Also, bear in mind that Chiang got plenty of help from the Soviets too, and the US, before both countries even fought Japan. Chiang was only glad to receive help when he could.
Communist revolutionary armies don’t quintuple their size with volunteers in three years after you technically repelled a genocidal conquest when you rule with the consent of the governed.
KMT was corrupt and had to appease various warlords who allied with them. Mao exploited that inherent division to persuade the population to turn against KMT and Chiang. Mao also convinced many KMT soldiers to defect after Chiang’s disastrous Manchurian campaign. There was a AskHistorians thread about it before which explains KMT’s collapse and retreat to Taiwan.
Chiang is hardly fascist.
Also, bear in mind that Chiang got plenty of help from the Soviets too, and the US, before both countries even fought Japan. Chiang was only glad to receive help when he could.
KMT was corrupt and had to appease various warlords who allied with them. Mao exploited that inherent division to persuade the population to turn against KMT and Chiang. Mao also convinced many KMT soldiers to defect after Chiang’s disastrous Manchurian campaign. There was a AskHistorians thread about it before which explains KMT’s collapse and retreat to Taiwan.