Battle of Nanchang
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| Second Sino-Japanese War |
|---|
| Major engagements in bold Mukden - Nenjiang Bridge - Shanghai (1932) - Great Wall - Rehe - Suiyuan - Marco Polo Bridge - Beiping-Tianjin - Chahar - Shanghai (1937) (Sihang Warehouse) - Pingxingguan - Xinkou - Taiyuan - Nanjing - Tai'erzhuang - Xuzhou- Northern and Eastern Honan 1938 - Wuhan - Xiushui River - Nanchang - Lanfeng - Suixian-Zaoyang - 1st Changsha - S.Guangxi - Winter Offensive - Zaoyang-Yichang - Hundred Regiments - S.Henan - Shanggao - S.Shanxi - 2nd Changsha - 3rd Changsha - Zhejiang-Jiangxi - W.Hubei - Changde - C.Henan - 4th Changsha - Guilin-Liuzhou - W.Henan-N.Hubei - W.Hunan [edit] |
- For the Chinese Civil War battle in 1927, see Nanchang Uprising.
After the Battle of Wuhan, Wuhan was the base of the 11th Army of the Imperial Japanese Army, and was surrounded by the 5th and 9th Military Regions of the National Revolutionary Army. Nanchang was a railway center, the major support line between the 3rd and 5th Military Regions , and site of the airbase threatening Japanese shipping in Yangtze River. In addition, its proximity to the center of the Shanghai-Wuhan strip controlled by Japan was a strategic threat.
The 9th Military Region was reshuffled, with Chen Cheng staying as the supreme commander in name and Xue Yue becoming the commander in actuality. 200,000 troops in 52 divisions were gathered near Nanchang. However, lacking vehicles, the reshufflement took a long time and the planned attack was delayed.
Japanese Attack
Japanese troops had tried to approach Nanchang during the Battle of Wuhan, but they were stopped at Xiushui River. Where they had to wait for reinforcements, and started the second invasion with 120,000 troops. Following an artillery barrage Japanese troops began crossing the Xiushui River (see Battle of Xiushui River). Starting at 7:00am on March 21st they advanced 2 km , and began to build bridges. On March 23, Wucheng was devastated by sustained naval bombardment and airstrikes followed by a landing by Naval Landing forces. On March 26, Japanese troops supported by tanks had broken out of their bridgehead and reached the west gate of Nanchang, defeating Chinese reinforcements from the 3rd Military Region. By March 27, Nanchang had fallen after being surrounded and put under siege by Japanese forces. This was the end of the first phase of the battle.
Chinese counter & retreat
However, the battle was not over. During a period lasting until the end of April some Japanese forces were moved to support operations in other areas (see Battle of Suizao). This weakening of available Japanese manpower had consequences. On April 21, a surprise attack by the forces of the 3rd and 9th Military Regions allowed for a breakthrough by the 32nd Army Group that allowed a Chinese spearhead to reach the outer area of Nanchang in 5 days. However, under heavy attack from Japanese Aviation and facing a Japanese garrison re-enforced by components of the Navy they were unable to lay an effective siege and retreated on May 9.
Aftermath
Subsequent to this battle, the major supply line of the 3rd Military Region of the National Revolutionary Army and the southeast provinces of China came under increasing threat.
Notes
7 Divisions from 32nd Army Group / 3rd War Area were committed during the offensive to recapture Nanchang in April 1939. 16th, 79th, 10th Reserve, and 5th Reseve Divisions are mentioned as being with that Army Group. Also a 102nd Division also came from 3rd War Area early in the campaign but may or may not have been from 32nd Army Group, the text is doesn’t make this clear. The 29th Corps is mentioned in the text along with 26th Division in the final attack on Nanchang. Additionally a 25th Corps, (commander Wang Ching-chiu) and a separate 67th Division is listed as being under the 32nd Army Group in another OOB for the Chinese from after the Battle of Wuhan to March 1940. [1]
Reference
- Hsu Long-hsuen and Chang Ming-kai, History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) 2nd Ed. ,1971. Translated by Wen Ha-hsiung , Chung Wu Publishing; 33, 140th Lane, Tung-hwa Street, Taipei, Taiwan Republic of China.
- [Artillery force Xiushui River crossing]
- [Generals from Japan (WWII)]
- [Japanese Naval OOB of Nanchang]
- [Sino-Japanese Air War 1937-45]
See also
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