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Coordinates: 37°51′00″N 112°33′00″E / 37.8500°N 112.5500°E / 37.8500; 112.5500
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{{Short description|1937 battle of the Second Sino-Japanese War}}
{{Infobox military conflict
{{Inline|date=June 2023}}{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Taiyuan
| conflict = Battle of Taiyuan
| partof = the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]]
| partof = the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]]
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| date = September 1 November 9, 1937
| date = {{Date range and age in years, months, weeks and days|1937|9|1|1937|11|9}}
| place = [[Taiyuan]], [[North China Plain]]
| place = [[Taiyuan]], [[North China Plain]], [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|China]]
| result = Japanese victory
| result = Japanese victory
| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Republic of China (1912–1949)}} [[Republic of China (1912–49)|China]]
| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Republic of China (1912–1949)}} [[Nationalist government|China]]
*{{flagicon image|Flag of the Chinese Communist Party (Pre-1996).svg}} [[Chinese Soviet Republic]]
*{{Flagicon image|Naval Jack of the Republic of China.svg}} [[Kuomintang|Chinese Nationalist Party]]
*{{flagicon image|Flag of the Chinese Communist Party (Pre-1996).svg}} [[Chinese Communist Party]]
| combatant2 = {{flagicon|Empire of Japan}} [[Empire of Japan|Japan]]
| combatant2 = {{flagicon|Empire of Japan}} [[Empire of Japan|Japan]]
*{{flag|Mengjiang|1936|name=Mongol Military Government}}
*{{flag|Mengjiang|1936|name=Mongol Military Government}}
Line 15: Line 17:
*14th army group
*14th army group
*[[Eighth Route Army|18th army group]]
*[[Eighth Route Army|18th army group]]
*[[Republic of China Air Force|28th Pursuit Squadron, 5th Pursuit Group]]
*Warlord army of [[Huang Shaohong]]
*Warlord army of [[Huang Shaohong]]
| units2 = *[[5th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|5th division]]
| units2 = *[[5th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|5th division]]
Line 23: Line 26:
*[[12th Independent Mixed Brigade (Imperial Japanese Army)|12th independent mixed brigade]]
*[[12th Independent Mixed Brigade (Imperial Japanese Army)|12th independent mixed brigade]]
*[[15th Independent Mixed Brigade (Imperial Japanese Army)|15th independent mixed brigade]]
*[[15th Independent Mixed Brigade (Imperial Japanese Army)|15th independent mixed brigade]]
*[[Inner Mongolian Army|9th Mongolian cavalry division]]<ref>[http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/937JIAB.PDF Japanese Forces Battle of Taiyan September through November 1937]</ref>
*[[Inner Mongolian Army|9th Mongolian cavalry division]]
| commander1 = {{flagicon|Republic of China (1912–1949)|army}} [[Yan Xishan]]<br>{{flagicon|Republic of China (1912–1949)|army}} [[Wei Lihuang]]<br>{{flagicon image|Flag of the Chinese Communist Party (Pre-1996).svg}} [[Zhu De]] <br>{{flagicon|Republic of China (1912–1949)|army}} [[Fu Zuoyi]]
| commander1 = {{flagicon|Republic of China (1912–1949)|army}} [[Yan Xishan]]<br>{{flagicon|Republic of China (1912–1949)|army}} [[Yang Aiyuan]]<br>{{flagicon|Republic of China (1912–1949)|army}} [[Wei Lihuang]]<br>{{flagicon image|Flag of the Chinese Communist Party (Pre-1996).svg}} [[Zhu De]] <br>{{flagicon|Republic of China (1912–1949)|army}} [[Fu Zuoyi]]
| commander2 = {{flagicon|Empire of Japan|army}} [[Isogai Rensuke]]<br>{{flagicon|Empire of Japan|army}} [[Itagaki Seishiro]]<br>{{flagicon|Mengjiang|1936}} [[Demchugdongrub]]
| commander2 = {{flagicon|Empire of Japan|army}} [[Isogai Rensuke]]<br>{{flagicon|Empire of Japan|army}} [[Itagaki Seishiro]]<br>{{flagicon|Mengjiang|1936}} [[Demchugdongrub]]
| strength1 = 6 [[Army Group]]s, ~280,000 men
| strength1 = 6 [[Army Group]]s, ~280,000 men
Line 31: Line 34:
| casualties2 = ~30,000
| casualties2 = ~30,000
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Second Sino-Japanese War}}
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Second Sino-Japanese War}}
{{Japanese colonial campaigns}}
}}
}}


