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How did Lin Biao’s army grow from 100,000 to 800,000 soldiers by the end of 1948?
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Lin Biao
At a 1967 Red Guard rally, Lin Biao (left) and Zhou Enlai publicly display copies of The Little Red Book.
Lin Biao’s army grew from 100,000 to 800,000 soldiers by the end of 1948 through a combination of strategic recruitment, the integration of veteran forces, and the acquisition of significant military equipment.
After World War II, Lin Biao was sent to Manchuria to command what would become the Fourth Field Army. His growth strategy included the following key factors:
- Strategic Focus: Rather than attempting to hold cities, Lin concentrated on securing the support of the rural peasantry, which provided a steady stream of recruits and local sanctuaries.1
- Force Composition: He forged his army by combining veteran cadres from northern China with native Manchurian recruits.2
- Equipment: His forces were well-equipped with Japanese weapons that had been turned over to the communists by the Soviet Union during their occupation of the region.23
- Tactical Success: By employing guerrilla warfare to methodically isolate Nationalist garrisons in cities, Lin forced their surrender and captured their materiel, further bolstering his own military strength.21