The Shanghai Incident 1932

Kean Chong

[Editor's Note: Grandmaster Chee is said to be a member of the Big Knife brigade. Here's a background story related to this brigade during the Shanghai Incident of 1932 before the start of the Sino Japanese war in 1937.]

March 1, 1932
Japanese troops launched another fierce attack, the 19th Army retreated, Songhu end of the war

After fierce fighting, the Japanese occupation of Woosung forts

L March 1932, the Japanese army in Shanghai launched attacks across the board. General offensive before the Japanese reached Shanghai 7 million people, about 150 aircraft (160 aircraft while the Navy) and the Navy first, the Third Fleet. At this point, the Chinese 19th Route Army (including the Fifth Army) total strength of only 4 million people, and has relatively weakened, the right-wing military loss of about 1 / 3, left-wing military loss of about 1 / 4, defensive line stretching over 50 km great loss of weapons, only a sense of strength on weak defensive front. Also intended to send more troops to defend, but due to shortage of troops, is repeatedly an urgent telegram for help, only that Chiang Kai-shek, "tenacious", "to strengthen vigilance", but delays in the military reinforcements.

Japanese troops under the cover of the main aspects of the 11th Division landed in Liuhe, in the temple town of aspects of a violent offensive line in order to close the main force is holding the 19th Army, making it difficult to transfer to the 11th Division landed side. At the same time to confuse the other's attention, but also in various parts of the feint, especially in the Zhabei Bazi Bridge, the Heaven Temple Road and other places frequently launched attacks. Um Road in the vicinity in the days pass, the two sides continued to battle up to eight hours long, defenders 60th Division continued to send death squads jumped out of the trenches, close combat, forcing the Japanese back to the Di Siwei Road. Other parts of the fighting has been extremely intense. Zhabei character bridge and tug of war, the defenders lost three positions have three, large casualties; Japanese casualties are very heavy, leaving countless dead, head of the forest rise of Colonel were killed.

Yong Feng teaches some of the Volunteer Corps and seven Yakou
Yang Lin mouth and so bravely against the Japanese landing

At half past six on the 1 March, the Japanese launch line of attack against Songhu region, the first Japanese to aircraft, artillery bombarded the defenders position, the time for 3 and a half hours, and then the infantry tanks, armored vehicles, attack. Ninth division, hybrid 24th Brigade and the Marines to the temple line, Riverside, west of the bridge line for Zhabei character onslaught, both gun attack Lion, Yang Lin I, 7 Yakou, etc.. 7 pm, they dispatched aircraft bombed the town of big games. Under the dominant Japanese general offensive defenders, although the Japanese breakthrough in several positions, but still tough and fight the enemy again. Japanese 9th Division in the morning attack left-wing forces to justice in Guangdong, wheat wangzhai, land and homesteads line; to 14:00, then advancing on homesteads, Yang F, South Bridge and the east line. The right wing forces to attack, the defenders suffered severe destruction, but also has occupied the afternoon Chuk Yuen Tun and justice to both sides of the Guangdong terminal region, and into the week of homesteads, the four front line, its central team captured 23 Park North, blending the 24th Brigade occupied the Dai family home and into the Chang Bridge, the western end of frontline AKB.

Japanese tanks stormed Jiangwan

While the 19th Army and Fifth Army and the Japanese military stalemate in the front face of stubborn fighting, the Japanese 11th where he studied under at 6 o'clock on the March 1 start, respectively, from seven Yakou, mouth and six Hong Yang Lin I landed. Liuhe area warning the Central Military Academy to teach with and a few corps a Volunteer, in landing a powerful artillery and infantry attacks on the Japanese, despite the public enemy to few, strong resistance. 19th Army Division headquarters Jitiao 87th Brigade 61 second rush to the rescue, but the lack of means of transport, combined with Japanese aircraft were bombing along the way, until 18 o'clock, there is one group went to Liuhe, at this time Liuhe has been relegated to an opponent, the Japanese being the direction of radical Jiading.

When the Liuhe critical moment, the 19th Route Army troops to reinforce non-motorized, had requested the Department of speed to send military forces rush to the rescue of two divisions Liuhe, but the military ignored the Department. Liuhe fall, so the defenders side and rear have all been a serious threat to the evening of March 1 of last resort in the whole army retreated to the second line of defense (ie yellow crosses, side Thailand, Jiading, Taicang the line).

Chinese army team sent to the front sword

19th Route Army's retreat is an active defense to transfer to the new. As the American journalist Edgar Snow, said: "Contrary to many people by surprise, this retreat is not the collapse prevention. [... ...] And I have talked to foreign military observers have all praised the command of General Choi's strategy in this orderly retreat was very capable, very tactically correct. In all able to move the guns were withdrawn after the withdrawal of troops before the front. almost no looting and chaos. the withdrawal is done in such a quiet, cover was so cleverly the Japanese navy Zhabei to large light only to find the enemy has left them overnight shelling is empty trenches and fortifications. "

Japanese found that after the withdrawal of Chinese troops across the board, on March 2 Zhabei occupied large field gone, as, 3, arrived into the Nanxiang. March 3, the League decided at a meeting, asked the two sides to stop the war. Thus, the Songhu war is ended.