1939–1940 Winter Offensive
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (August 2010) |
1939-1940 Winter Offensive | |||||||
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Part of Second Sino-Japanese War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Republic of China | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Wei Lihuang Gu Zhutong Li Zongren Xue Yue Bai Chongxi Zhang Fakui Fu Zuoyi Ma Hongkui |
Toshizō Nishio Hayao Tada Yasuji Okamura Rikichi Andō Naozaburo Okabe | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
550,000 including Chinese Muslim Cavalry in 71 divisions | 850,000 including Mengjiang Cavalry | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown | more than 20,000 killed, 9 transport ships damaged or sunk, 11 pieces of assorted artillery captured, ~400 captured, |
The 1939–1940 Winter Offensive (Chinese: 冬季攻勢) was one of the major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War, in which Chinese forces launched their first major counter-offensive on multiple fronts. Although this offensive failed to achieve its original objectives, some studies have shown that it came as a heavy blow to the Japanese forces, as well as a massive shock to the Japanese military command, which did not expect the Chinese forces to be able to launch an offensive operation on such a large scale.[1]
By April 1940, the Japanese army had successfully fought the operation to a halt. However, a Japanese counteroffensive in the northern theater failed to seize Ningxia and was defeated in Suiyuan by Chinese Muslim forces.
Strategic situation
The Chinese had repulsed two Japanese offensives in the summer at the
Chinese plan
The Chinese objective in the offensive was to take the initiative by conducting multiple-front attacks to tie down the Japanese forces. They intended to use their position of exterior lines to advantage to prevent the Japanese from launching new local offensives or shifting their forces to concentrate for a large offensive. The main effort was to be by the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 9th
Results of the north China offensive
Long-hsuen's "History of The Sino-Japanese War" then ends the narrative of the operation with the mention that supply difficulties greatly affected operations because of Communist raids in their rear area and instigation of revolts, which seized food and forbade it to be sold to the government forces. Despite this, the 40th Corps and 27th Corps accomplished their aim of pinning down the Japanese in the
In 1937, the Chinese government picked up intelligence that the Japanese planned to install a puppet Hui Muslim regime around Suiyuan and Ningxia, and had sent agents to the region.[2][3] The Middlesboro Daily News ran an article by Owen Lattimore which reported on Japan's planned offensive into the Muslim region in 1938, which predicted that the Japanese would suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of the Muslims.[4]
The Japanese planned to invade Ningxia from Suiyuan in 1939 and create a Hui Muslim puppet state. The next year, however, the Japanese were defeated by the Kuomintang Muslim Gen. Ma Hongbin, causing the plan to collapse. His Hui Muslim troops launched further attacks against Japan in the Battle of West Suiyuan.[5]
In Suiyuan, 300 Mongol collaborators serving the Japanese were fought off by a single Muslim who held the rank of major at the Battle of Wulan Obo in April.[6]
Muslim Generals Ma Hongkui and Ma Hongbin defended west Suiyuan, especially in Wuyuan, in 1940. Ma Hongbin commanded the 81st Corps, which suffered heavy casualties, but they eventually repulsed the Japanese and defeated them.[7]
Japan made heavy use of chemical weapons against China to make up for lack of numbers in combat and because China did not have any poison gas stockpiles of its own to retaliate.[8] Japan also used poison gas against Chinese Muslim armies at the Battle of Wuyuan and the Battle of West Suiyuan.
Results of the central China offensive
River North Army accomplished little and was driven back behind the river by December 23, freeing up 13th Division units for use elsewhere. The Japanese held Right Flank Army in the
The Chinese Muslim General Ma Biao led Hui Muslim, Salar Muslim, and Dongxiang Muslim cavalry to annihilate the Japanese at the Battle of Huaiyang.
Chinese winter offensive in Guangdong
After routing the Japanese force coming from Longxian on January 1, the 54th Corps recaptured that town on the 2nd.
The main force of 35th Army Group moved along the west bank of the Bei River near Zhaoqing, and 54th Corps and a portion of 12th Army Group moved to take up positions at Hengshi, Liangkou,[clarification needed] Lutian and Meikang[clarification needed].The 4th War Area reported more than 10,300 enemy killed, 100 rifles and large amount of supplies captured.
However, with the restricted frontage, and reinforcements sent from Central China the Japanese were able to shift forces to relieve their forces in South Guangxi.[9][10][11][12]
References
- ^ "(抗日战争)冬季攻势述评". Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ISBN 978-0-415-58264-3. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
- ^ The China monthly review, Volumes 80-81. J.W. Powell. 1937. p. 320. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
- ^ "Middlesboro Daily News - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ISBN 0-8047-4960-4. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
- ^ China Magazine. 1940. p. 18.
- ^ George Barry O'Toole, Jên-yü Tsʻai, ed. (1941). The China monthly, Volumes 3-5. The China monthly incorporated. Retrieved 2010-06-28.(Original from the University of Michigan)
- S2CID 158528688
- ^ Long-hsuen, Hsu (1971). Wen Ha-hsiung (ed.). History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945). Chang Ming-kai (2 ed.). Taipei, Taiwan Republic of China: Chung Wu Publishing.
- ^ Kataoka, Tetsuya. "Resistance and Revolution in China". University of California Press. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
- ^ "1939–40 Winter Campaign". Archived from the original on August 19, 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
- ^ "Topographic Maps of China during the Second World War". Series L500. U.S. Army Map Service. 1954. Archived from the original on 11 March 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
External links
- Upper half of Map 19 showing the Winter offensive 1939-1940 in North China. Map 19, from Hsu Long-hsuen and Chang Ming-kai, History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) 2nd Ed. ,1971.
- Lower half of map 19 showing the Winter offensive 1939-1940 in Central and South China from Hsu Long-hsuen and Chang Ming-kai, History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) 2nd Ed. ,1971.