Guominjun

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Not to be confused with Kuomintang (國民黨) or National Revolutionary Army (國民革命軍).
"Northwest Army" redirects here. For the Indian army unit formerly known as the Northwestern Army, see Northern Command (India).
Guominjun
LeadersFeng Yuxiang
Hu Jingyi
Sun Yue
Active regionsNorthern Republic of China
IdeologyChinese nationalism[1]
Anti-imperialism[2]
Christian socialism
Three Principles of the People (partially)[3]
Christianity with Chinese characteristics[4]
Pro-Sovietism
Battles and warsBeijing Coup
Anti-Fengtian War
Northern Expedition

The Guominjun (traditional Chinese: 國民軍; simplified Chinese: 国民军; pinyin: Guómínjūn; Wade–Giles: Kuominchün), a.k.a. Nationalist Army, KMC, also called the Northwest Army (西北軍) or People's Army, refers to the military faction founded by Feng Yuxiang, Hu Jingyi and Sun Yue during China's Warlord Era.

History[]

The Guominjun was formed when Feng betrayed the Zhili clique during the Second Zhili–Fengtian War with the Fengtian clique in 1924. The Guominjun occupied Beijing, captured Zhili leader Cao Kun and expelled former Qing dynasty emperor Puyi from the Forbidden City.

Guominjun allied with the Kuomintang after 17 September 1926

In late 1925, Fengtian general Guo Songling defected to the KMC; this sparked the Anti-Fengtian War against Zhang Zuolin.

The Guominjun was incorporated into the Kuomintang's National Revolutionary Army as the "Second Collective Army" in 1928 during the Northern Expedition, and fought alongside the KMT to defeat Fengtian forces and capture Beijing.[5]

In 1929, Feng grew increasingly dissatisfied with Chiang Kai-shek's regime; the Guominjun launched a full rebellion, the Central Plains War, in 1930. However, Feng was defeated and what was left of the faction was absorbed into the KMT.

Ideology[]

The Guominjun was very sympathetic to Sun Yat-sen's Kuomintang regime in Guangzhou, but due to geographic isolation they were independent of one another. The Guominjun was unusual for being an ideological army with its troops indoctrinated in Christian, socialist, and nationalist teachings. It also cared for its troops with welfare and education programs which was very rare at the time. This created a very determined, cohesive fighting force with high morale. The Guominjun's main foreign backer was the Soviet Union which had vied with the Japanese Empire for influence over the Fengtian clique. The Soviets were keen on building a relationship with Feng as he was seen as more ideologically acceptable. However, despite Feng's portrayal by outsiders as sympathizer of communism, and his claims to be an adherent of Sun Yat-sen's left-leaning teachings, the Guominjun was not a leftist army.[6] It was primarily a nationalist force[1] which was also reflected in Feng's adoption of only those elements of socialism[7] and Christianity which he considered useful to improve Chinese society and strengthen his troops' morale.[4]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Sheridan 1966, pp. 169–174.
  2. ^ Sheridan 1966, pp. 172–174, 176.
  3. ^ Sheridan 1966, pp. 170–172.
  4. ^ a b Sheridan 1966, pp. 174–176.
  5. ^ Jordan 1976, pp. 153–154.
  6. ^ Sheridan 1966, pp. 169–176.
  7. ^ Sheridan 1966, pp. 169–172.

Bibliography[]

  • Jordan, Donald A. (1976). The Northern Expedition: China's National Revolution of 1926-1928. Honolulu: University Press of Hawaii. ISBN 9780824803520.
  • Sheridan, James E. (1966). Chinese Warlord. The Career of Feng Yü-hsiang. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
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