From the Long March to victory, 1934 to 1949

In 1934 the Communists were fleeing for their lives. Fifteen years later Mao stood in Tiananmen Square and proclaimed a new China. How did that happen?

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The Long March and the United Front

Encircled by the GMD, the Red Army began the Long March in October 1934. At the Zunyi Conference (January 1935) Mao gained a leading role. Crossings such as the Luding Bridge (May 1935) became legends. Only a small fraction of those who set out reached the Communist base in northern Shaanxi in October 1935; from 1937 the CCP's headquarters was at Yan'an.
In the Xi'an Incident (December 1936) Chiang Kai-shek was held by one of his own generals until he agreed to stop fighting the Communists and resist Japan together: the Second United Front.

War with Japan, 1937 to 1945

Full-scale war began after a clash at the Marco Polo Bridge near Beijing on 7 July 1937. Japan took the east coast and the capital Nanjing, where its troops massacred huge numbers of civilians (December 1937).
The GMD did most of the heavy fighting and was weakened by losses, inflation and corruption.
The CCP used guerrilla warfare behind Japanese lines, treated peasants fairly and grew rapidly from its base at Yan'an.

Civil war and Communist victory

After Japan surrendered in August 1945, talks failed and full civil war began in 1946.
The CCP's People's Liberation Army won great campaigns in 1948 to 1949, including Huai-Hai, and entered Beijing in January 1949.
Mao proclaimed the People's Republic of China on 1 October 1949. Chiang retreated to Taiwan.
Why the CCP won: peasant support through land reform, good discipline and tactics, Mao's leadership, and GMD weaknesses such as corruption, inflation and low morale.
Worked example

Explain two reasons why the Communists won the civil war.

  1. Reason 1: peasant support. The CCP gave land to peasants and its soldiers behaved well, so it gained recruits and supplies.
  2. Reason 2: GMD weakness. Corruption and runaway inflation destroyed trust in Chiang's government, and many soldiers deserted.
  3. Link both to victory by 1949.

Answer: The CCP won peasant support through land reform and discipline, while corruption and inflation undermined the GMD.

Key idea

Long March October 1934 to October 1935, ending in northern Shaanxi (headquarters at Yan'an from 1937); Zunyi Conference (January 1935) raised Mao. Xi'an Incident (December 1936) led to the Second United Front. War with Japan from 7 July 1937; Nanjing massacre (December 1937). CCP grew through guerrilla war and peasant support. Civil war 1946 to 1949; Huai-Hai; People's Republic proclaimed 1 October 1949; Chiang to Taiwan.

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  1. During which event did the Zunyi Conference take place?

    1. The Northern Expedition
    2. The Long March
    3. The Cultural Revolution
    4. The Boxer Uprising
    Show the answer

    Answer: The Long March

    It took place in January 1935.

  2. Who kidnapped Chiang Kai-shek at Xi'an?

    1. Mao Zedong
    2. Japanese soldiers
    3. The Red Guards
    4. Zhang Xueliang, one of his own generals
    Show the answer

    Answer: Zhang Xueliang, one of his own generals

    Zhang wanted Chiang to fight Japan, not the CCP.

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Sources and references

Checked by the GCSE-ready editorial team, 16 October 2026. Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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