The Japanese offensive called 太原作戦 or the '''Battle of Taiyuan''' ({{zh|t=太原會戰|p=Tàiyuán Huìzhàn|w=T'ai-yüan Hui-tsan}}) was a major battle fought between China and Japan named for [[Taiyuan]] (the capital of [[Shanxi]] province), which lay in the [[NRA Military Region|2nd Military Region]]. This battle concluded in loss for the [[National Revolutionary Army|NRA]], including part of [[Suiyuan]], most of [[Shanxi]] and their most modern arsenal at Taiyuan and effectively ended large-scale regular resistance in the [[North China]] area.
The Japanese offensive called 太原作戦 or the '''Battle of Taiyuan'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/937JIAB.PDF |title=Japanese Forces Battle of Taiyan September through November 1937 |access-date=2016-06-14 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053905/http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/937JIAB.PDF |url-status=dead }}</ref> was a major battle fought in 1937 between China and Japan named for [[Taiyuan]] (the capital of [[Shanxi]] province), which lay in the [[NRA Military Region|2nd Military Region]]. The battle concluded in a victory for Japan over the [[National Revolutionary Army]] (NRA), including part of [[Suiyuan]], most of [[Shanxi]] and the NRA arsenal at Taiyuan, and effectively ended large-scale organized resistance in the [[North China]] area.


Japanese forces included the [[Japanese Northern China Area Army]] under [[Hisaichi Terauchi]], elements of the [[Kwantung Army]], and elements of the [[Inner Mongolian Army]] led by [[Demchugdongrub]]. Chinese forces were commanded by [[Yan Xishan]] (warlord of Shanxi), [[Wei Lihuang]] (14th Army Group), and [[Fu Zuoyi]] (7th Army Group), as well as [[Zhu De]] who led the [[Eighth Route Army]] of the [[Chinese Communist Party]] (under the [[Second United Front]] alliance).
With these territories occupied, the Japanese obtained the coal supply in nearby [[Datong]], but it also exposed them to attacks by the guerrilla forces of the Nationalist army including the [[Eighth Route Army]], tying down many Japanese troops which could have been diverted to other campaigns.

Occupation of the territories gave the Japanese access to coal from [[Datong]] in northern Shanxi, but also exposed them to attacks by the guerrilla forces of the Nationalist army including the [[Eighth Route Army]], tying down many Japanese troops which could have been diverted to other campaigns.

The battle was marked by fierce [[Urban warfare|urban combat]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Times |first=Douglas Robertsonwireless To the New York |date=1937-11-09 |title=FORCES AT TAIYUAN IN DEADLY COMBAT; Chinese Hold Two-Thirds of Shansi Capital and Battle Fiercely Against Downfall CIVILIAN TRAIN IS BOMBED 200 Killed or Wounded When Japanese Attack From Air on Tientsin-Pukow Line Chinese Resistance Irks Claim Third of Taiyuan Train Bombed, 200 Casualties |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1937/11/09/archives/forces-at-taiyuan-in-deadly-combat-chinese-hold-twothirds-of-shansi.html |access-date=2024-02-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>


==Chronology==
==Chronology==
In September 1937, [[Hideki Tojo]] sent the Japanese army stationed in [[Chahar Province|Chahar]] to invade [[Shanxi]] in order to exploit its resources. The city of [[Datong]] fell, and the [[National Revolutionary Army|NRA]] was forced to go on the defensive, and concentrated their troops along the [[Great Wall]] in battles at places like [[Pingxingguan]] and to the east at [[Niangziguan]].
In September 1937, [[Hideki Tojo]] sent the Japanese army stationed in [[Chahar Province|Chahar]] to invade [[Shanxi]] in order to exploit its resources. The city of [[Datong]] fell, and the [[National Revolutionary Army|NRA]] was forced to go on the defensive, and concentrated their troops along the [[Great Wall]] in battles at places like [[Pingxingguan]] and to the east at [[Niangziguan]].


