The Rise and Fall of an Officer Corps: The Republic of China Military, 1942–1955

257 Pages·2018·7.809 MB·English

by  Eric Setzekorn

THE RISE AND FALL OF
AN OFFICER CORPS
T H E R E P U B L I C O F C H I N A
M I L I TA RY, 1 9 4 2 – 1 9 5 5
E R I C S E T Z E K O R N
The RISE and FALL of an OFFICER CORPS

The RISE and FALL
of an OFFICER CORPS
The Republic of China Military,
1942–1955
Eric Setzekorn
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA PRESS : NORMAN
Publication of this book is made possible through
the generosity of Edith Kinney Gaylord.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Name: Setzekorn, Eric B., author.
Title: The rise and fall of an officer corps : the Republic of China military, 1942–1955 / Eric
Setzekorn.
Other titles: Republic of China military, 1942–1955
Description: Norman, OK : University of Oklahoma Press [2018] | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018002611 | ISBN 978-0-8061-6118-1 (hardcover : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: China. Lu jun—History. | China (Republic : 1949– ). Lu jun—History.
Classification: LCC UA837 .S38 2018 | DDC 355.00951249/09044—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018002611
The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee
on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources, Inc. ∞
Copyright © 2018 by the University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Publishing Division of the
University. Manufactured in the U.S.A.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise—except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the United States Copyright
Act—without the prior written permission of the University of Oklahoma Press. To request
permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to Permissions, University of Oklahoma
Press, 2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069, or email [email protected].
Contents
List of Figures ∙ vii
Acknowledgments ∙ ix
Abbreviations and Acronyms ∙ xi
Introduction ∙ 3
1. The Development of the Chinese Army, 1850–1927 ∙ 16
2. A Party Army, 1927–1942 ∙ 39
3. Americans and Officers, 1942–1945 ∙ 55
4. A National Army for China, 1945–1949 ∙ 84
5. Refining the Army Profession, 1950–1953 ∙ 117
6. Restoring the Party to Dominance, 1953–1955 ∙ 139
Conclusion ∙ 161
Notes ∙ 175
Bibliography ∙ 207
Index ∙ 233
v

Figures
Army officers in the late Qing Dynasty ∙ 76
Senior officers in the 3rd Division, Qing Imperial Army ∙ 76
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek ∙ 77
U.S. instructor with Chinese mortar regiment ∙ 78
U.S. Army instructors conducting machine-gun training
for Chinese troops ∙ 78
Lt. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell inspecting Chinese troops in India ∙ 79
Generalissimo and Madame Chiang Kai-shek and
Lt. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell ∙ 79
Gen. Sun Li-jen on the front lines in Burma ∙ 80
Gen. Hsiung Shih-fei and Gen. George Marshall ∙ 80
Garden party at Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C. ∙ 81
Chiang Kai-shek meets with Gen. Albert C. Wedemeyer ∙ 82
Maj. Gen. William Chase ∙ 82
Ambassador Karl Rankin in Taiwan ∙ 83
Troops of the Republic of China Army ∙ 83
vii

Acknowledgments
t is a great pleasure to recognize some of the special people who have helped,
I
supported, and assisted with my research over the past several years.
Beginning almost two decades ago at UC Berkeley, Robert Middlekauff and
Wen-Hsin Yeh were tremendously helpful and provided a great example for an
undergraduate. At UC Irvine, Kenneth Pomeranz and Jeffrey Wasserstrom were
exceedingly patient as I engaged with graduate coursework after five years away
from academia.
At George Washington University, my PhD dissertation committee has been
exceedingly helpful throughout the research, writing, and revision process. My
primary adviser, Edward McCord, has been a pillar of wisdom and reviewed
draft after draft of my work. Since I began my studies at George Washington
University in the spring of 2009, he has overseen every aspect of my academic
progress and supplied encouragement or a kick in the pants as necessary. Thomas
Long, Gregg Brazinsky, and Daqing Yang were also vitally important for keeping
my energy and interest high.
The U.S. Army Center for Military History (CMH), the Smith-Richardson
Foundation, Peking University, and the Ministry of Education for the Republic
of China all generously supported my research.
Lastly, I want to thank Janice for her understanding of the baffling existence
that is graduate school. My absence on long trips to dusty archives and numerous
beautiful weekends spent indoors poring over forgotten books is at best eccentric
behavior. Her patience and support made this project a reality.
ix