| TheInternationalSultan/sandbox | |
|---|---|
| 國民革命軍 | |
| Disbanded | December 1947 |
| Country | Republic of China |
| Allegiance | Kuomintang |
| Type | Army |
| Role | Ground warfare |
| Size | 1.6 million (peak during the Second Sino-Japanese War) |
| Garrison/HQ | Nanjing |
| Motto(s) | "Revolutionary and Nationalist Army" |
| Colors | Blue, White, Red |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Chiang Kai-shek, He Yingqin, Chen Cheng |
| Insignia | |
| Flag | File:Flag of the National Revolutionary Army.svg |
Introduction
editThe National Revolutionary Army (Chinese: 國民革命軍, Template:Lang-pinyin, Template:Lang-wg), also known as the National Army (Chinese: 國民軍, Template:Lang-pinyin, Template:Lang-wg), was the military arm of the Kuomintang (KMT) during the Republican era of China. Established on June 16, 1924, the NRA played a crucial role in the Northern Expedition, the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the Chinese Civil War. After the 1947 constitution of the Republic of China, it was reformed as the Republic of China Armed Forces.
Central Army of the National Army (中央军)
editThe Central Army (Chinese: 中央军, Template:Lang-pinyin, Template:Lang-wg) was the core military force under the direct control of Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi). It evolved from the First Army of the NRA and played a pivotal role in consolidating power and executing major military campaigns.
Organization
edit| Division | Strength |
|---|---|
| 1st Division | 10,000 |
| 2nd Division | 10,000 |
| 3rd Division | 10,000 |
| 4th Division | 10,000 |
| 5th Division | 10,000 |
| 6th Division | 10,000 |
| 7th Division | 10,000 |
| 8th Division | 10,000 |
| 9th Division | 10,000 |
| 10th Division | 10,000 |
| 11th Division | 10,000 |
| 12th Division | 10,000 |
| 13th Division | 10,000 |
| 14th Division | 10,000 |
| 15th Division | 10,000 |
| 16th Division | 10,000 |
| 17th Division | 10,000 |
| 18th Division | 10,000 |
| 19th Division | 10,000 |
| 20th Division | 10,000 |
| 21st Division | 10,000 |
| 22nd Division | 10,000 |
| 23rd Division | 10,000 |
| 24th Division | 10,000 |
| 25th Division | 10,000 |
| 26th Division | 10,000 |
| 27th Division | 10,000 |
| 28th Division | 10,000 |
| 29th Division | 10,000 |
| 30th Division | 10,000 |
| 31st Division | 10,000 |
| 32nd Division | 10,000 |
| 33rd Division | 10,000 |
| 34th Division | 10,000 |
| 35th Division | 10,000 |
| 36th Division | 10,000 |
| 37th Division | 10,000 |
Huangpu Clique of the Central Army (黃埔系)
editThe Huangpu Clique (Chinese: 黃埔系, Template:Lang-pinyin, Template:Lang-wg) was the most influential military faction within the National Army. Established by Chiang Kai-shek, it consisted of graduates from the Whampoa Military Academy (黃埔軍校, Template:Lang-pinyin, Template:Lang-wg).
Origins and Development
editThe Huangpu Clique derived its name from the Whampoa Military Academy (Huangpu in Chinese), which was established in 1924 with significant Soviet assistance. Chiang Kai-shek, as the academy's first commandant, used it as a training ground for his loyalists. Graduates from the academy formed the core of this faction, which was instrumental in many of Chiang's military campaigns, including the Northern Expedition (1926-1928), which aimed to unify China under the GMD.
Influence and Activities
editThe influence of the Huangpu Clique extended beyond the battlefield into political spheres. Prominent members like He Yingqin (何應欽, Template:Lang-pinyin, Template:Lang-wg) and Chen Cheng (陳誠, Template:Lang-pinyin, Template:Lang-wg) held key military and political positions. This network of influence helped Chiang implement his policies with minimal resistance. However, the clique's dominance also led to internal friction within the GMD, as other factions felt marginalized.
Civil Engineering Clique of the Central Army
editThe Civil Engineering Clique (工兵系, Template:Lang-pinyin, Template:Lang-wg) was established by General Chen Cheng. Trusted by Chiang Kai-shek, Chen Cheng elevated the Eighteenth Army’s status, integrating its members into significant administrative and military roles. By 1937, the Eighteenth Army consisted of ten divisions with 70,000 soldiers, participating in major battles such as Shanghai, Wuhan, and Zaoyi. After the War of Resistance, it reorganized to confront the People’s Liberation Army during the Chinese Civil War, notably achieving victory at Guningtou in 1949.
