Red Guards were a mass student-led paramilitary social movement in China during the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976. They were mobilized by Mao Zedong to enforce revolutionary ideology and eliminate perceived enemies of the Communist Party.
Red Guards were first formed in 1966 at Beijing universities, particularly at Tsinghua University and Beijing University. The movement was composed mainly of middle school and university students who organized into local units. They wore distinctive red armbands and carried Mao's Little Red Book as symbols of their revolutionary commitment.
Red Guards engaged in various revolutionary activities including mass rallies, criticism sessions against perceived class enemies, and the destruction of the 'Four Olds' - old customs, culture, habits, and ideas. They conducted public humiliation campaigns and used Mao's teachings to justify their actions during the Cultural Revolution.
The Red Guards caused widespread social disruption and had devastating consequences for Chinese society. They persecuted intellectuals and perceived class enemies, destroyed cultural heritage sites, and caused the collapse of the educational system. The movement reached its peak of chaos around 1968, leading to economic damage, political purges, and social trauma that lasted for decades.
The Red Guards were officially disbanded in 1968, marking the end of the most radical phase of the Cultural Revolution. Their legacy serves as an important historical warning about the dangers of mass movements and political extremism. Today, the Red Guard movement is studied worldwide as a significant example of ideological mobilization and its consequences, providing valuable lessons for understanding political movements and social control.