Operation Chahar
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2014) |
Operation Chahar | |
---|---|
Part of Chahar – Suiyuan | |
Result | Japanese victory |
Chiang Kai-shek
Yan Xishan
Fu Zuoyi
60,000 Mongolian and Manchurian troops[1]
Operation Chahar (
This was the second attack by the
Japanese Order of battle
The Chinese forces opposing this invasion of Suiyuan were the Suiyuan Pacification Headquarters under the command of General
Chinese Order of battle
Following the loss of Beiping, Tang Enbo's 13th Army (4th and 89th Divisions) took up positions in depth along the Peking–Suiyuan Railway at
Battles around Nankou
On August 8, the Japanese
That same day, Chiang Kai-shek ordered the activation of the 14th Group Army (10th, 83rd, and 85th Divisions) under Gen.
On August 12, Tang Enbo's army counterattacked, surrounding the Japanese and cutting them off from their supplies and communications. On August 14,
On August 16, Itagaki arrived at Nankou and began an enveloping attack on the right flank of 13th Army, making a five pronged attack at Huanglaoyuan. The 7th Brigade of 4th Division under Shi Jue was moved to block this maneuver, and reinforcements of Li Xianzhou's 21st Division and Zhu Huaibing's 94th Division were brought up, engaging in days of heavy fighting. On August 17 General Yan Xishan, Director of the Taiyuan Pacification Headquarters, directed the 7th Group Army, under Fu Zuoyi, to move its 72nd Division and three brigades by rail from Datong to Huailai to reinforce Tang Enbo's forces.
Battle of the Great Wall
Meanwhile, in northern Chahar the Chinese 1st Cavalry Army captured
From August 18–19 the Chahar Expeditionary Force counterattacked from Zhangbei, and took Shenweitaiko[clarification needed] on the Great Wall and the Hanno Dam. The scattered and poorly equipped Chinese forces were unable to stop the Japanese, who now threatened the Peking–Suiyuan Railway at Kalgan. On August 20 Gen. Fu Zuoyi's 7th Group Army diverted its 200th and 211th Brigades, which had been moving south by rail to join Gen. Tang Enbo's forces, back to defend Kalgan. Fu's remaining 72nd Division arrived to reinforce Chenpien, and his 7th Separate Brigade was sent to defend the railhead at Huailai.
On August 21, the Japanese forces broke through at the villages of Henglingcheng[clarification needed] and Chenbiancheng[clarification needed]. Gen. Tang Enbo's forces awaiting reinforcement; but, having suffered over 50% casualties, still defended Huailai, Juyong Pass, and Yenqing. Liu Ruming's 143rd Division fell back to defend Kalgan from the advancing Japanese.
On August 23, as Seishirō Itagaki's 5th Division pushed toward Huailai from Chenpien against Ma Yenshou's 7th Separate Brigade, advance elements of the 14th Army Group arrived on the Japanese flank at Chingpaikou[clarification needed], driving off the Japanese outpost there and contacting the Japanese forces advancing to Chenpien and the front beyond. However, they were delayed in crossing the Yongding River, and their attack was delayed until it was too late to stop the Japanese advance. Due to poor communications they also failed to link up with Gen. Tang En-po's forces during the battle. After 8 days and 8 nights fighting, Itagaki, on August 24, linked up with the Kwantung army's 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade at Xiahuayuan.
Withdrawal
On August 26, Gen. Tang Enbo's forces were ordered to break out toward the Sangchien River[clarification needed] while Liu Ruming's forces were ordered to withdraw to the far side of the Hsiang-yang River[clarification needed].
On August 29 the Japanese unit, called the Oui Column by the Chinese and the Ohizumi Detachment (大泉支隊) by the Japanese, attacked. According to Hsu Long-hsuen this unit moved south from Tushihkou[clarification needed], and on August 30 attacked Yenching via Chihcheng, but was repulsed by the Chinese 17th Army. A Japanese map of the campaign shows that the unit moved to Guyuan (沽源) on August 25 and to Xuanhua (宣化) by September 7, cutting the railroad in the rear of Tang's forces and east of Chinese forces along the Great Wall.[1]
According to the Chinese account, after repulsing the Oui Column's attack the Chinese 17th Army withdrew to join the rest of Tang Enbo's force on the far side of the Sangchien River.
According to Time magazine, on September 4 the Japanese-aligned South Chahar Government was set up at Kalgan. After the fall of Kalgan, Chahar's "complete independence" from China was declared by "100 influential persons", headed by Demchugdongrub, a pro-Japanese Mongolian who had long been the head of the "Inner Mongolia for Inner Mongolians" movement. It was Demchugdongrub, with his Mongolian levies, who helped the Japanese to take Kalgan. Demchugdongrub was rewarded for his collaboration with the highest position in this new Japanese puppet state, the Mongol United Autonomous Government.
Notes
- Ohizumi Detachment (大泉支隊). It was a battalion from 4th Infantry Regiment of 2nd Division under the Kwantung Army. But, its course is different than the Chinese account says. It moved from Guyuan (沽源) to Xuanhua (宣化). See [2]
References
- ^ ISBN 9780786474707.
Sources
- 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. Pg. 180- 184 and Map 3
- Jowett, Phillip S., Rays of The Rising Sun, Armed Forces of Japan's Asian Allies 1931–45, Volume I: China & Manchuria, 2004. Helion & Co. Ltd., 26 Willow Rd., Solihull, West Midlands, England.
- Perry–Castañeda Library Map Collection, China 1:250,000, Series L500, U.S. Army Map Service, 1954- . Topographic Maps of China during the Second World War.
- Chang-Chia-K'ou(Kalgan) nk50-10 Area of fighting on Great Wall and east of Nankou.
- Perry–Castañeda Library Map Collection, Manchuria 1:250,000, Series L542, U.S. Army Map Service, 1950- . Topographic Maps of Manchuria during the Second World War.
- Cheng Te nk50-11 Nankou area.
External links
- Time Magazine Te & Confucius
- Resistance wars
- Early Japanese Campaign(s) in the 2ndSino-Japanese War: Operation Chahar see bottom of the page for map and other info on Operation Chahar.
- Oui Column in Aug. 1937 Operation Chahar? Japanese map and discussion of Oui column and Manchukuo forces involved.