A vivid portrait of the final years of the civil war between the Chinese Nationalists and Communists, including many previously unpublished photos. This volume in the Images of War series is the first photographic history of the Chinese Civil War, fought between Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists and the Communists of Mao Tse-tung, which decided the future of modern China. A selection of over two hundred archive photographs, many of which have not been published before, depict the battle for power that took place across the breadth of the country. The armies, air forces, and navies of the opposing sides are shown in a sequence of graphic images, as is the ordeal of the long-suffering Chinese civilians who were caught up in a conflict that cost millions of lives. Detailed accompanying text describes the make-up of the Nationalist and Communist forces, and their contrasting strategies, tactics, and leadership. This is a visceral and concise introduction to a pivotal conflict that has left an indelible mark on the China of today—and on the rest of the world.
