A Day That Shook The World: Mao's communists take over in China

Saturday 01 October 2011 00:00 BST

(AFP)

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On 1 October 1949, China's communist party, led by Mao Zedong, finally prevailed against the Nationalists and assumed power.

The West quickly realised that this would change the global balance of power forever, as the Soviet Union suddenly had a huge new eastern ally - allowing them to concentrate their military might westward.

Watch original footage from Mao's takeover in this British Pathé video, above.

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A Day That Shook The World: Mao's communists take over in China

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