Battle of Shànggao

[cardboard_killer]

[80 years ago today] "• The Japanese Eleventh Army launches an assault on elements of the Chinese Nineteenth Army at Shànggao in Jianxi Province. The Japanese are supported by forty armored cars and over a hundred aircraft. A6M Zeroes shoot down three defending Chinese I-15 biplane fighters during the initial raids, killing Chinese ace Wong Sun-sui. The Chinese will bring in reinforcements and by April the Japanese will break off the attack, having suffered some 14,000 casualties compared to 21,000 Chinese."

 

[cardboard_killer]

[80 years ago today] "
• The Japanese Eleventh Army launches an all-out assault on Shànggao, throwing in all of their remaining planes, tanks, and infantry. Chinese General Zhu Xiang commits his last troops as well as his meagre airpower while asking Chiang Kai-shek to release some his his hoarded central reserves. After heavy fighting, the Japanese attack falters. Within a week the Japanese will be forced to withdraw rather than risk being flanked by additional Chinese troops. Lieutenant General Waichirō Sonobe will be recalled to Japan and retired. "