On September 21, 1937, Major Hiroshi Miwa, commander of the 1st Daitai, 16th Hiko Rentai of the [[Imperial Japanese Army Air Service|IJAAF]], who was a former-hired military flight instructor for [[Zhang Xueliang]]'s [[Fengtian army]] air corps and well known in the Chinese military aviation circles of the time, led 7 [[Kawasaki Ki-10]] fighters on an escort mission for 14 [[Mitsubishi Ki-2]] bombers to attack the city of [[Taiyuan]], encountered [[Republic of China Air Force|Chinese Air Force]] [[Vought O2U Corsair|V-65C Corsairs]] and [[Curtiss F11C Goshawk|Curtiss Hawk II]]s, shooting down several, however Major Miwa himself was shot down and killed over Taiyuan in a duel with Captain Chan Kee-Wong, commander of the 28th PS, 5th PG whilst flying a Curtiss Hawk II.
[[Yan Xishan]] also sent troops to reinforce [[Shijiazhuang]], but that caused a lack of personnel to defend the [[North China]] area, allowing the Japanese army to break through in the north forcing the Chinese to fall back to a new line at [[Xinkou]]. Fighting continued in October in the [[Battle of Xinkou]] until the Japanese outflanked Niangziguan in late October, compromising the Chinese defense resulting in the fall of Taiyuan.

[[Yan Xishan]] also sent troops to reinforce [[Shijiazhuang]], but that caused a lack of personnel to defend the [[North China]] area, allowing the Japanese army to break through in the north forcing the Chinese to fall back to a new line at Xinkou, Shanxi. Fighting continued in October in the [[Battle of Xinkou]] until the Japanese outflanked Niangziguan in late October, compromising the Chinese defense resulting in the fall of Taiyuan.


==See also==
==See also==
Line 47: Line 57:
==Sources==
==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. 195–200, Map 6
* 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. 195–200, Map 6
* '''中国抗日战争正面战场作战记''' China's Anti-Japanese War Combat Operations
** Author : Guo Rugui, editor-in-chief Huang Yuzhang
** Press : Jiangsu People's Publishing House
** Date published : 2005-7-1
** {{ISBN|7-214-03034-9}}
** Online in Chinese [https://web.archive.org/web/20090116005113/http://www.wehoo.net/book/wlwh/a30012/A0170.htm]
*** [http://www.wehoo.net/book/wlwh/a30012/04632.htm 第四部分:华北作战天镇 阳高战斗与大同失陷 1-3] Tianzhen Yanggaozhan fight and Datong falls to the enemy
*** [http://wehoo.net/book/wlwh/a30012/04643.htm 第四部分:华北作战 第二战区的决战计划] Second war zone decisive battle plan
*** [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928130329/http://www.wehoo.net/book/wlwh/a30012/04644.htm 第四部分:华北作战 平型关大捷] Pingxingguan victory
*** [http://www.wehoo.net/book/wlwh/a30012/04646.htm 第四部分:华北作战 东跑池 鹞子涧战斗] Dongpaochi Yaozijian Battle
*** [http://www.wehoo.net/book/wlwh/a30012/04647.htm 第四部分:华北作战 日军突入繁峙内长城防线弃守] Japanese Army penetrates numerous points in the Great Wall defense line its defence abandoned
*** [http://www.wehoo.net/book/wlwh/a30012/04649.htm 第四部分:华北作战 平型关作战简析] Pingxingguan battles simple analysis.
*** [http://www.wehoo.net/book/wlwh/a30012/04650.htm 第四部分:华北作战 会战前的一般形势太原会战] The front general situation in the Taiyuan decisive battle.
*** [http://www.wehoo.net/book/wlwh/a30012/04650.htm 第四部分:华北作战 忻口作战] Xinkow Battle
*** [http://www.wehoo.net/book/wlwh/a30012/04659.htm 第四部分:华北作战 正太路沿线作战] The best path to take in battles
*** [http://www.wehoo.net/book/wlwh/a30012/04667.htm 第四部分:华北作战 太原陷落] Taiyuan falls
*** [http://www.wehoo.net/book/wlwh/a30012/04671.htm 第四部分:华北作战 日军进攻绥远及归绥 包头失陷] The Japanese forces attack Suiyuan to subdue it, Baotou falls to the enemy

{{coord|37.8500|N|112.5500|E|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:AU|display=title}}
{{coord|37.8500|N|112.5500|E|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:AU|display=title}}
==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 11:37, 24 November 2024

