Raising the question

(1) The first anniversary of the Great Anti-Japanese War, July 7, is coming soon. It has been almost a year since the entire nation has united to persist in the war of resistance, adhere to the united front, and fight a heroic war against the enemy. This war is unprecedented in the history of the East and will also be great in the history of the world. People all over the world are concerned about this war. Every Chinese who suffered the disaster of war and struggled for the survival of his nation longed for the victory of the war every day. But what will the course of the war be like? Can you win or not? Can you win quickly or not? Many people talk about a protracted war, but why a protracted war? How to carry out a protracted war? Many people

talk about final victory, but why is there final victory? How to strive for final victory? Not everyone has solved these problems, and even most people have not solved them yet. So the defeatist subjugationists came out and told people: China will perish, and the final victory will not be China's. Some impatient friends also came out and told people: China will be victorious very soon and there is no need to expend great efforts. Are these arguments correct? We have always said:

These comments are wrong. But what we are talking about is not yet understood by most people. This is partly because our propaganda and explanation work is not enough, and partly because the development of objective events has not fully exposed its inherent nature, and has not put its face clearly before people, so that people cannot see it. Its entire trend and future, so it is impossible to determine its own set of policies and practices. Now, the experience of the ten months of the Anti-Japanese War is enough to defeat the groundless theory of national subjugation, and it is also enough to convince the impatient friends' theory of quick victory. In this case, many people asked for a summary explanation. Especially for protracted war, there are objections to the theory of national subjugation and quick victory, as well as empty understanding. "Since the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, 40 million people have worked together, and the final victory will be China's." Such a formula is popular among the majority of people. This formula is correct, but it needs to be enriched. The Anti-Japanese War

The reason why the Anti-Japanese War and the United Front can persist is due to many factors: national parties, from the Communist Party to the Kuomintang; the national people, from workers and peasants to the bourgeoisie; the national army, from the main force From the army to the guerrillas; internationally, from socialist countries to the justice-loving people of various countries; from the enemy's side, from some domestic anti-war people to front-line anti-war fighters. All in all, all these factors have made various efforts in our war of resistance. Every person with conscience should pay tribute to them. We Communists, together with other anti-war parties and the people of the whole country, our only direction is to strive to unite all forces to defeat the evil Japanese invaders. July 1st this year is the 17th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. In order to enable every Communist Party member to make better and greater efforts in the War of Resistance Against Japan, it is also necessary to focus on the study of protracted war. Therefore, my lecture will be devoted to the study of protracted war. I am prepared to talk about all the issues related to the topic of protracted war; but I cannot talk about everything, because not everything can be covered in one speech.

(2) In the ten months since the Anti-Japanese War, all experience has proven that the following two views are wrong: one is the theory that China must die, and the other is the theory that China will win quickly. The former produces a tendency to compromise, while the latter produces a tendency to underestimate the enemy. Their way of looking at problems is subjective and one-sided, in a word, unscientific.

(3) Before the Anti-Japanese War, there were many discussions about national subjugation. For example: "China's weapons are not as good as humans, and the war will be defeated." "If it resists the war, it will become Abyssinia⑵." After the Anti-Japanese War, the public theory of national subjugation disappeared, but

Secretly it was Yes, and a lot. For example, the atmosphere for compromise rises and falls from time to time, and the basis for those who advocate compromise is that "if we continue to fight, we will perish."3 A student wrote a letter from Hunan: "Everything is difficult in the countryside. I do propaganda work alone, and I have to find people to talk to anytime and anywhere. The targets are not ignorant people. They I understand a little bit, and they are very interested in my talk. But when I meet some of my relatives, they always say: "China can't win, it will perish." Fortunately, it's very annoying. It would be really bad if they don’t promote it yet.

Of course farmers have greater faith in them! "Such people who believe that China must die are the social foundation of the tendency to compromise. Such people can be found all over China.

