Why did the Communists undertake the Long March in 1934?
Context of the Long March
- The Long March marks a significant episode in the Chinese Civil War between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Nationalist Party, or the Kuomintang (KMT).
- The Communist forces had established a Jiangxi Soviet in Jiangxi province, but by 1934 faced encirclement campaigns by the Nationalists led by Chiang Kai-shek.
- These campaigns posed a major threat to the survival and influence of the CPC. The decision was made to evacuate their bases and personnel in what became known as the Long March.
Strategic Retreat
- The Long March was an orchestrated retreat to evade the series of encirclement campaigns by the KMT forces. This allowed the CPC to escape complete eradication and regroup.
- The retreat enabled the CPC to consolidate their forces, move to a safer area, and continue efforts to expand their influence among the Chinese population.
China-wide Propaganda
- The Long March provided a platform for the CPC to engage with communities across a large expanse of China and garnered public support by spreading their political message of agrarian reform and resistance against Japanese aggression.
- This propaganda opportunity was used effectively to recruit new members and lay the infrastructure for future resistance against the KMT.
Leadership Solidification
- The course of the Long March played a crucial part in highlighting the leadership skills of Mao Zedong. His military strategy and political acumen were influential in the CPC's survival and subsequent success.
- The event also aided in solidifying Mao's ideological position within the party, establishing Maoism as the guiding principle of the CPC.
Survival and Resurgence
- The Long March was also a strategic necessity for the CPC's long-term survival, as it averted the immediate threat of annihilation and allowed them to build a strong power base in Yan'an in northwestern China.
- This re-establishment in Yan'an set the stage for the crucial resurgence of the communists in the late 1940s, leading up to their ultimate victory in the civil war in 1949.