Comments by "Hyok Kim" (@hyokkim7726) on "Japan's Largest WW2 Offensive - you never heard of..." video.
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@MilitaryHistoryNotVisualized 0400 Ichigo was a plus, a force multiplier in CCP’s victory in the civil war, but it was not the reason for their victory. It made their victory faster, but was not the reason. PLA had already engaged in moving in to the area vacated by KMT, and it was tolerated by IJA with the tacit understanding that CCP would not engage in sabotaging IJA against KMT. Local field PLA commanders not only did not object to this, but whole heartedly supported it against the wishes of CCP as a group. About the only CCP leader who whole heartedly supported this strategy was Mao, and the reason for him gaining the control of PLA.
The reason for the victory of CCP was in Manchurian campaign. Manchuria was the most industrialized part of China thanks to the Japanese occupation, industrial policy and the abundant coal, iron ore deposits there.
Plus the extensive railroad network and the armored train system built by the Japanese were a plus as well as Manchuria was the most ideal horse breeding ground in China, other than inner Mongolia, but inner Mongolia had neither major road or railway network to bring those horses into the heartland of China proper.
During the civil war, the best strategic mobility was provided by the railroad, and mobile firepower, the armored trains. The best tactical mobility, the horses. China had very poor road system, trucks were pretty much worthless when it came to strategic mobility, tanks few, and very poor infrastructures, air force, pretty much non-existent.
Another reason was IJA POWs, and IJA weapons, released by the Soviets to PLA in Manchuria, who provided both trained men power, and the training in light infantry tactics, even provided air cover for PLA in Manchuria against KMT, and it was for this reason, PLA ended up winning in Manchuria.
Initially, neither PLA nor KMT had home ground advantage in Manchuria, PLA were poorly armed, and trained, whereas KMT had been battle hardened against IJA and trained, equipped by U.S., and defeated PLA in no time. But then came several months of misguided truce brokered by U.S. Army and PLA used this to get IJA weapons, and to be trained by IJA POWs released by the Soviets for this very purpose.
IJA was big on light infantry doctrine, whereas U.S. Army was big on combined arms, but neither PLA nor KMT had the capacity to use combined arms, only light infantry. So PLA ended up gaining the advantage, and defeated KMT in Manchuria.
Once PLA gained the control of Manchuria, she could use the extensive railroad and armored trains to defend Manchuria easily from KMT. PLA would have had far superior strategic mobility, and mobile firepower against KMT’s attempt to take it back. Since Manchuria had abundant coal, iron ore, and horses, and the trained railroad personnel from IJA, PLA now could move into the heartland of China proper with impunity and attack cities when and where, and how PLA chose against KMT.
You can read all about if from ‘Mao, the Unknown Story’.
Btw. U.S. military advisers advised KMT against moving into Manchuria per Brig. Gen. USMC Ph.D. Oxford, Samuel B. Griffith. This was nothing more than self serving BS to avoid their responsibility in the victory of PLA. KMT could not afford to lose Manchuria for the reasons I had stated. It was the US. Military’s brokered truce that had given the opportunity for PLA’s victory against KMT in Manchuria.
Overall, I am not impressed with these prestige publications.
0632 Precisely. The Soviet was the real, existential threat to Japan, and that’s why Kodosha had advocated attacking the Soviet Union.
Even if Japan somehow managed to win a victory against the West, she would still have had the Soviets, and this time with no West to come to the aid of Japan, whereas if the Soviets had attacked Japan, and she started losing, then almost certainly the West would have come to the aid of Japan for their own sake. Another word, the West was a competitor, and potential ally, certainly not her enemy by choice. The Soviet was.
1235 Exactly, The railroad = Strategic Mobility, Mobile Fire Power = Armored Trains, extension/repair of railroad = iron ore, fuel = coal, Tactical Mobility = horses, coal, armored trains, iron ore, horses = Manchuria
1540 Opportunity for black market profit for corrupt IJA officers for selling the army rations, forcing the rank and file to loot and rob
2035 Exactly. I agree with Justin on this one. But so claimed Samuel B. Griffith. Another reason to be suspicious of official archives from non free government. And to be suspicious of people hiding behind prestige publications, and credentials.
2629 Let me qualify on this one, a bit. CCP controlled Manchuria, railroad network from there into China proper, coal mines with no bottlenecks, iron ore no bottlenecks, trained infrastructure people, armored trains, horses, IJA weapon deposits, IJA training for PLA troops. If one controlled Manchuria, with no hinderance, it was just a matter of time.
Mao was not a communist. He was a narcissist, hedonist, anarchist, an opportunist, and he knew it. He pretty much admitted it in private.
2800 On translation problem, solved. ‘Mao The Unknown Story’ had done the work. He even interviewed the surviving witnesses for the first hand account, not just relying on archives. British Journalism at their finest, but neither Cambie nor Oxie.
Btw. My criticism was on the publisher, not necessarily the author’s educational background.
3000 Again, Justin got it right. I blame Marshall mission for KMT defeat in the civil war more than anything else. ‘Mao The Unknown Story’ makes this absolutely clear.
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