Therefore, the issue of compromise that may arise at any time in the anti-Japanese front may not end in a war. It will be eliminated. At this time when Xuzhou fell and Wuhan was tense, I think it is not useless to refute this theory of national subjugation.

(4) In the ten months of the Anti-Japanese War, various acute diseases have appeared. Opinions also occurred. For example, at the beginning of the Anti-Japanese War, many people had an unfounded tendency to be optimistic. They underestimated Japan and even thought that Japan could not reach Shanxi. Some people despised the Anti-Japanese War. Regarding the strategic status of guerrilla warfare, they expressed the formulation that "on the whole, mobile warfare is the main thing, and guerrilla warfare is the auxiliary part; in part, guerrilla warfare is the main thing, and the mobile warfare is the auxiliary thing." Doubtful. They did not agree with the Eighth Route Army's strategic policy: "Basically, it is guerrilla warfare, but it does not relax mobile warfare under favorable conditions. "This is a "mechanical" view ⑷. During the Shanghai War, some people

said: "As long as we fight for three months, the international situation will definitely change, the Soviet Union will definitely send troops, and the war will be resolved. "The future of the Anti-Japanese War mainly depends on foreign aid⑸. After the victory in Taierzhuang⑹, some people advocated that the Xuzhou Battle

⑺ should be a "quasi-decisive battle", saying that the past policy of protracted war should be changed. What to say "This battle is the enemy's last struggle." "If we win, the Japanese will lose their position mentally and can only wait for the doomsday judgment." Another victory in Taierzhuang confused more people's minds. So whether the enemy attacked Wuhan became a question. Many people thought: "Not necessarily"; many people thought.

The answer is: "Absolutely not." This question can involve all major issues: Is the anti-Japanese strength sufficient? The answer can be yes, because the current strength has prevented the enemy from attacking anymore, and it needs to increase its strength.

What to do? For example: Is the slogan of consolidating and expanding the anti-Japanese national united front still correct? The answer can be no, because the current state of the united front is enough to defeat the enemy, what is needed to consolidate and expand it? What about expansion?

For example: Should international diplomacy and international propaganda be stepped up? The answer can also be no. For example: reform the military system, reform the political system, develop popular movements, and enforce national defense. Should education, suppression of traitorous Trotskyists

⑼, development of military industry, and improvement of people's lives be done seriously? For example, slogans such as: defend Wuhan, defend Guangzhou, defend the northwest, and vigorously develop guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines. Is it still correct? The answer is yes. Some people are even ready to intensify the friction between the two parties and focus on the outside world when the war situation improves. Turning to the interior. This situation occurs after almost every major victory or when the enemy's attack is temporarily suspended. We call it political and military. Myopia. These words may sound reasonable, but they are actually groundless and specious empty talk.

It should be beneficial to the victory of the Anti-Japanese War.

(5) So the question is: Will China perish? The answer: It will not perish. Will China win in the end? The answer: It cannot be a quick victory. The War of Resistance Against Japan is a protracted war. >

(6) We pointed out the main points of these issues in general two years ago on July 16, 1936, that is, five months before the Xi'an Incident and before the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. During the past twelve months, in my conversations with the American journalist Mr. Snow, I had made a general assessment of the situation in the Sino-Japanese war and proposed various strategies for victory.

In addition to mobilizing trained personnel. In addition to carrying out mobile warfare, the army also organized many guerrilla groups among the peasants. It should be noted that the anti-Japanese volunteer armies in the three northeastern provinces only represent a small part of the latent force that the peasants across the country can mobilize to fight against China. The peasants have great latent power. As long as they are properly organized and directed, they can keep the Japanese army busy twenty-four hours a day and make them exhausted.

It must be remembered that this war was fought in China

This means that the Japanese army will be completely surrounded by the hostile Chinese; the Japanese army will be forced to transport the military supplies they need and have to guard it themselves ; They must use heavy troops to protect communication lines and be on guard against attacks at all times; in addition, they must have a large force stationed in Manchuria and the interior of Japan.

