Whampoa Military Academy

The Nationalist Party of China Army Officer Academy ({{zh-cp|c=中國國民黨陸軍軍官學校|p=Zhōngguó Guómíndǎng Lùjūn Jūnguān Xuéxiào}}), commonly known as the Whampoa Military Academy ({{zh-cp|c=黃埔軍校|p=Huángpŭ Jūnxiào}}), was a military academy in China that produced many prestigious commanders who fought in the Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War.

Related Topics:
Military academy - China - Sino-Japanese War - Chinese Civil War

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The military academy was founded in 1924. It currently exists in Taiwan as the Chinese Military Academy.

Related Topics:
1924 - Taiwan - Chinese Military Academy

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The academy was founded on June 16, 1924 at 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 of the lyrics of the ROC's national Anthem.

Related Topics:
June 16 - Whampoa - Guangzhou - Sun Yat-sen - ROC's national Anthem

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The plan of this establishment came from failures and frustrations experienced by Sun during his struggle against Qing Dyansty and later Yuan Shikai, in which he relied on some warlords against other warlords, but only to find out all of them were untrustworthy and the only solution was to have his own army.Then in 1921 the representative of Comintern,Henk Sneevliet(using the name Maring) met with Sun in Guangxi, and proposed he set up a military academy and train revolution army, which confirmed Sun's first thought and he accepted that with no hesitation.Communist Party of China sent Li Dazhao and Lin Boqu(???in Chinese) 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 Soviet Union and CPC was passed as guidance for KMT. As a result, the final decision of establishment of military academy was made and preparatory committee was set up accordingly.

Related Topics:
Yuan Shikai - Comintern - Henk Sneevliet - Guangxi - Communist Party of China - Li Dazhao - Kuomintang - Soviet Union

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The Whampoa Military Academy was comprised of six departments: political, instruction, training, management, medic and supplies. 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 a honorary title. Sun's favorite and rising star Chiang Kai-shek was appointed the first principal of the academy. Liao Zhongkai(???in Chinese), 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, and He Yingqin and Ye Jianying were once military instructors. The representative of Soviet Union Borodin was counsellor, which was a tribute for his country's generous support in both money and military advisors such as general Vasily Blyukher.

Related Topics:
Chiang Kai-shek - Kuomintang - Zhou Enlai - Hu Han-min - Wang Ching-wei - Ye Jianying - Borodin - Vasily Blyukher

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The lessons of academy integrate military with political instruction, theroy with practice.The students learned strategy, tactic,arsenal and other military theories, and they learn both political thoughts of Sun and Communism.Famous leaders or important activists both from KMT and CPC such as Tan Yankai(???in Chinese), Zhang Jingjiang(???in Chinese)?Mao Zedong,Liu Shaoqi gave lectures to students which greatly inspired and enlightened them.

Related Topics:
Communism - Mao Zedong - Liu Shaoqi

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Legendary graduates included Communist commanders Lin Biao, Xu Xiangqian,Zuo Quan(??in Chinese)?Chen Geng???in Chinese)? and Nationalist commanders Chen Cheng, Du Yuming, and Hu Zongnan. These young and brave students showed their powers and courage firstly in the war against lcoal warlord and dissident of Sun , Chen Jiongming(???in Chinese)?and later the unification of Guangdong province. Then they made greater contributions in the followingNorthern Expedition.

Related Topics:
Lin Biao - Xu Xiangqian - Chen Cheng - Du Yuming - Northern Expedition

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The original Whompoa Military Academy did exist from 1924 to 1926, with its 6 terms having enrollees more than 7000.However, after Chiang Kai-shek's break with 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.

Related Topics:
Communist Party of China - Northern Expedition - Nanjing - 1928 - Chengdu

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In 1950, after the Communist victory on mainland China and the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the academy was re-established Fengshan, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan Province as the Chinese Military Academy (陸軍官校).

Related Topics:
1950 - Mainland China - People's Republic of China - Fengshan - Kaohsiung County - Taiwan Province - Chinese Military Academy

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The Whampoa Military Academy plays an important role in Chinese history. Although it is a military academy aiming to train military elites as West Point Military Academy, it have more influence on Chinese history than West Point on American history. For it not only supplies many military commanders for both KMT and CPC, but also its enrollees have much influence on both parties polcies and governance.Especially for Chiang and KMT, the Whompoa Clique was pivotal for his governance.It competed with other cliques of KMT such as 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(???in Chinese) and Zhang Qun(??in Chinese).At the same time, when CPC built its first red army after Nanchang Uprisingin 1927, most of its commanders were from Whompoa, and in the following two decades, CPC trained its army in the Whampoa way.

Related Topics:
West Point Military Academy - Li Zongren - Bai Chongxi - Nanchang Uprising

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The motto of the academy "Camaraderie" (親愛精誠, literally 'Fraternity, Devotion, Sincerity') was proclaimed by Sun Yat-sen at the opening ceremonies.But the irony is that during the Chinese Civil War, for many times , both the commanders from KMT and CPC were trained and educated in Whompoa too.They had to fight for different beliefs and ideals althought they used to live and study together like brothers in arms.

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