Twists And Turns And Integration: A Study On The "whole Branch" In The Shandong Anti-Japanese Base (1943-1945)

The “zhengzhi”,that is,the consolidation of the branches,or the transformation of the branches,was the first grass-roots rectification work of the CCP during the Anti-Japanese War.It has achieved remarkable results and has had a far-reaching impact on the organizational development of the CCP.The full implementation of the“zhengzhi” work in the Shandong Anti-Japanese Base began in early 1943 and continued into the early days of the Liberation War.It spanned a so long period of time,and carried out a so wide range of fields,that have the proper noun of the“zhengzhi”.Therefore,it had typical characteristics and value to research.During the early period of the the Anti-Japanese War,under the instruction of the CPC Central Committee that “recruiting new party members up to several hundred”,the numbers of party members in Shandong's base areas surged,rapidly expanding the ranks of party members and enhancing their influence.However,its unreliable press-gang development has also resulted in complex effect of the basic unit party,such as low quality of the party members,scattered organizational and other adverse consequences,which constitute the main background of the origination of the of the “zhengzhi”.The process of “zhengzhi” in Shandong Anti-Japanese Base was slightly twisted and sluggish.Although the Central Government had already proposed that the organization's development strategy had been transformed from a “hundred times of developments” to a consolidation of “ seeking for refinement,but not much” in August 1939,the Shandong Branch didn't issue instructions and supplementary instructions of "zhengzhi" until 1943,because of the harsh hardships and its own level of understanding.After that Shandong Branch gradually raise the emphasis on this work.A review of relevant archives and documents shows that “zhengzhi” work in the Shandong Anti-Japanese Base gradually spreads out in 1943,which is different from what Professor Li Lifeng identified as "the first half of 1942".The twists and turns of the “zhengzhi” work demonstrated the tension between upper-level instructions of the CCP and the implementation of grass-roots organizations and the complex aspects of grassroots organizations operations.The Shandong Branch's plan of “zhengzhi” was specific and complete.It specifies the goals and strategies and emphasize the integration of this work and mass movements or specific work,which had been implemented throughout the country to a certain extent.Many localities inspectedparty members in mass movements,“eliminating bad ones and absorbing good ones”to adjust the composition of the branch;reforming branch committees and party groups in mass struggles,improving organizational life to improve branch organizations;combining actual work with “telling stories,setting examples and compiling textbooks” to strengthen branch education.And the plan was put into practice.Integration is the most important feature of the “zhengzhi” of the Shandong Base.This is determined by the status and nature of the grass-roots branch,and is also the choice made by the Shandong Branch from the actual base.The practice of “zhengzhi” at the grass-roots level failed to meet the Shandong Branch's requirements.Work deviations occurred in specific measures and methods of implementation.So the Shandong Branch adjusted the strategy,resulting in a transformation from a temporary launch into the regular work.Looking at the“zhengzhi” of the Shandong Anti-Japanese Base in a consistent view,it is not difficult to find that the development of this work had deepened the understanding of the Party Committee at all levels,strengthened the concept of grassroots construction,improved the organization and the work efficiency.The more remarkable results have accumulated experience for the subsequent CCP reorganizations at the grass-roots level and provided a perspective for understanding the victory of the Chinese Communist Party revolution.This is different from the evaluation made by Prof.Li Lifeng that “the results are not significant”.Taking into account the specific historical background,the experience and lessons of the “zhengzhi” work of the Shandong Anti-Japanese Base may also provide a lesson for the current organizational construction of the CCP.