Changes

==World War II==

==World War II==

[[Image:Cbi-1941.jpg|thumb|300px|Japan's plans to control key areas of China, 1941; Japan already held Manchuria as the puppet state of [[Manchukuo]]]]

[[Image:Cbi-1941.jpg|thumb|300px|Japan's plans to control key areas of China, 1941; Japan already held Manchuria as the puppet state of [[Manchukuo]]]]

===CBI===

===CBI===

President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and his top advisers, such as Treasury Secretary [[Henry Morgenthau]] and [[Lend-Lease]] administrator [[Harry Hopkins]], were strongly committed to support China against Japan. Public opinion was strongly hostile to Japan; isolationism (opposition to war in Europe) played little role. Lend Lease aid began in 1940 with the goal of building a large powerful Chinese army that would hold down most of the Japanese army, and after the war play a role as a major world power in the United Nations.  That goal was highly unrealistic, as Japan controlled the financial, economic and transportation centers in China, and most of the people, leaving the Nationalists in control in poor, remote mountainous regions, with their capital in Chungking. In addition, the Communists under [[Mao Zedong]] controlled their own remote sphere in the northwest. China was unable to feed or clothe its soldiers, who lacked equipment, discipline, and skilled sergeants, junior officers, and senior officers.  Nevertheless, cost was no object and dollars poured in. After Pearl Harbor, the U.S. and Britain agreed to set up a [[China-Burma-India theater]], with Chiang as supreme commander, and an American as chief of staff, and in command of American forces in China and Lend Lease supplies. The senior ranking American general Hugh A. Drum did not want the job, so Marshall called on Stilwell, and promoted him to Lieutenant General.  Stilwell did not have a diplomatic bone in his body, and feuded incessantly with Chiang, with the British, and with his air commander Air Force Major General [[Claire Chennault]], head of the Flying Tigers operation.  Marshall supported Stilwell in these disputes, but Roosevelt and Chiang backed Chennault, who usually won.

President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and his top advisers, such as Treasury Secretary [[Henry Morgenthau]] and [[Lend-Lease]] administrator [[Harry Hopkins]], were strongly committed to support China against Japan. Public opinion was strongly hostile to Japan; isolationism (opposition to war in Europe) played little role. Lend Lease aid began in 1940 with the goal of building a large powerful Chinese army that would hold down most of the Japanese army, and after the war play a role as a major world power in the United Nations.  That goal was highly unrealistic, as Japan controlled the financial, economic and transportation centers in China, and most of the people, leaving the Nationalists in control in poor, remote mountainous regions, with their capital in Chungking. In addition, the Communists under [[Mao Zedong]] controlled their own remote sphere in the northwest. China was unable to feed or clothe its soldiers, who lacked equipment, discipline, and skilled sergeants, junior officers, and senior officers.  Nevertheless, cost was no object and dollars poured in. After Pearl Harbor, the U.S. and Britain agreed to set up a [[China-Burma-India theater]], with Chiang as supreme commander, and an American as chief of staff, and in command of American forces in China and Lend Lease supplies. The senior ranking American general Hugh A. Drum did not want the job, so Marshall called on Stilwell, and promoted him to Lieutenant General.  Stilwell did not have a diplomatic bone in his body, and feuded incessantly with Chiang, with the British, and with his air commander Air Force Major General [[Claire L. Chennault]], head of the Flying Tigers operation.  Marshall supported Stilwell in these disputes, but Roosevelt and Chiang backed Chennault, who usually won.

[[Image:Cbi-ledo-road2.jpg|thumb|400px|Burma Road (dark green), Ledo Road (light green) and the air route over the Hump (dashed)]]

[[Image:Cbi-ledo-road2.jpg|thumb|400px|Burma Road (dark green), Ledo Road (light green) and the air route over the Hump (dashed)]]