Battle of Chishui River

Battle of Chishui River
Part of the Chinese Civil War and the Long March
Date19 January 1935 – 22 March 1935
Location
Result Communist forces manage to maneuver out of the Nationalists' encirclement
Belligerents

Republic of China (Nationalists)

 Chinese Soviet Republic (Communists)

Commanders and leaders
Strength
400,000 30,000
Casualties and losses
30,000 casualties
3,600 captured
Unknown

The Battle of Chishui River (simplified Chinese: 赤水战役; traditional Chinese: 赤水戰役), popularly known in mainland China as the Four Crossings of the Chishui River or "Crossing the Chishui River Four Times" (四渡赤水), was a major battle between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in 1935. It was the first major battle commanded by Mao Zedong during the Long March, and it is regarded as one of the most representative battles under Mao's command. This battle was a turning point in the first phase of Chinese Civil War. The Chinese Red Army jumped out of the encirclement of Kuomintang by unexpectedly crossing the Chishui River four times, and eventually survived the anti-communist military campaign of Chiang Kai-shek.