Zhangjiakou, the capital of the communist base in border area of Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei was sandwiched between nationalist strongholds both in the east and the west.

The Sudeten German population was indignant, especially in nationalist strongholds like Egerland.

On October 15, 1950, communists attacked the nationalist stronghold in the Dragon (龙) Mountain in multiple directions.

On April 8, 1947, communists begun their 1st stage offensive by attacking nationalist strongholds outside Shijiazhuang in a pincer movement.

By April 12, 1947, all nationalist strongholds fell into the communist hands and in addition, two major counties, Zhengding and Luancheng, also fell into the enemy.

Both men are from Trabzon, on the Black Sea in far eastern Turkey, a city known as a nationalist stronghold.

Three days later, all nationalist strongholds outside the town had fallen into communist hands.

At night of May 13, 1948, the communist 2nd Column started its eastward push by striking the nationalist strongholds in Yanqing.

They were also simply too far away from the nearest nationalist stronghold along the coast so it was impossible to reinforce the local garrison in time.

The fall of Linfen meant that the last nationalist stronghold in southern Shanxi was finally eliminated.