Whampoa Military Academy
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The Nationalist Party of China Army Officer Academy (traditional Chinese: 中國國民黨陸軍軍官學校; simplified Chinese: 中国国民党陆军军官学校; pinyin: Zhōngguó Guómíndǎng Lùjūn Jūnguān Xuéxiào), commonly known as the Whampoa Military Academy (traditional Chinese: 黃埔軍校; simplified Chinese: 黄埔军校; pinyin: Huángpŭ Jūnxiào), was a military academy in the Republic of China (ROC) that produced many prestigious commanders who fought in many of China's conflicts in the 20th century, notably the Northern Expedition, the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the Chinese Civil War.
The military academy was officially opened on June 16, 1924 under the Kuomintang (KMT) but first lessons began on May 1, 1924. The inauguration was on Chengzhou Island offshore from the Whampoa dock in Guangzhou, thus earning its common name. During the inaugural ceremonies, Sun Yat-sen delivered a speech that was later to become the lyrics of the national anthem of the Republic of China.
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[edit] Establishment
After the death of Yuan Shikai, China fragmented into numerous fiefdoms ruled by warlords. Sun Yat-sen attempted in 1917 and 1920 to set up a base in his native Guangdong to launch a northern campaign to unite China under his Three Principles of the People. However, his rival governments remained militarily weaker than local warlords. Calls by Sun for arms and money were ignored by the western powers. Then in 1921 the representative of Comintern, Henk Sneevliet (using the name Maring), met with Sun in Guangxi. He proposed to set up a military academy and train the revolutionary army, which confirmed Sun's ideas and he accepted that with no hesitation. The Communist Party of China sent Li Dazhao and Lin Boqu (林伯渠) to discuss with Sun and his party on how to set up this academy. In 1924 in the 1st National Congress of Kuomintang, the policy of alliance with the Soviet Union and CPC was passed as guidance for KMT. As a result, the final decision of establishment of a military academy was made and preparatory committee was set up accordingly. The money necessary for the construction and support of the Academy in 1924-1925 were provided by the Soviets.
[edit] Organization, Training and Students
In the beginning, the Academy had only one department which provided soldiers with basic training. While the main Academy goal was preparation of infantry units, it also provided special classes for artillery, engineering, communication, logistical and machine gun units. A special department for preparation of political agitators was established later.
The academy concentrated the revolutionary military talents at the time. Sun took the job of Premier of this academy in person although it was just an honorary title. Sun's favorite and rising star Chiang Kai-shek was appointed the first commandant of the academy. Liao Zhongkai (廖仲愷), the famous leftist of Kuomintang and Sun's treasure secretary was appointed as representative of KMT to the academy. Zhou Enlai, Hu Han-min, and Wang Ching-wei were among the instructors in the political department. He Yingqin and Ye Jianying were once military instructors.
The serious lack of expert teachers was the biggest problem for the Academy. That is why lectures delivered by Soviet officers were extremely popular among students: A.S. Bubnov, G.I. Gilev, M.I. Dratvin, S.N. Naumov prepared lectures which explained the development of military thought throughout human history and the division between western and Soviet schools of military thought.
Also ex-officers of the Russian White Army, who switched to the Soviet side after 1917, taught different military subjects in the Academy using their broad experience gained during the Russian Civil War. Among them were I. Vasilevich (Janovsky), N. Korneev, M. Nefedov, F. Kotov (Katyushin), P. Lunev, V. Akimov. Galina Kolchugina (wife of Vasily Blyukher who was Commander-in-Chief of all Soviet "volunteer" forces sent to China) read a course of lectures on political agitation.
First two groups of students prepared by the Academy became the core for formation of the first two National Revolutionary Army regiments (V.A. Stepanov was an advisor provided by the Soviet Union to help in this matter). The first two prepared groups of students included 500 officers, the third one had 800 officers and the fourth one already had 2000.
Legendary graduates included Communist commanders Lin Biao, Xu Xiangqian, Zuo Quan (左權)，Chen Geng（陳賡)，and Nationalist commanders Chen Cheng, Du Yuming, and Hu Zongnan. These young students first showed their training and courage in the war against local warlord and dissident of Sun, Chen Jiongming (陳炯明)，and later the unification of Guangdong province. Then they made greater contributions in the Northern Expedition.
[edit] Influence
The Whampoa Military Academy plays an important role in Chinese history. Although it is primarily a military academy aiming to train military elites like the United States Military Academy, it has more influence on Chinese history than West Point does on 20th and 21st century American history. It not only supplied many military commanders for both the KMT and CCP, but also its graduates have much more influence on both parties' policies and governance. Especially for Chiang and KMT, the Whampoa Clique was pivotal for his governance. It competed with other cliques of KMT such as the New Guangxi Clique led by Li Zongren and Bai Chongxi, CC Clique led by Chen Lifu and Chen Guofu, Politics Research Group led by Yang Yongtai (楊永泰) and Zhang Qun (張群). At the same time, when the CPC built its first Red Army after the Nanchang Uprising in 1927 most of its commanders were from Whampoa, and in the following two decades, the CPC trained its army in the Whampoa way.
The motto of the academy "Camaraderie" (親愛精誠, literally 'Fraternity, Dexterity, Sincerity') was proclaimed by Sun Yat-sen at the opening ceremonies. The irony is that during the Chinese Civil War both the commanders from KMT and CPC were trained and educated in Whampoa. They fought for different beliefs and ideals although they used to live and study together like brothers in arms.
The academy also had significant influence over the 20th century history of other Asian countries. The fourth term of the Academy saw students not only from all parts of China, but also from different parts of Asia enroll. For example, there were 30 Koreans among them. Some of them were brought up in China, others were active participants during the national liberation movement of Korea in 1917-1926 and emigrated to China later only to take up arms for struggle for freedom of their country once again after the education was over.
Also a big group of students was originally from Vietnam. This group was led by an exiled to-be leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Vietnamese struggle for independence Ho Chi Minh.
[edit] Relocations
The original Whampoa Military Academy existed from 1924 to 1926, over 6 terms it enrolled more than 7000. However, after Chiang Kai-shek's betrayed the Communist Party of China (CPC) during the Northern Expedition the academy was moved to the newly established capital in Nanjing after the defeat of the warlords in 1928. The academy moved again to Chengdu during the Japanese invasion.
In 1950, after the Communist victory on mainland China and the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the academy followed KMT and was re-established in Fongshan, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan as the Chinese Military Academy (陸軍官校) and changed name in 2004 to the Military University. (軍官大學).
[edit] See also
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- National Revolutionary Army
- Chiang Kai-shek
- Warlord era
- Military of the Republic of China
- Kuomintang
- Sino-German cooperation
- History of the Republic of China
- Central Plains War
[edit] External links
