China During the Cold War

This video details some of the events that happened in China at the end of World War II that lead to the formation of the People’s Republic of China. There was much internal strife in China during World War II. Even as the country was fighting for its survival against Japan, there was internal strife between the Nationalists lead by Chang Kai-Shek and the Communists lead by Mao Zedong. Once the Japanese had been defeated and the Soviets had left Manchuria, Communists (Red Army) under Mao moved into the region. The major cities were occupied by the Nationalists forces supported by the Americans and lead by Chang Kai-Shek. These groups (the Communists and the Nationalists) began open hostilities again and pushed the Nationalist and Chang Kai-Shek from the mainland to Taiwan. These hostilities began in 1946 and were concluded in 1949 with the declaration and formation of the People’s Republic of China under Mao.