The Establishment of Whampoa Military Academy
4 min readThe Kuomintang Army Officer Academy，also known as the Whampoa Military Academy，was a military academy of the Republic of China（ROC）which produced many prestigious commanders who fought in many of China’s conflicts in the 20th century，notably the Northern Expedition，the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War.
Whampoa Military Academy was officially opened on May 1，1924，but the first lessons began on June 16，1924.The inauguration was on Changzhou Island offshore from the Whampoa（Huangpu）dock in Guangzhou，thus earning its name.During the inaugural ceremonies，Sun Yat-sen delivered a speech that was later to become the lyrics of the national anthem of the Republic of China and he proclaimed the motto of the academy as literally“Fraternity，Dexterity，Sincerity”.
After the death of Yuan Shikai，China fragmented into numerous fiefdoms ruled by warlords.Sun Yat-sen attempted in 1917 and 1920 to set up a base in his native Guangdong to launch a northern campaign to unite China under his Three Principles of the People.However，his government remained militarily weaker than local warlords armies.Calls by Sun for arms and money were ignored by the western powers.Then in 1921 the representative of Comintern，Henk Sneevliet met with Sun in Guangxi.He proposed setting up a military academy to train the revolutionary army，which confirmed Sun’s ideas and he eventually accepted.The Chinese Communist Party sent Li Dazhao and Lin Boqu to discuss with Sun on how to set up the academy.In 1924，in the 1st National Congress of Kuomintang，the policy of alliance with the Soviet Union and CCP was passed as guidance for KMT.As a result，the final decision of establishment of a military academy was made and preparatory committee was set up accordingly.The money necessary for the construction and support of the Academy in 0rganization，training and students In the beginning，the Academy had only one department which provided soldiers with basic training.While the main Academy goal was preparation of infantry units，it also provided special classes for artillery，engineering，communication，logistical and machine gun units.A special department for preparation of politicians was established later.
The academy concentrated the revolutionary military talents at the time.Sun took the job of Premier of this academy in person although it was just an honorary title.Sun’s favorite and rising star Chiang Kai-shek was appointed the first commandant of the academy.Liao Zhongkai，the famous leftist in the Kuomintang and Sun’s treasury secretary，was appointed as representative of KMT to the academy.
Zhou Enlai，Hu Han-min and Wang Ching-wei were the instructors in the political department.He Yingqin and Ye Jianying were once military instructors.
The serious lack of expert teachers was the biggest problem for the Academy.
That is why lectures delivered by Soviet officers were extremely popular with students.They explained the development of military thought throughout human history and the division between western and Soviet schools of military thought.Vasily Blyukher，Commander of Soviet volunteer forces，taught different military subjects in the Academy using their broad experience gained during the Russian Civil War.The first students prepared by the Academy became the core for the formation of the first National Revolutionary Army regiments，which included 500 officers.
Legendary graduates include Nationalist commanders Chen Cheng，Du Yuming，Xue Yue，Hu Zongnan and Guan Linzheng and Communist commanders Lin Biao，Xu Xiangqian，Zuo Quan，Liu Zhidan and Chen Geng.The young cadets first showed their capacity and courage in the war against local warlord and dissident of Sun，Chen Jiongming and later the unification of Guangdong province.Then they made greater contributions in the Northern Expedition.
Influence
The Whampoa Military Academy plays an important role in Chinese history.
Although it is primarily a military academy aiming to train military elites like the United States Military Academy，it has exerted broad influence on Chinese history.It not only supplied many military commanders for both the KMT and CCP，but also its graduates have much more influence on both parties’policies and governance.
The academy also had significant influence over the 20th century history of other Asian countries.The fourth term of the Academy saw students not only from allparts of China，but also from different parts of Asia.For example，there were 30 Koreans among them.Some of them were brought up in China；others were activeparticipants during the national liberation movement of Korea in 1917-1926.
Besides，a large number of students were originally from Vietnam.This group was 1ed by the future leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese struggle for independence，Ho Chi Minh.