Formation and Role
editThe Civil Engineering Clique was not just a military faction but also had significant influence in civil administration and infrastructure projects, reflecting its name. Chen Cheng, an adept military leader and a skilled administrator, used his faction to implement large-scale infrastructure projects which helped bolster the war effort against Japan and later in the civil war against the Communists.
Miscellaneous Armies of the National Army
editThe Miscellaneous Armies referred to forces not directly affiliated with the National Army’s formal factions. These included provincial armies like the Dian, Xikang, and Jinsui Armies. Despite their limited operational capabilities, they supported the Central Army through flexible deployments and support roles. For example, the Sichuan Army contributed over 3,500,000 troops during the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the 60th Army of the Dian Army significantly aided the victory at Taierzhuang.
Provincial Armies and Their Significance
editProvincial armies, such as the Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guangxi armies, played critical roles during the warlord era and beyond. These armies often operated semi-independently from the central government, reflecting the fragmented nature of China during this period. Their leaders, often warlords, maintained their own power bases and negotiated terms of cooperation with the central government.
Xingui Clique of the National Army (新桂系)
editFounded by Li Zongren (李宗仁, Template:Lang-pinyin, Template:Lang-wg), Bai Chongxi (白崇禧, Template:Lang-pinyin, Template:Lang-wg), and Huang Shaohong (黃紹竑, Template:Lang-pinyin, Template:Lang-wg), the Xingui Clique retained control over its military and territories in Guangxi after integration into the NRA. Despite occasional resistance to Chiang Kai-shek’s authority, they reconciled to combat Japanese aggression. By 1937, the Xingui Clique fielded 100,000-200,000 well-trained soldiers. Following WWII, internal conflicts with the Nanking Government resurfaced, culminating in the Clique's destruction during the Guangxi Campaign in 1949, with remnants fleeing to Taiwan.
Key Figures and Conflicts
editLi Zongren and Bai Chongxi were significant military leaders whose influence extended beyond Guangxi. They were known for their military prowess, particularly during the Northern Expedition and the defense against Japanese forces in the Battle of Taierzhuang in 1938. However, their relationship with Chiang Kai-shek was fraught with tension, leading to multiple conflicts like the Chiang-Gui War and the Central Plains War.
Dian Clique of the National Army (滇系军阀)
editThe Dian Clique (滇系, Template:Lang-pinyin, Template:Lang-wg) was centered in Yunnan province. Under the leadership of warlords like Long Yun (龍雲, Template:Lang-pinyin, Template:Lang-wg), the Dian Clique maintained significant autonomy while contributing troops to national causes. The 60th Army, a key force within the Dian Clique, was crucial in several battles during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
References
edit- Boorman, Howard L. *Biographical Dictionary of Republican China*. Columbia University Press.
- Van de Ven, Hans J. *War and Nationalism in China: 1925-1945*. Routledge.
- Hsu, Long-hsuen; Chang, Ming-kai. *History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945)*. Chung Wu Publishing.
- Liu, Xiaoyuan. *A Partnership for Disorder: China, the United States, and Their Policies for the Postwar Disposition of the Japanese Empire, 1941-1945*. Cambridge University Press.
