Chinese Kuomintang Army 1925-1949

[Donger94107]

Apologies in advance if this is a repeat or in the wrong forum.

Can anyone help direct me to good sources for a comprehensive history of the KMT military during 1925-1949? In my humble opinion, those troops were some of the toughest bastards in the world in the era, fighting warlords, communists and holding off the Imperial Japanese army by themselves with little equipment, and a lot of guts, blood and sheer determination. Just look at the Battle of Shanghai and the so-called 800 warriors.

Would also love some pic sites.

My grandfather was three-star with Chiang Kai-Shek during that time, and this is personal for me.

Many thanks!

[Loke-Gao-Zhu]

let this be video / photos thread!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=M50CU78TX-o

I wonder why was Hao Mengling using a Sten guns, did sten guns exist during 1937 o_O??

BTW most Nationalist Generals WERE warlords

my grandpa fought in the KMT army when he was like 16....my grandma's sister got killed and beheaded by Japs when she was a child...

personal : i HATE the KMT and Chiang Kai-Shek, but i respect all the brave soldiers

http://www.krqgw.com.cn/UpFile/UpAttachment/2007-10/2007106164455.jpg (http://www.krqgw.com.cn/UpFile/UpAttachment/2007-10/2007106164455.jpg)

http://baike.baidu.com/pic/61/1179532209618677.jpg

[SBL]

^Soap Operas don't count.

[Loke-Gao-Zhu]

^Soap Operas don't count.

Well at least it portrays the KMT uniforms and weapons, quite cool

if it's against the forums rule, i'll remove it ^^

[SBL]

Well at least it portrays the KMT uniforms and weapons, quite cool

if it's against the forums rule, i'll remove it ^^

Well it's not exactly against forum rules, but I know I'd rather look at some actual photographs or something.

[gaijinsamurai]

One of their biggest weaknesses was the corrupt nature and lack of will that many of the KMT officers had in battling the Communists.

[Donger94107]

Hey, thanks for all the relies.
Didn't mean to start a political discourse here; just sought some help.

I'll just take my vintage KMT lunchbox, with matching Thermos, and go sit with some other kids.

Hoist a Chairman Mao ale for me, extra pale.

[boone]

Hoist a Chairman Mao ale for me, extra pale.

Lighten-up, Francis.
The KMT was inherently corrupt....but no more than the Commies,
China is China.

[gaijinsamurai]

While my previous post mentioned the fact that the KMT was plagued by corruption amongst the officers, that is not to say they were all corrupt. Many fought the Japanese and Communists well, and were dedicated to China. It's just too bad that their struggle was compromised by many of their fellow officers, as well as mistakes by Chaing Kai Shek and the West.

[boone]

I never meant to imply that the Chinese troops didn't fight valiantly, on both sides.

[Ordie]

The KMT Army was very instrumental in the development of modern China. More specifically in the Northern Expedition. This campaign alone was a formative period for many future KMT and CCP military leaders.

Zhu De (father of the PLA) once taught many future KMT officers involved in the Northern Campaign at Yunnan Military Academy. Sun Li-jen, Commanded the New 1st Army and was an effective leader in the China-Burma-India campaign.

Note that not all 'warlords' or former warlords were evil. Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng kidnapped Chiang Kai Shek in Xian until he had agreed to a CCP/KMT alliance against the Japanese. Zhang Xueliang died in Honolulu in 2001, Yang Hucheng was executed by the KMT in 1949.

Among over 100 Divisions, Chiang Kai Shek played favorites and shifted resources to those who were loyal. Given this situation, some units who were out of favor did very well especially in Jiangxi provence cut off from the KMT Hq. in Chungking and supply lines from Kunmming. Others soldiers who did poorly under KMT command, did exceptionally well under once they shifted to the Communist.

I would not dismiss the KMT forces altogether. Keep in mind that China was involved in the war much longer than all of the Allies. Much of the KMT strategy was to trade land for time. Moreover towards the "American Period" the Allies only wanted the KMT to keep the Japanese 'busy' enough in order to put more resources into Europe and the Island Campaign.

This policy failed because the Japanese Army in China was strong enough to engage in an offensive that took over allied airfields and bases with "Operation Ichigo" in 1944.

[retrobob]

Two good titles from the Osprey 'Men at Arms' series:

1) 'The Chinese Amy 1937-49' by Phillip Jowett.Illustrated by Stephen Walsh
2) 'Chinese Civil War Armies 1911-1949' by Phillip Jowet.Illustrated by Stephen Andrew.

Both give not too deep, but very interesting 'overviews' of the respective armies/conflicts. The photos and illustrations are excellent.

www.ospreypublishing.com