ABSTRACT
The Fifth Suppression Campaign represented the climax of the military struggle between the Communists and the Nationalists in the 1930s. The Campaign deserves a book-length monograph in itself. The confines of this book only allow for a general account of the episode, pinpointing the military situations and strategies of the Communist Party at various points of development. Meticulous attention was paid to the allocation, construction, and protection of blockhouses. The basic objective of the blockhouse policy was to cope efficiently with the Red Army's mobile warfare. The strategic location of a blockhouse made it impossible for the Red Army to pass by. The military victory in the Fourth Campaign immensely reinforced the Bo Gu Center's political position before all the opposition elements. The Communists knew of 19th Route Army's plans for revolt several months before the defection occurred. The real situation was more complicated, even in terms of factional alignment and power distribution.