In the course of the war, China was able to capture many Japanese soldiers and seize many weapons and ammunition to arm itself; at the same time, it sought foreign aid to improve the equipment of the Chinese army

gradually strengthened. Therefore, China was able to engage in positional warfare in the later stages of the war and conduct positional attacks on Japanese occupied areas. In this way, Japan's economy will collapse under the long-term consumption of China's Anti-Japanese War; its morale will decline after countless wars. In China, the latent force of the war of resistance is increasing day by day, and large numbers of revolutionary people continue to pour into the front lines to fight for freedom. All these factors

cooperate with other factors to enable us to carry out a final and fatal attack on the fortresses and base areas in the Japanese occupied areas and expel the Japanese aggressors from China. (Snow: "Impressions of the Northwest")

The ten-month experience of the Anti-Japanese War has proved the correctness of the above argument, and will continue to prove it in the future.

(7) More than a month after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, that is, on August 25, 1937, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China stated in its "On the Current Situation and the Party's "Mission Decision" clearly stated:

The challenge of Marco Polo Bridge and the occupation of Pingjin were just the beginning of the Japanese aggressors' massive attack on China's headquarters. The Japanese invaders have begun wartime mobilization across the country. Their so-called "no expansion" propaganda is nothing more than a smoke screen to cover up their offensive.

The Anti-Japanese War at Marco Polo Bridge on July 7 has become the starting point of China’s nationwide Anti-Japanese War.

China's political situation has since begun a new stage, which is the stage of the war of resistance. The preparatory stage for the war of resistance has passed. The most central task at this stage is to mobilize all forces to win the war of resistance.

The key to winning the war of resistance is to develop the war of resistance that has already been launched into a comprehensive national war of resistance. Only this kind of comprehensive national resistance war can achieve final victory in the war of resistance.

Since the current war of resistance still has serious weaknesses, many unfavorable situations such as setbacks, retreats, internal divisions, rebellions, temporary and partial compromises, etc. may occur in the course of future wars of resistance. Therefore, we should see that this war of resistance is an arduous and protracted war. But we believe that the war of resistance that has been launched will continue to advance and develop due to the efforts of our party and the people of the country and overcoming all obstacles.

The ten-month experience of the Anti-Japanese War also proved the above argument to be correct, and will continue to prove it in the future.

(8) The tendency of idealism and mechanism in war issues is the epistemological root of all erroneous views. Their way of looking at the problem is subjective and one-sided. Either they make a purely subjective statement without any basis; or they only base on one side of the issue or its temporary performance, and similarly subjectively exaggerate it and treat it as a whole. But people's erroneous views can be divided into two categories: one is a fundamental error that is consistent and difficult to correct; the other is an accidental error that is temporary and easy to correct. But since they are both mistakes, they all need to be corrected. Therefore, only by opposing idealism and mechanistic tendencies in war issues and adopting an objective and comprehensive perspective to examine war can we draw correct conclusions on war issues.

Basis of the question (9) Why was the Anti-Japanese War a protracted war? Why did China win in the end? Based on where?

The Sino-Japanese War is not any other war, but a desperate war fought between semi-colonial and semi-feudal China and imperialist Japan in the 1930s. The basis of the whole problem lies here. Respectively speaking, the two sides in the war have many characteristics that oppose each other as follows.

(10) Japan: First, it is a strong imperialist country. Its military power, economic power and political organizational power are first-class in the East, and it is also one of the five or six famous countries in the world. one of the imperialist countries.

