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In 1927, Chiang Kai-shek’s forces launched the Shanghai Massacre, violently suppressing communist uprisings in the city. This ruthlessness marked the start of outright civil war between the KMT and CCP. Mao and his followers were driven into the countryside, beginning a long and arduous struggle for survival.
The Chinese Civil War was characterized by brutal guerrilla tactics, strategic retreats, and the emergence of Mao's Long March (1934–1935), a 6,000-mile trek that cemented Mao’s leadership and became a symbol of communist resolve. Despite facing overwhelming odds—outnumbered and outgunned—the CCP gradually rebuilt strength, emphasizing peasant support and guerrilla warfare.