Final answer:
Mao Zedong and his followers escaped near defeat in 1934 by undertaking the Long March, a strategic retreat through rural China to reach a safe haven in the north.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1934, Mao Zedong and his army were facing near extinction due to aggressive campaigns by the Nationalists, led by Chiang Kai-shek, who aimed to eradicate the Communist forces. To escape this predicament, Mao and his followers embarked on what became known as the Long March. This was a grueling 6,000-mile retreat through some of China's most rugged terrain. The Communist forces traversed these distances over the course of 370 days, starting from their encircled position in Jiangxi Province. Their journey was marked by hardship, battles, and significant loss of life, but it ultimately allowed them to reach a safe haven in northern China.
The Long March was a critical moment in Chinese Communist history, signifying the resilience and strategic withdraw of Communist forces from an untenable situation. It was on this march that Mao Zedong's leadership was solidified, and the foundations for the eventual Communist victory in China were laid. Following the Long March, the Communist Party rebuilt their forces and Mao's vision for China garnered substantial support from the peasantry, positioning them for future success, which materialized after the resumption and ultimate victory in the civil war against the Nationalists post-World War II.