This is the basic condition for Japan's war of aggression. The inevitability of the war and China's inability to win quickly are based on Japan's imperialist system and its strong military, economic and political organizational power. . Secondly, however, due to the imperialist nature of Japan's social economy, the imperialist nature of Japan's war has emerged. Its war is regressive and barbaric. In the 1930s, due to internal and external contradictions, Japanese imperialism not only had to engage in an adventurous war of unprecedented scale, but also brought it to the eve of its final collapse. From a social perspective, Japan is no longer a prosperous country. The war cannot achieve the prosperity that the Japanese ruling class desires, but will achieve the opposite of what it desires? The death of Japanese imperialism. This is the so-called regressive nature of Japan's war. Along with this regressive nature, coupled with the fact that Japan is a military-feudal imperialist, its war has a special barbaric character. This will greatly arouse the class antagonism in its country, the antagonism between the Japanese nation and the Chinese nation, and the antagonism between Japan and most countries in the world. The regressive and barbaric nature of Japan's war is the main reason why Japan's war will inevitably fail. That’s not all. Third, although Japan’s war was fought on the basis of its strong military, economic and political organizational power, it was also fought on the basis of its inherent deficiencies. Although Japan's military, economic, and political organizational strength is strong, it is insufficient in terms of quantity. Japan is a relatively small country. It lacks human, military, financial and material resources and cannot withstand a long-term war. The Japanese rulers want to solve this difficult problem through war, but again, they will achieve the opposite of what they want. That is to say, they launch a war to solve this difficult problem, and the results will be ruined by the war. Increase the difficulty and the war will consume even what it already has.

Finally, fourth, although Japan can receive assistance from international fascist countries, at the same time, it has to encounter an international opposition force that exceeds its international assistance strength. This latter force will gradually grow, and eventually it will not only offset the former's assistance, but will also put pressure on Japan itself. This is the law of the unjust and the lack of help, which arises from the nature of Japan's war. To sum up, Japan's strength lies in its strong war power, while its shortcomings lie in the regressive and barbaric nature of its war, its insufficient manpower and material resources, and its small international situation. help. These are the characteristics of Japan.

(11) China: First, we are a

semi-colonial and semi-feudal country. From the Opium War⑽, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom⑾, the Reform Movement of 1898⑿, the Revolution of 1911⒀, and the Northern Expedition, all revolutionary or reform movements aimed at lifting the semi-colonial and semi-feudal status have suffered serious setbacks. Therefore, It still retains its semi-colonial and semi-feudal status. We are still a weak country, and we are inferior to our enemies in all aspects of military, economic and political organization. The inevitability of war and the inability of China to win quickly have their basis in this aspect. However, secondly, China’s liberation movement of nearly a hundred years has accumulated to this day, which is different from any historical period. Although various internal and external opposition forces gave serious setbacks to the liberation movement,

at the same time they tempered the Chinese people. Although today's China's military, economy, politics, and culture are not as strong as Japan's, compared with China itself, there are more progressive factors than in any historical period. The Communist Party of China and the army under its leadership are representatives of this progressive factor. China's war of liberation today is based on this progress and has the possibility of protracted war and final victory. China is a country that is rising rapidly, which is exactly the opposite of Japan

The declining state of imperialism. China's war is progressive, and from this progressive nature comes the justice of China's war. Because this war is just, it can arouse the unity of the whole country, arouse the sympathy of the people of the enemy country, and win the assistance of most countries in the world. Third, China is a very big country with a large territory, abundant resources, a large number of people, and many soldiers, and can support a long-term war. This is in contrast to Japan. Finally,

Fourthly, the vast international assistance generated by the progressive and just nature of China's war is exactly the opposite of Japan's unjust and lack of assistance.

To sum up, China's shortcomings are its weak war power, while its strengths lie in the progressiveness and justice of its war nature, in the fact that it is a big country, and in its international situation there are many supports. . These are all characteristics of China.

(12) From this point of view, Japan’s military, economic and political organizational power is strong, but its war is regressive and barbaric, its manpower and material resources are insufficient, and its international situation is at a critical stage. unfavorable. China, on the contrary, has relatively weak military, economic and political organizational strength. However, it is in a progressive era, its wars are progressive and just, and it is a big country that can support long-term In a war, most countries in the world will want to aid China

?These are the basic contradictory characteristics of the Sino-Japanese war. These characteristics determine and determine all political policies and military strategies and tactics of both sides, as well as the durability and finality of the war.

