Was Mao essential to the CCP’s victory over Chiang Kai-shek?
The Long March was not a glorious trek to avoid encirclement by CKS as presented by some.
It was not Mao’s sole decision.
It was a decision made by the CCP’s leadership, including others like Zhu De and Peng Dehuai, in response to encirclement by the Kuomintang forces.
The decision to consolidate in Yanan was a decision forced by circumstances and not by Mao.
The military victories in Manchuria were achieved by other leaders. Thereafter, the victories over the warlords in southern China were also achieved by these military leaders
So, was Mao essential? Should he be given credit for defeating CKS? Should he be given credit for unifying China?
Lwh@ Lone Pine Resort
1 June 2025