They started the march quite well, armed with 33,243 guns , but five week late suffered their first disastrous defeat at the Xiang river crossing
They lost 56000 men and much of their equipment was thrown into the river
It was at this time that Mao Zedong became leader of both the red army and the communist party
He was a tough but popular leader
Oneof the worst experiences was crossing thegreat snowy mountains , 5,000 metres high.
Many men died from lack of oxygen.
Exhausted, they knew that to stop to rest meant certain death.
If they managed to reach the top, it was best to sit down and slide to the bottom on the ice.
Many men were catapulted over cliffs.