The Shanxi-hebei-shandong-henan Anti-japanese Base Area Disaster Relief Work For Dynasty

Shanxi-Heibei-Shangdong-Henan Base Area for resistance against Japan was one of the important base areas led by the Chinese Communist Party. It was where the Northern Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and front general headquarters of the Eighth Route Army were located. It was also the centre of North China to resist against Japan behind the enemy. During the years from 1942 to 1944, rare natural calamities happened in the Base Area, besides, the enemy strengthened their mopping-up and cleaning-up operations at that time, carrying out the cruel policy of "burn all, kill all, loot all", which made the economy of the Base Area exhausted. Therefore fighting calamities and providing disaster relief were of vital importance. The army and the people in the Base Area, led by the Chinese Communist Party, took several forceful measures, put forward "the method of organization" creatively and set about helping themselves by engaging in production, which led to the beginning of the Movement of Great Production. In the end, calamities were defeated and a miracle in the history of Chinese calamites was created.Archival material on the Base Area and relevant works and essays are sorted out and analysized. First it begins with serious natural and man-made calamities which result in the great disaster. Then according to the measures taken during that time fighting calamities and providing disaster relief are narrated with great significance and much experience gained at the end.This thesis is divided into three parts:Part I introduces the great damage caused by natural and man-made calamities.Part II probes into the measures taken to fight against calamities and provide disaster relief, including lightening burden and relieving people, and collecting donations and aiding each other, grain transferred and borrowed, practicing strict economy, wild herbs gathered, finding suitable places for victims, constructing irrigation works, destroying locusts, rush-planting, reseeding and helping themselves by engaging in production. These measures were so forcefully taken that masses were aroused to action, their initiative greatly mobilized. As a result, the great calamities were defeated and the Base Area strengthened.Part III deals with significance of fighting calamities and experience gained as well. This movement of fighting against calamities and providing disaster relief was of great importance to the existence of the Base Area, and in the course of the movement, some experience were also gained, which can be used for reference and inspiration today.