THE CHINESE CIVIL WAR

1927 – 1950

Differences in thinking wrought much tension between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Kuomintang, also known as the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). The Shanghai Massacre—the violent suppression of CCP organizations—and the collapse of the First United Front in 1927 induced the beginning of the Chinese Civil War. There were three phases: from August 1927 to 1937, the KMT-CCP Alliance collapsed, and the Nationalists controlled most of China. From 1937 to 1945, hostilities between the parties were put on hold in the face of the Japanese invasion of China, and the two parties joined forces to form the Second United Front against the common adversary. With Japan's surrender in 1945, the Chinese Civil War resumed with the Soviet-backed CCP gaining the upper hand.

Ultimately, the war ended with the separation of Taiwan (Republic of China) from China (People's Republic of China) in 1949.