P.L.A. – Peoples Liberation Army

1. P.L.A. – Peoples Liberation Army Clarence & Matthew

2. Nationalist Army V.S P.L.A. P.L.A. Nationalist Army. • Held most of its power in major cities. • Held most of its power in central and northern china (countryside). • Wanted control of China after World War Two. • Supported by U.S.A (equipment) • Had no foreign support • Used conventional warfare to drive out communist strongholds • Used Guerilla tactics • Wanted to unite China against warlordism. • United and drawn together by Mao's ideals • Divided and generally corrupt • Well treated and had strict guidelines. • Poorly trained and had low moral • Communists only had 320,000 troops (1946) • Nationalists had 2,800,000 troops • (1946)

3. Structure • This revolutionary army was to have both a political and social role. • These roles consisted of doing • propaganda among the masses • organizing the masses • arming the masses • helping them to establish revolutionary political power • setting up Party organizations. • While doing this, the Party at all times was to maintain control over the army. Most Chinese political leaders (Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Zhu De, Ye Jianying, Lin Biao, and many others) had military careers while at the same time serving in the civilian power structure reflects this dual role of the PLA. The participation of the political elite in military affairs also meant that there was little emphasis on formal training of officers. In the PLA, being 'red' was always considered better than being 'expert'. The political character of the PLA also contributed to the formation of a mystique of the army as a disciplined, politically conscious force that was closely engaged with the task of rebuilding the nation.

4. Originally part of Nationalist Revolutionary Army • 1.2 to 4 million men from 1946-49 • 5 million strong “peasant” army, 1949 • 10,000 in Air-force (1949) and 60,000 in Navy (1950) • Chinese Militia 5.5 million strong • Ill trained, politically unreliable troops removed • Reduction of size to 2.8 million Size

5. Mass modernization of PLA in 1950s • Support from Soviet Union, in military equipment • Introduction of ranking system • New equipment and structure • Meant an increase in education • Mao feared the loss of control of PLA • Replaces Defense Minister Peng Dehuai with Lin Biao • Emphasis on revolutionary zeal Restructuring

6. 8 points for attention: • Speak politely • Pay fairly for what you buy • Return everything you borrow • Pay for anything you damage • Don’t hit or swear at people • Don’t damage crops • Don’t take liberties with women • Don’t ill-treat captives • 3 main rules of discipline: • Obey orders in all your actions • Don’t take a single needle or piece of thread from the masses • Turn in everything captured Policies

7. Results • Showed organization • Major propaganda piece • Appealed to Peasants through policies • Armies converted to helper units • PLA modernization introduced greater discipline • PLA restructuring kept Mao in control • Used in Cultural Revolution

8. “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun” • “The guerilla must move among the people as a fish swims in the sea” • “The army must become one with the people… such an army will be invincible” -Mao Zedong Historian views