Second Sino-Japanese War

The July–November 1929 conflict over the Chinese Eastern Railroad (CER) further increased the tensions in the Northeast that led to the Mukden Incident and eventually the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Japan invaded Manchuria following the Mukden Incident, which served as the pretext for the invasion.

The 18 September 1931 Japanese invasion of Manchuria is considered by some Chinese historians as the start of the War of Resistance. This view was officially adopted by the Chinese government in 2017, recognizing the 1931-1937 period as the 'partial' war and 1937-1945 as a period of 'total' war, providing more recognition for the role of northeast China in the War of Resistance.

The Lytton Report, published in February 1933, condemned Japan for its incursion of Manchuria, leading to Japan's withdrawal from the League of Nations. This report had significant implications for the international response to Japan's actions in Manchuria.

The Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army Resistance, spanning from 1934 to 1941, represented a significant Chinese effort to resist Japanese occupation in Manchuria.

Germany and Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact, forming an alliance against the spread of communism.

Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng conspired to kidnap Chiang Kai-shek and force him into a truce with the CCP, leading to the formation of the Second United Front to focus on fighting the Japanese.

The Marco Polo Bridge Incident marked the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War, when a small clash between Chinese and Japanese troops escalated into a full-scale invasion of China by Japan.

A conflict erupted between Chinese and Japanese troops near the Marco Polo Bridge outside Beijing, leading to China formally declaring war against Japan. Subsequently, Japanese troops committed atrocities in Nanjing, resulting in the deaths of thousands of city residents.

On 11 July 1937, the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff authorized the deployment of an infantry division and other reinforcements to Northern China in accordance with the Goso conference. This marked a significant escalation of the conflict in the region.

After 24 days of combat, the Chinese 29th Army was forced to withdraw, leading to the capture of Beijing and the Taku Forts at Tianjin by the Japanese. This marked a significant advancement for the Japanese forces in the region.

The Ōyama Incident on 9 August 1937 escalated the skirmishes and battles into full-scale warfare, inspiring the 1937 'Sword March' which became the National Revolutionary Army's standard marching cadence. This incident popularized the racial epithet guizi to describe the Japanese invaders.

The Battle of Shanghai began on August 13, 1937, when Kuomintang soldiers and warplanes attacked Japanese Marine positions, leading to intense fighting and significant civilian casualties.

The Battle of Shanghai was a major engagement in the Second Sino-Japanese War, resulting in heavy casualties and destruction as the Japanese sought to capture the city.

Chinese forces were ordered to capture or destroy the Japanese strongholds in Shanghai, leading to bitter street fighting.

The Chinese Air Force attacked Japanese troop landings at Wusongkou in northern Shanghai, leading to a dogfight with Japanese forces.

The Japanese Imperial Army easily defeated KMT forces and took control of Tianjin during the Battle of Shanghai.

The Battle of Shanghai lasted for three months and was a significant conflict between the Chinese and Japanese forces during the Second Sino-Japanese War. The Chinese forces, particularly the KMT army, displayed their better training and resilience against the dominant Japanese forces.

On October 26, 1937, the Defense of Sihang Warehouse took place, where Chinese forces valiantly defended the warehouse against Japanese attacks during the Battle of Shanghai.

Between December 13, 1937, and late January 1938, Japanese forces committed the Nanjing Massacre, resulting in the estimated killing of 200,000 to 300,000 Chinese civilians, marking one of the darkest events of the war.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, the city of Nanjing was brutally invaded and occupied by the Japanese forces. The event resulted in mass killings, looting, and widespread atrocities against Chinese civilians and prisoners of war.

The Battle of Taierzhuang took place from 4 March to 7 April 1938. It was a significant battle between the Chinese and Japanese forces during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

The Battle of Xuzhou occurred from March 24 to May 1, 1938, and was a major confrontation between Chinese and Japanese forces during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

From 11 June to 27 October 1938, the Battle of Wuhan unfolded, marking a crucial phase in the Second Sino-Japanese War with significant consequences.

The Battle of Wuhan ended with the fall of the city, signifying a significant victory for the Japanese forces in their campaign against China.

Operation Barbarossa was the code name for the German invasion of the Soviet Union, which resulted in the Soviet Union being limited in its support for China.

President Roosevelt demanded Japan to withdraw all its forces from Indochina, leading to the US, UK, and Netherlands imposing an oil embargo, which was a decisive moment in the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Imperial Headquarter Order number 575, authorized on 3 December 1941, gave the official authorization for the implementation of the Three Alls Policy (Sanko Sakusen) in north China by General Yasuji Okamura.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States declared war against Japan, and within days China joined the Allies in formal declaration of war against Japan, Germany, and Italy, significantly altering the course of the war.

The Battle of Yunnan-Burma Road was a significant military campaign that took place from March to June 1942 during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

By May 30, 1942, Japan had gained control of Burma, effectively cutting off the crucial supply line to China. This had a major impact on the ability of China to resist the Japanese invasion.

During the Cairo Conference in November 1943, the status of Chiang Kai-shek was elevated.

Operation Ichi-Go was a campaign of the Imperial Japanese Army in China during World War II. It was the largest Japanese land campaign of the war and resulted in the capture of important cities and transportation hubs.

The Defense of Hengyang took place from June 22 to August 8, 1944. It resulted in a Pyrrhic victory for Japan and led to the collapse of the Tojo cabinet.

On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life, ultimately contributing to the end of World War II.

The official surrender was signed aboard the battleship USS Missouri on September 2, 1945, marking the end of World War II and the victory of the Allies, including China, over Japan.

The Republic of China (ROC) government took administrative control of Taiwan and the Penghu islands in 1945, and proclaimed Taiwan Retrocession Day on 25 October 1945. The unresolved Chinese Civil War led to disputes over the sovereignty of Taiwan.

The legacy of Communist victory in China’s civil war is an important issue confronting those who research the Sino-Japanese conflict, as it had a significant impact on the outcome and aftermath of the war.

The translated volume provides a detailed account based on the Nationalists’ interpretation of the war and its campaigns. It offers insights into the Nationalist leadership and their sacrifices during the conflict.

Total War is a comprehensive history of the Second World War, including the war in Asia, based mainly upon secondary sources. It provides valuable insights into the Europe-first strategy of the Americans and British and its impact on the war in China.

The book 'China’s Bitter Victory' contains a series of essays that shed light on various aspects of the Second Sino-Japanese War. It emphasizes the impact of the war on China, highlighting the country's weakened state despite its victory.