5-13. Victory

The Sino-Japanese War ends.  Japan’s surrender, a momentous event, also ended World War II.  A victory certainly for China and the Allied Powers.  It left, however, many geo-political questions and issues.  The war with Japan also exposed to the world the deteriorated condition of the Nationalist military forces, the Nanjing Government, and China. 

The victory also did not resolve the open, unhealed sore between the Chinese Nationalist and the Chinese Communist.  By 1945, the Americans began a series of efforts to mediate the two sides toward a coalition government.  Despite some early optimism, the formation of a coalition government evaporated.  Meanwhile the Soviet Union quickly turned to Manchuria and rushed in after the Japanese forces left.