The Long March was the historic retreat undertaken by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1934-35. Forced out of its stronghold in Jiangxi Province, the CCP and its Red Army embarked on a strategic retreat of over 6,000 miles that covered some of the most challenging terrain in China. The arduous trek lasted nearly one year and provided the foundation for the ultimate triumph of communism in 1949.
The emergence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had highly provoked the Kuomintang (KMT) or Chinese Nationalist Party, which had formed its own government in Nanking in 1928. As tensions between the two sides increased, the KMT launched several campaigns to crush the fledgling CCP, starting with the Encirclement Campaigns of 1930-32. These campaigns were initially successful in driving the CCP from its stronghold in Jiangxi Province, forcing it to flee northwest into remote, hostile regions.
Aware that its forces were no match for the larger and better equipped KMT, the CCP planned a daring retreat known as the Long March, which began in October, 1934. Over the course of several weeks, approximately 85,000 Chinese Communist forces marched north and west, crossing the Yangtze River and then turning northwest into the rugged Gobi Desert and western Tibetan Plateau. Along the way, they faced extreme weather, plunging temperatures and treacherous mountain passes. The Long March witnessed many tragic losses and heroic stands against the nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek and his KMT.
At the beginning of the march, Mao Zedong, the leader of the CCP, had only a few thousand troops under his command, but he was able to replenish and increase their numbers during the difficult journey. In addition, Mao’s army had a handful of younger commanders, including Zhou Enlai and Lin Biao, who would become important political figures following the victory of the communists in 1949.
Throughout the Long March, the CCP also received assistance from sympathetic locals. The party had developed a reputation among China’s rural population as a force for progressive change and attracted many to join them on their epic march.
By October, 1935, after walking for almost a year, the CCP and its Red Army had reached Yan’an in northwestern China, a small city near the border of Inner Mongolia. Here, Mao established a new base of operations and the CCP was able to regroup and plan its strategy for the future.
The success of the Long March was an amazing accomplishment that helped build confidence in the CCP’s struggle against the KMT. Mao used this opportunity to better organize the Red Army and consolidated his power within the party. He also focused his efforts on promoting the party’s ideology of Marxism-Leninism, helping to make it more attractive to China’s peasants.
Following World War II, the CCP was able to seize upon the opportunity created by Japan’s defeat and launch the final offensive that resulted in the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. The Long March had been a major turning point in the development of modern China, and its role in strengthening the political platform of the CCP ensured its place in history.