Tujuan long march mao zedong biography

Why did the Communists start the Long March?

In the Communists suffered huge losses against the Nationalists in the Chinese Civil War. Faced with the prospect of annihilation the leaders of the Communist army chose to start what is now called the Long March.

This was a tactic of withdrawal into mountainous areas, some miles to the north and west. The purpose was simple: survival. By undertaking a tactical withdrawal the Communists could ensure that they still had an effective fighting force; could select easy to defend locations; could regroup and could ensure that the Nationalists supply lines were long and susceptible to attacks.

In the Communists found themselves encircled by Nationalist forces.

Tujuan long march mao zedong biography

Four times they beat back Nationalist troops. A fifth assault was coming and the Nationalists had learnt from the mistakes of the first attempts. Large fortifications had been dug from which the Nationalists could engage with any Communist troops making an assault.

The Communists ch