Any ideas?

[Hye]

Using your own knowledge, explain who the Long Marchers fought at Zunyi River and Luting Bridge and why these battles were significant for the Chinese Communist Party.

And

Evaluate to what extent the source is useful in determining the significance of the Long March in the development of the Chinese Communist Party. Refer to other views in your response.

-Do i need to state other historians opinion on this matter?

Need ideas on the bolded part of the question


Thanks heaps

[pooshwaltzer]

Man, my dad - who's a friggin' Communist nutjob - would have an absolute field day with this topic (don't tell him I said this though)!

Zunyi River - Is where a perennial conference between meeting Communist leaders too place. Mao ZeDong was then leader of the Politburo, advisory capacity, and influence was primarily within the administrative organs. The Zunyi meet essentially solidified Mao's reign over the CCP by transferring command of the 8th Route Army from Zhou An Lai, Li Bao and this other old fart whose name I've forgotten over to Chairman Man.

Luting Bridge - A pinnacle fulcrum in the decisive fate of the Red Army and CCP. Luting Bridge was the only conjoining point between two vastly divided land masses separated by a magnanimous canyon. A deep crevice unabridged as far as the eye could see. Luting was the only artificial access point between the two geographic masses as no natural linkage exists. On the one side is the rendezvousing CCP on the run with the KMT main flank hot on their trail and ready to encircle the remnants in their desperate escapade. On the other side is a small contingent of garrisoned KMT regulars. Chiang Kai Shek's instructions were to block CCP passage at all costs EXCEPT blowing the bridge. It was too important and vital an egress for both military and civil transportation alike. Mao had 20 of his gunho Commies form a die hard contingent of expendables to sneak over Luting and surprise the rear guard of the defending KMT garrison on the other side. 18 got across and made the CCP escape possible. If bridge was blown, it would have been checkmate. Bet old Chiang is still rolling in his grave over that decision eh? 

[Spreadbury]

in response to why the battles were significant, they served major propaganda purposes later on. the march was, as some historians put it "a propaganda tour". and when the communists had 25 men go across the bridge to win the battle that was seen as a massive win for the communists, despite there being questions about the.. I suppose "epicness" of the battle.