The Chinese Communist Party
Witness History
BBC
4.5 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 1 July 2021
⏱️ 10 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
A small group of revolutionaries formed the Chinese Communist Party in July 1921. Led by Chairman Mao, they fought their way to power in the world's most populous nation and have stayed in control since the end of China's civil war in 1949. Zhu Zhende was a young recruit in the People's Liberation Army who marched in front of Chairman Mao at celebrations in Beijing when the communists took power. He spoke to Yashan Zhao about the optimism and excitement of that time, and about how the Communist Party changed his life.
The programme is a rebroadcast.
Photo: a communist statue in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. Credit: BBC.
Transcript
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| 0:24.9 | searching and a lot more auction listen on BBC sounds. |
| 0:29.2 | This is the Witness History podcast from the BBC World Service. |
| 0:39.0 | I'm Yashen Jao. |
| 0:41.0 | The Chinese Communist Party grew from tiny beginnings in July 2021 to become the most powerful organization in China under the leadership of Chairman Mao. |
| 0:55.0 | But it wasn't until 1949 that the Communist Party actually took control of the world's most populous country. |
| 1:05.0 | It was on October the 1st that year that the People's Republic of China was officially established with a huge ceremony in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. |
| 1:17.0 | I heard from one of the young soldiers of the People's Liberation Army who proudly marched past the Chairman Mao and Chairman Mao and the other |
| 1:35.0 | I saw Chairman Mao and the other leaders of the country in Tiananmen Square. |
| 1:40.0 | I was so excited and overwhelmed. I felt so optimistic. |
| 1:45.0 | Jojan de was just 19 years old and a new recruit in the People's Liberation Army when he took part |
| 1:56.6 | in their celebrations. We started at around 4 in the morning and walked 20 miles from our compound south of Beijing to Tianaman Square. |
| 2:11.0 | There were so many people in Tianaman Square you could hardly move. and Navy and tank forces. Every single one of us wanted to do our best and be proud of ourselves. |
| 2:27.0 | Not everyone was chosen to take part in the ceremony. |
| 2:33.0 | Only some of us could be selected to join the military parade. |
| 2:38.0 | There were strict standards to meet. To begin with, all of the men had to be under 21. |
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