Victory belongs to China and not to Japan. War is a game of these characteristics. These characteristics will each change according to their nature in the course of the war, and everything will come from here. These characteristics exist in fact and are not fabricated or deceptive; they are all the basic elements of war, not incomplete fragments; they are implemented in all major and minor issues and all stages of combat on both sides. Not optional. If you forget these characteristics when observing the Sino-Japanese War, you will inevitably make a mistake; even if some opinions may seem good to some for a while, the course of the war will surely prove them to be wrong. We shall now explain all that we have to say in the light of these characteristics.

Refuting the theory of national subjugation

(13) Those who believe that national subjugation sees the strength of the enemy and ourselves as one factor. They used to say that "resistance will lead to subjugation", but now they say "if we continue to fight, we will die." ". If we just say that although the enemy is strong, it is a small country, and although China is weak, it is a big country, it will not be enough to convince them. They can cite the historical evidence that the Yuan Dynasty destroyed the Song Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty destroyed the Ming Dynasty, proving that a small but strong country can destroy a large but weak country, and that it is the backward and progressive countries that are destroyed. If we say,

This is ancient times, which is not enough evidence, they can point to the fact that the British destroyed India to prove that a small but strong capitalist country can destroy a large but weak backward country. Therefore, other bases must be put forward in order to silence all those who believe in subjugating the country and convince them, so that all people engaged in propaganda work can obtain sufficient arguments to persuade those who do not understand and who are not yet convinced. Determined people strengthen their confidence in the war of resistance.

(14) What is the basis for this? This is the characteristic of the times. The specific reflection of this characteristic is Japan's retrogression and lack of support, and China's progress and multiple support.

(15) Our war is not any other war, but a war fought between China and Japan in the 1930s. As for our enemy, first of all, it is imperialism that is about to die. It is in a regressive era. Not only is it different from the period when Britain destroyed India, but it was still in the progressive era of capitalism. Japan was different during World War I 2 years ago. This war was launched on the eve of the collapse of world imperialism, first of all the fascist state. It was precisely for this reason that the enemy launched this risky war with a final struggle. Therefore, as a result of the war, it will not be China but the Japanese imperialist ruling group that will perish. This is an inevitable inevitability. Furthermore, when Japan went to war, it was when all the countries in the world had already encountered war or were about to encounter war. Everyone was or was preparing to fight against barbaric aggression, and China was the country.

It is related to the interests of most countries and people in the world, and this is the root cause of the opposition that Japan has caused and will further cause the opposition of most countries and people in the world.

(16) What about China? It can no longer be compared with any other historical period. Semi-colonial and semi-feudal society are its characteristics, so it is called a weak country. But at the same time, it is in a progressive era in history. This is the main basis for defeating Japan. The so-called Progressive War of Resistance Against Japan does not mean ordinary progress, nor does it mean the kind of progress of the Abyssinian War of Resistance Against Italy, nor does it mean the kind of progress of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom or the Revolution of 1911, but Talk about China’s progress today.

Where is China's progress today? The reason is that it is no longer a completely feudal country. It already has capitalism, a bourgeoisie and a proletariat, a vast number of people who have awakened or are awakening, a Communist Party, and a The politically progressive army, the Chinese Red Army led by the Communist Party of China, has decades of traditional revolutionary experience, especially the seventeen years of experience since the founding of the Communist Party of China.

These experiences have educated the Chinese people and the Chinese political parties, and today they serve as the basis for unity in the fight against Japan. If it is said that in Russia, without the experience of 1905, the victory of 1917 would not have been possible; then we can also say that without the experience of the past seventeen years, the victory would not have been possible. There will be no victory against Japan. This is a domestic condition.

International conditions meant that China was not isolated in the war, which is also unprecedented in history.