Battle of Taiyuan
Part of the Second Sino-Japanese War
Date (1937-09-01) (1937-11-09)September 1 – November 9, 1937
(2 months, 1 week and 1 day)
Location
Result Japanese victory
Belligerents

Republic of China (1912–1949) China

Empire of Japan Japan

Commanders and leaders
Republic of China (1912–1949) Yan Xishan
Republic of China (1912–1949) Yang Aiyuan
Republic of China (1912–1949) Wei Lihuang
Zhu De
Republic of China (1912–1949) Fu Zuoyi
Empire of Japan Isogai Rensuke
Empire of Japan Itagaki Seishiro
Mengjiang Demchugdongrub
Units involved
  • 5th division
  • 20th division
  • Provisional air division
  • 1st independent mixed brigade
  • 11th independent mixed brigade
  • 12th independent mixed brigade
  • 15th independent mixed brigade
  • 9th Mongolian cavalry division
  • Strength
    6 Army Groups, ~280,000 men 5 divisions, ~140,000 men
    Casualties and losses
    129,737 ~30,000

    The Japanese offensive called 太原作戦 or the Battle of Taiyuan[1] was a major battle fought in 1937 between China and Japan named for Taiyuan (the capital of Shanxi province), which lay in the 2nd Military Region. The battle concluded in a victory for Japan over the National Revolutionary Army (NRA), including part of Suiyuan, most of Shanxi and the NRA arsenal at Taiyuan, and effectively ended large-scale organized resistance in the North China area.

    Japanese forces included the Japanese Northern China Area Army under Hisaichi Terauchi, elements of the Kwantung Army, and elements of the Inner Mongolian Army led by Demchugdongrub. Chinese forces were commanded by Yan Xishan (warlord of Shanxi), Wei Lihuang (14th Army Group), and Fu Zuoyi (7th Army Group), as well as Zhu De who led the Eighth Route Army of the Chinese Communist Party (under the Second United Front alliance).

    Occupation of the territories gave the Japanese access to coal from Datong in northern Shanxi, but also exposed them to attacks by the guerrilla forces of the Nationalist army including the Eighth Route Army, tying down many Japanese troops which could have been diverted to other campaigns.

    The battle was marked by fierce urban combat.[2]

    Chronology

    [edit]

    In September 1937, Hideki Tojo sent the Japanese army stationed in Chahar to invade Shanxi in order to exploit its resources. The city of Datong fell, and the NRA was forced to go on the defensive, and concentrated their troops along the Great Wall in battles at places like Pingxingguan and to the east at Niangziguan.

    On September 21, 1937, Major Hiroshi Miwa, commander of the 1st Daitai, 16th Hiko Rentai of the IJAAF, who was a former-hired military flight instructor for Zhang Xueliang's Fengtian army air corps and well known in the Chinese military aviation circles of the time, led 7 Kawasaki Ki-10 fighters on an escort mission for 14 Mitsubishi Ki-2 bombers to attack the city of Taiyuan, encountered Chinese Air Force V-65C Corsairs and Curtiss Hawk IIs, shooting down several, however Major Miwa himself was shot down and killed over Taiyuan in a duel with Captain Chan Kee-Wong, commander of the 28th PS, 5th PG whilst flying a Curtiss Hawk II.

    Yan Xishan also sent troops to reinforce Shijiazhuang, but that caused a lack of personnel to defend the North China area, allowing the Japanese army to break through in the north forcing the Chinese to fall back to a new line at Xinkou, Shanxi. Fighting continued in October in the Battle of Xinkou until the Japanese outflanked Niangziguan in late October, compromising the Chinese defense resulting in the fall of Taiyuan.

    See also

    [edit]

    Sources

    [edit]
    • 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. 195–200, Map 6

    37°51′00″N 112°33′00″E / 37.8500°N 112.5500°E / 37.8500; 112.5500

    References

    [edit]
    1. ^ "Japanese Forces Battle of Taiyan September through November 1937" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
    2. ^ Times, Douglas Robertsonwireless To the New York (1937-11-09). "FORCES AT TAIYUAN IN DEADLY COMBAT; Chinese Hold Two-Thirds of Shansi Capital and Battle Fiercely Against Downfall CIVILIAN TRAIN IS BOMBED 200 Killed or Wounded When Japanese Attack From Air on Tientsin-Pukow Line Chinese Resistance Irks Claim Third of Taiyuan Train Bombed, 200 Casualties". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-25.