External Links
editSee Also
editPenetration of the center
edit[[File:Siege-alesia-vercingetorix-jules-cesar.jpg|thumb|300px|The Siege of Alesia, where Julius Caesar attacked from a defensive position]]
The penetration of the center is a maneuver that involves exploiting a gap in the enemy line to drive directly to the enemy's command or base. This can cause the enemy to panic, lose cohesion, or retreat. Two ways of accomplishing this are separating enemy forces then using a reserve to exploit the gap (e.g. Battle of Chaeronea (338 BC)), or having fast, elite forces smash at a weak spot (or an area where your elites are at their best in striking power) and using reserves to hold the line while the elite forces continue forward, exploiting the gap immediately (i.e., blitzkrieg). A famous example of this maneuver is the Battle of Issus, where Alexander the Great broke through the center of the Persian army and pursued Darius III, forcing him to flee and abandon his army. [^1^][1]
Attack from a defensive position
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The attack from a defensive position is a maneuver that involves establishing a strong defensive position from which to defend and attack your opponent. This can allow the attacker to conserve their strength, lure the enemy into a trap, or inflict heavy casualties on the enemy. However, the defensive can become too passive and result in ultimate defeat. A famous example of this maneuver is the Siege of Alesia, where Julius Caesar built a double line of fortifications around the town of Alesia, where the Gauls under Vercingetorix were besieged. Caesar then repelled the attacks of the Gauls inside and outside the town, and eventually forced them to surrender. [^2^][2]
Single envelopment
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The single envelopment is a maneuver that involves a consolidated prong (flank) beating its opponent opposite end, and with the aid of holding attacks, attack an opponent in the rear. This can cause the enemy to be surrounded, outflanked, or cut off from their lines of communication. Sometimes, the establishment of a strong, hidden force behind a weak flank will prevent your opponent from carrying out their own single envelopment. A famous example of this maneuver is the Battle of Rocroi, where the French under the Duke of Enghien attacked the right flank of the Spanish army, while holding the center and left flank with infantry and artillery. The French then broke through the Spanish flank and attacked them from the rear, causing them to collapse and retreat. [^3^][3]
Double envelopment
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The double envelopment is a maneuver that involves attacking both flanks of the enemy simultaneously, while holding the center with a weaker force. This can cause the enemy to be encircled, isolated, or annihilated. This maneuver requires a high degree of coordination, timing, and numerical superiority. A famous example of this maneuver is the Battle of Cannae, where Hannibal used his Numidian cavalry to attack the Roman cavalry on both wings, while his Carthaginian and allied infantry held the center with a convex formation. The Romans, who had a larger army, advanced into the center, but were gradually pushed back by the Carthaginians, who then formed a concave formation. The Numidian cavalry then returned from chasing the Roman cavalry and attacked the Roman rear, completing the encirclement. The Romans were then massacred by the Carthaginians, losing about 50,000 men. [^4^][4]
Feigned retreat
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The feigned retreat is a maneuver that involves pretending to flee or withdraw from the enemy, in order to lure them into a trap, expose their weaknesses, or break their formation. This can cause the enemy to pursue recklessly, lose discipline, or fall into an ambush. This maneuver requires a high degree of deception, discipline, and mobility. The earliest known use of this maneuver is the Battle of Maling, where the Qi general Tian Ji used his chariots to feign a retreat, and then turned around and attacked the pursuing Wei army, causing them to panic and flee. A famous example of this maneuver is the Battle of Hastings, where the Normans under William the Conqueror repeatedly feigned retreats to draw out the English army from their defensive position on a hill, and then attacked them with cavalry and archers, causing them to lose cohesion and morale. The Normans then killed the English king Harold Godwinson and won the battle.
Pincer movement
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The pincer movement is a maneuver that involves attacking the enemy from two or more directions, usually from the front and the sides. This can cause the enemy to be squeezed, divided, or overwhelmed. This maneuver requires a high degree of coordination, speed, and surprise. A famous example of this maneuver is the Battle of Gaugamela, where Alexander the Great used his cavalry to attack the flanks of the Persian army, while his infantry held the center. The Persians, who had a much larger army, were unable to use their numerical advantage, and were forced to fight on multiple fronts. The Persian king Darius III then fled the battlefield, leaving his army to be routed by the Macedonians.
Hammer and anvil
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The hammer and anvil is a maneuver that involves pinning the enemy in place with a strong force (the anvil), and then striking them with another force (the hammer). This can cause the enemy to be crushed, broken, or dispersed. This maneuver requires a high degree of cooperation, timing, and power. A famous example of this maneuver is the Battle of Plataea, where the Greeks under Pausanias and Aristides used their heavy infantry (hoplites) to hold the center against the Persian army, while their light infantry and cavalry attacked the Persian flanks and rear. The Persians, who had a more diverse but less disciplined army, were unable to break through the Greek line, and were then attacked from behind by the Greek hammer. The Persians then fled the battlefield, ending the Greco-Persian Wars.
Flanking maneuver
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The flanking maneuver is a maneuver that involves attacking the enemy from the side or the rear, rather than from the front. This can cause the enemy to be outflanked, surprised, or exposed. This maneuver requires a high degree of mobility, stealth, and initiative. A famous example of this maneuver is the Battle of Leuctra, where the Thebans under Epaminondas used a novel formation to attack the right flank of the Spartans, while avoiding their left flank. The Thebans, who had a smaller but more cohesive army, concentrated their forces on a narrow front