Long March

(1934–1935)

   Defeat by the Chinese nationalists, the Kuomintang (KMT), forced the Chinese communists to retreat from Jiangxi to the communists’ base in Shanxi. Traversing a distance of some 5,000 kilometers and attacked by nationalist troops along the way, the 100,000 communists that took part in the Long March were reduced to an estimated 50,000 by the end of it. Mao Zedong was one of the main leaders of the communists on the march and the part he played in saving the communists from annihilation at the hands of the nationalists helped him to attain his position as supreme leader. The Long March has acquired legendary status in Chinese communist history as a demonstration of the discipline and commitment of the Chinese communists and in particular of party members.