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How did the Long March help Mao Zedong become the leading Communist Party leader?

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Chinese Civil War, Shanghai, c. 1949 — Chinese Civil War Nationalist Army soldiers preparing to defend Shanghai from Communist forces, c. 1949.

The Long March (1934–1935) was a pivotal event that enabled Mao Zedong to consolidate his authority within the Chinese Communist Party. Prior to the march, Mao had been removed from leadership by the party’s Central Committee, which had abandoned his successful guerrilla warfare tactics in favor of positional warfare, leading to disastrous losses against Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist forces.12

During the early, catastrophic stages of the march, the failure of the existing leadership became evident. At the Zunyi Conference in January 1935, Mao successfully gathered enough support to challenge his rivals and establish his dominance over the party. This shift in power was further solidified as Mao took control of the Central Committee’s military department, effectively positioning himself as the primary leader.1324

By the time the survivors reached Shaanxi in late 1935, the Long March had decisively established Mao’s leadership, providing him the platform to guide the party toward its eventual victory in the Chinese Civil War.12