Research On The United Front Work Of The Red Army In The Southwest Ethnic Areas During The Long March

As an unprecedented large-scale strategic shift,the Long March spent most of its time in the southwest.The central Red Army and the Second and sixth Corps passed through Guizhou,Yunnan,Sichuan and Xikang(which were later merged into Sichuan and Xizang)in southwest China for about 9 and 7 months respectively,while the fourth Front Army passed through Sichuan and Xikang for about 16 months.Southwest China is the settlement area of ethnic minorities and the area where the Red Army dealt with ethnic problems most frequently during the Long March.Therefore,how the Red Army carries out the united Front work in the southwest ethnic areas is particularly important,which is undoubtedly related to whether the Red Army can smoothly pass through the southwest ethnic areas and then realize the strategic transfer.During its activities in the southwest ethnic areas,the Red Army formulated a united Front policy of rich forms and flexible contents according to the local actual conditions.In terms of political and military affairs,the Red Army put forward the slogan of ethnic self-determination and set a precedent for the establishment of the revolutionary regime of ethnic minorities.When passing through areas inhabited by ethnic minorities,the Red Army actively unites the upper strata of the ethnic groups and establishes various military and political alliances with them.In addition,the Red Army also takes the initiative to support the local armed forces,helping some ethnic areas to establish revolutionary armed forces,and injecting fresh blood into the Red Army.Economically,the Red Army has correctly dealt with the land problem in ethnic minority areas,formulated a more generous land policy,and adopted the mode of public purchase and sale and voluntary collection of food instead of fighting the tuhao of ethnic minorities.To address the issue of taxation,the Red Army abolished exorbitant taxes in ethnic minority areas,implemented tax reduction and exemption,and developed the economy of ethnic minorities.In terms of social and cultural aspects,the Red Army respects the customs and religious beliefs of ethnic minorities,protects the spoken and written languages of ethnic minorities,and provides relief services to ethnic minority areas with poor medical conditions.In ethnic minority areas with backward educational resources,the Red Army actively establishes schools,trains ethnic cadres and vigorously develops ethnic education.The Red Army's united front work in the southwest ethnic areas is very effective.The specific actions of the ethnic minorities in the southwest,such as transporting food for the Red Army,acting as guides and interpreters free of charge,and helping to cover and take care of the wounded,ensured the smooth realization of the strategic transfer of the Red Army.After the red army north,in the southwest ethnic area of influence,although the emerging of revolutionary base areas by the kuomintang,but under such harsh conditions southwest minority still insist on the party's ethnic policies,to resume production development,for the liberation of southwest stretching force,the continuation of this spirit is worthy of our admiration.Of course,the Red Army's united front work in the southwest ethnic areas is not perfect,more or less there will be certain limitations,nevertheless,we can not deny its outstanding achievements.Taking history as a mirror,we can know that the red Army's united front work experience in the southwest ethnic areas is our precious wealth,which provides important experience and reference for the party's ethnic work in the new era,and has certain practical significance.