The Long March
- Mao led his Red Army on a 9000 km retreat across China
- Lost 3/4 of his army
- Settle in the north (Shensi) where he forms the Yenan Soviet
- CCP began to gain power due to their resistance of the Japanese
- Kuomintang was more worried about fighting the CCP
Aspects of Guerrilla Warfare
- Act quickly for decisive conclusions to battle
- Concentrate forces
- Take advantage of enemies limitations (i.e. Being foreigner, having limited resources)
- Ability to move quickly
- Being flexible
- Using hit and run tactics
- Use the locals for help
Summary
The Long March saved Mao Zedong and the Communist Party from the attacks by the Guomingdang. The Long March came about when the Chinese Communists had to flee a concerted Guomingdang attacked that had been ordered by Chiang Kai-shek.In the autumn of 1933, the Guomindang leader Chiang Kai-shek launched a huge attack against the Communists who were then based in the Jiangxi and Fujian provinces in south-east China. The Guomindang was advised by the German general, Hans von Seeckt. He advised Chiang Kai-shek not to launch a full frontal attack on Jiangxi. 500,000 Guomindang troops surrounded Jiangxi in an attempt to strangulate the Communists. The Guomindang had a policy of making a slow advance building trenches and blockhouses as they went to give the Guomindang troops there places of protection. Seeckt wanted a war of attrition but with minimal contact with the Communists as Seeckt wanted to starve them out rather engage in combat with them.