In history, both China's wars and India's wars were isolated. Only today have we encountered the unprecedentedly vast and profound people’s movement that has occurred or is occurring in the world and its assistance to China. The Russian revolution of 1917 also received aid from the world, and the Russian workers and peasants were victorious as a result. However, the scale of that aid was not as vast as it is today, and its nature was not as profound as it is today. The people's movement in today's world is developing at an unprecedented scale and depth. The existence of the Soviet Union is a very important factor in today's international politics. It will inevitably assist China with great enthusiasm. This phenomenon was completely absent 20 years ago. All these have created and created important conditions that are indispensable for China's final victory. Although a large amount of direct assistance is not yet available and will come in the future, China has the conditions of progress and a great power to be able to prolong the war and promote and wait for international assistance.

(17) In addition, Japan is a small country with a small land, few resources, few people, and few soldiers. China is a big country with a large land, abundant resources, many people, and many soldiers

With this condition, in addition to the contrast between strength and weakness, there is also the contrast between a small country, retrogression, and little help, and a big country, progress, and many help. This is the basis for China's inability to perish. Although the balance of strength and weakness stipulates that Japan can have a certain period and a certain degree of rampage in China, China will inevitably have to go a difficult journey. The Anti-Japanese War is a protracted war rather than a quick and decisive war; however, as a small country, it will retreat. The contrast between a country with little help and a big country with progress and more help also stipulates that Japan cannot go on rampage to the end and will inevitably suffer final defeat. China will never perish and must win final victory.

(18) Why did Abyssinia perish? First, it is not only a weak country, but also a small country. Second, it is not as progressive as China. It is an ancient country from slavery to serfdom. It has no capitalism, no bourgeois party, no communist party, no army like China, and no military like China.

An army like the Eighth Route Army. Third, it cannot wait for international assistance; its war is isolated. Fourth, and this is the main one, there were mistakes in the leadership of the Anti-Italian War. Abyssinia perished. However, Abyssinia still has a considerable guerrilla war. If it can persist, it can be used to restore its motherland in future world changes.

(19) If the subjugation theorists use the failure of China’s modern liberation movement

to prove that “resistance will lead to destruction” and “re-fighting will lead to destruction”, then our reply It’s also a saying that times are different. China itself, Japan's internal environment, and the international environment are all different from the past. Japan is stronger than in the past, while China's semi-colonial and semi-feudal status remains unchanged, and its strength is still quite weak. This is a serious situation. For the time being, Japan can still control its own people, and it can also use international conflicts as a tool to invade China. These are all facts.

However, in the long process of war, the opposite change will inevitably occur. This is not a fact yet, but it will definitely become a fact in the future. This point is ignored by the subjugationists. What about China? Not only are there new people, new political parties, new armies and new anti-Japanese policies, which are very different from those more than ten years ago, but these are bound to move forward.

Although the liberation movement in history suffered repeated setbacks, China was unable to accumulate greater strength for today's Anti-Japanese War? This is a very regrettable lesson of history. From now on, we will never let ourselves Destroy any revolutionary force? However, based on the existing foundation and with extensive efforts, we will be able to gradually advance and strengthen the strength of the resistance war. The great anti-Japanese national united front is the general direction of this effort. On the one hand, international aid is not yet available in large amounts and directly, but the international situation is fundamentally different from the past, and large and direct aid is in the pipeline. The failures of countless liberation movements in modern China have both objective and subjective reasons, and none of them can compare with today's situation. Today, although there are many difficult conditions, which stipulate that the Anti-Japanese War is a difficult war, for example, the enemy is strong and we are weak. The enemy's difficulties have just begun, and our progress is not enough. And so on, but there are many favorable conditions for defeating the enemy. As long as you add subjective efforts, you can overcome difficulties and win. These favorable conditions have never been comparable to today in history. This is the reason why the Anti-Japanese War will not fail like the liberation movements in history.