attention to complexities of China

Not understand politics

Wedemeyer underestimate Communists

US post war goals unrealistic
Wartime China: Dixie Mission
to Yan’an
George Marshal in Yan’an,
1946
Coalition Government?
Civil War 1945-1949

Japanese Surrender August 15th

Marshall Mission 1945-47

US mediation (George Marshall)

GMD dominate 1945-1947

Inflation and Corruption in
GMD-controlled areas

CCP offensive 1947-1949

Chiang Kai-shek flees to Taiwan
12/49
PLA Huaihai Campaign,
1948-49
Founding of the People’s Republic of
China, (PRC) October 1, 1949