Quick questions on The Second United Front 1937-1945: HSC Modern History National Study China

The CCP and KMT signed the formal Second United Front agreement in September 1937 after war with Japan had begun.

Most cooperation was political theatre. Both parties used the Front to compete for legitimacy with intellectuals, students, and overseas Chinese. The CCP's Yan'an became a destination for thousands of Chinese youth and Western journalists. KMT Chongqing was simultaneously the official wartime capital and the focus of corruption charges.

The New Fourth Army operated in central China south of the Yangtze. The KMT high command ordered it north of the Yellow River in 1940; the CCP delayed compliance. On 5 January 1941, KMT forces under General Gu Zhutong attacked the New Fourth Army headquarters column of around 9,000 men in southern Anhui. Fighting lasted until 13 January.

From 1942 to 1944 Mao consolidated his ideological control over the CCP through the "Yan'an Rectification Movement" (Zhengfeng). Studied texts included Mao's own writings ("Reform Our Study," "Oppose Stereotyped Party Writing"). The movement crushed Wang Ming's Comintern faction and Kang Sheng's secret-police operations against alleged spies escalated; perhaps several thousand were killed or driven to suicide.

The Second United Front formally lasted until the Japanese surrender. Real cooperation had ended at the New Fourth Army Incident. Marshall Mission talks (December 1945 to January 1947) tried to revive a national coalition after the war but failed.

Source A is an extract from the Xi'an Incident negotiations (December 1936). Using Source A and your own knowledge, explain the formation of the Second United Front. [5 marks]

Evaluate the extent to which the Second United Front was a meaningful alliance between the KMT and the CCP. [25 marks]

Compare the views of Rana Mitter and Hans van de Ven on the Second United Front. [10 marks]