Forgotten Ally

Rana Mitter's "Forgotten Ally: China's World War II, 1937-1945" offers a comprehensive reassessment of a conflict that has long occupied a marginal place in Western narratives of the Second World War. Mitter, a historian specializing in modern China, sets out to correct what he sees as a significant historical oversight: the tendency of most accounts of World War II to focus almost exclusively on the European and Pacific theaters while treating China's role as a minor subplot. This book argues persuasively that China's eight-year war against Japan was not a peripheral conflict but a central front that shaped the outcome of the broader global war and left deep, lasting marks on China's political development.

The book's central achievement lies in its detailed reconstruction of the wartime experience of ordinary Chinese people alongside the political maneuvering of the era's key figures. Mitter draws heavily on newly available Chinese archival sources, diaries, and government documents to paint a vivid picture of a nation under siege. He describes the devastating Japanese invasion beginning in 1937, the fall of major cities including Nanjing and Shanghai, and the staggering human cost of the conflict, which claimed millions of lives and displaced tens of millions more. The narrative captures both the scale of suffering and the resilience of a population forced to endure years of occupation, bombing campaigns, and economic collapse.

One of the book's most valuable contributions is its nuanced portrayal of Chiang Kai-shek, the Nationalist leader who has often been dismissed in Western historiography as corrupt, ineffective, or simply overshadowed by more prominent Allied leaders. Mitter presents a more balanced view, acknowledging Chiang's genuine strategic dilemmas as he attempted to fight Japan while simultaneously managing an uneasy alliance with Mao Zedong's Communist forces and navigating complex relationships with Western powers, particularly the United States. The author does not shy away from documenting the failures and shortcomings of the Nationalist government, including corruption and military setbacks, but he places these within the context of an almost impossible set of circumstances facing a weakened, fragmented nation confronting a determined and better-equipped invader.

Mitter also examines the wartime alliance between China and the Western powers, particularly the complicated relationship with the United States. He explores how American assistance, while significant, often came with strings attached and was frequently insufficient given the scale of China's needs. The book details the tensions between Chiang and American military advisors, most notably General Joseph Stilwell, whose disagreements over strategy and resource allocation reveal the friction inherent in this crucial but troubled partnership. These sections illuminate how China's wartime experience was shaped not only by its conflict with Japan but also by the geopolitical calculations of its allies.

The book's structure moves chronologically through the war years, allowing readers to trace the evolution of China's military and political situation from the initial Japanese onslaught through the eventual, hard-won victory in 1945. Mitter skillfully weaves together military history, political analysis, and social history, ensuring that the narrative never becomes purely academic or dry. The prose is accessible, and the author takes care to explain complex political dynamics in terms that general readers can follow without oversimplifying the historical complexity involved.

Perhaps most importantly, "Forgotten Ally" makes a compelling case for why this period deserves greater attention and understanding. Mitter argues that the legacy of the war continues to shape contemporary Chinese politics and its relationship with Japan, as well as broader questions about how nations remember and commemorate their wartime sacrifices. The book suggests that a fuller understanding of China's World War II experience is essential not just for historical accuracy but for grasping the roots of certain tensions and narratives that persist in East Asian geopolitics today.

This is a meticulously researched work that succeeds in bringing a neglected chapter of World War II history into sharper focus. Mitter's scholarship is evident throughout, yet the book remains engaging and readable for those without specialized knowledge of Chinese history. "Forgotten Ally" stands as an important corrective to conventional World War II narratives and a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand the full scope of this global conflict.