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# 2.1 The Events and Importance of the Long March, 1934-35 ## Learning Objectives * Understand the reasons why the Communists began the Long March * Understand the events of the Long March * Understand the importance of the Long March. ## The Jiangxi Soviet and the GMD Encirclement Campaigns, 192...

# 2.1 The Events and Importance of the Long March, 1934-35 ## Learning Objectives * Understand the reasons why the Communists began the 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 When Chiang launched the White Terror, the Communists hid in the Jingang Mountains. They organized the Jiangxi Soviet. Mao developed his version of communism that relied on the peasants as the force for revolution. He strongly disagreed with the Comintern advisors who stuck closely to Karl Marx's teaching of proletarian leadership. Mao focused on winning peasant support. This gave him a strong position in the party leadership struggle. Although the Jiangxi Soviet was successful, it was constantly threatened by the GMD. Chiang was advised by German military advisors to encircle the Reds, pushing them into a smaller area and cutting off their access to resources. The GMD used aerial bombing to attack the enclosed Communists. By October 1934, it was clear the Communists couldn't survive in the Jiangxi Soviet. On the night of October 16, 80,000-100,000 Communists escaped the Jiangxi Soviet and began the Long March to find a safe haven. ## Exam-Style Question A01 **Explain two causes of the Long March.** (8 marks) **Hint:** This question is about causation. When explaining the reasons why something happened, identify two reasons and write a paragraph for each explaining how it led to the outcome. **Cause 1:** Constant GMD attacks and encirclement: The GMD army continuously attacked the Communists, relentlessly pushing them into smaller territory. Chiang Kai-shek, with the help of German military advisors, surrounded the Reds, diminishing their access to resources.  The GMD utilized aerial bombing against enclosed communist forces. These constant attacks and the lack of resources pressured the Communist troops. By October 1934, the relentless pressure made staying in the Jiangxi Soviet untenable, leading the Communists to escape. **Cause 2:** Mao's strategy: Mao Zedong's strategy of focusing on peasant support, rather than strict adherence to Marxist doctrine, proved essential to winning the support of the peasant population, which gave him influence during leadership struggles.  However, his independent strategy clashed with the GMD and the Comintern, who were more focused on proletarian leadership. It led to the GMD army's intense, unwavering opposition, creating the necessary conditions for the Communists to begin their escape. ## Figure 2.1 Map of the Long March (A map is included in the document illustrating the route of the Long March from the Jiangxi Soviet to Yanan.) **Legend:** * **National capital:** Black/dark area filled shape * **Route of march:** Line/arrow, colored by the location. * **Communist base, 1934:** Orange/light brown filled shape. * **Communist base, 1935:** Orange/light brown filled shape. ## Source A (Transcription of a speech by General Zhu De to his troops.) ## Extend Your Knowledge The most challenging part of the Long March was when marchers crossed the freezing icy marshlands of Gansu in northeastern China. Supplies were scarce, food was limited, and many marchers experienced severe diarrhoea and died. Survival for some meant scavenging grains from the corpses of the dead.