The Long March and Jiangxi Soviet

Learning Objectives

• Understand the reasons for the Communist Long March
• Understand the events of the Long March
• Understand the importance of the Long March

The Jiangxi Soviet and the GMD Encirclement Campaigns, 1927-34

• Chiang launched the White Terror, forcing the Communists to hide in the Jingang Mountains
• They organized the Jiangxi Soviet.
• Mao developed a communist version relying on peasants as the revolutionary force.
• Mao disagreed with Comintern advisers who focused on the proletariat.
• He focused on winning peasant support, positioning him well for party leadership.
• The Jiangxi Soviet was successful but constantly threatened by the GMD.
• German military advisers advised Chiang to surround and contain the Red Army.
• This forced the Reds into a smaller and smaller area, limiting access to resources.
• Chiang used aerial bombing, making survival impossible without a change of tactics.
• In October 1934, the Communists (80,000-100,000) escaped the Jiangxi Soviet, beginning the Long March.

Causes of the Long March

• Lack of resources: The constant GMD attacks, encirclement, and push into increasingly smaller areas depleted the Reds' resources and made survival impossible in Jiangxi.
• Strategic Shift: The GMD's approach prevented the long-term survival of the Red Army. The Communists needed to relocate and regroup to find a safe haven, with a new strategic plan.

The Events of The Long March

• The Communists started their journey, unaware of the actual destination.
• The GMD relentlessly pursued them, leading to battles across various cities and urban areas.
• Otto Braun, a Comintern advisor, initially pushed for a fight using urban cities tactics, eventually leading to heavy Red Army losses.
• The Zunyi meeting, in January 1935, marked a shift in leadership.
• Mao Zedong and Zhu De took control.
• Improved strategies including force division/regrouping and surprise tactics to escape the GMD.
• The route's challenges included mountains, rivers, and deserts.
• The crossing of the Yangtze River and the Dadu River (using chains to cross) caused a severe challenge.
• Thousands died from hunger, drowning, or freezing.
• Only about 10,000 of the original 80,000 marchers reached Yanan in October 1935.

Difficult Part of the Long March

• The freezing marshlands of Gansu, lacking food, and spreading diarrhea.
• Survival was challenging without enough food, as it was needed to sustain energy.
• Some survived by scavenging grains from dead comrades.