Amazing: Shanghai 1937

Author: [Denmark] He Mingsheng

Translator: Tian Yinghui, Feng Xianghui

Publisher: Xiyuan Publishing House

Publication date: January 2015

preface

In early 1937, the concept of urban warfare was still relatively unknown. The three-month Battle of Shanghai that autumn changed everything. Through this battle between China and Japan, people learned about the consequences of a major city becoming a battlefield for both armies, millions of soldiers fighting, and the misuse of weapons of mass destruction. Indeed, there have been battles similar to Shanghai before that, with cities as the battlefield, but none have reached such a large scale. The Battle of Stalingrad, in which countless houses were flattened and numerous factories were destroyed, shocked the world. However, this scene had already been staged in China's largest city five years ago. Don't forget to share your experience!

In a sense, the Battle of Shanghai in 1937 was a rehearsal for World War II, or more precisely, it was a component of World War II. Although controversial, it can still be seen as the first significant battle that divided humanity into two major camps. One camp is a fascist regime disguised under the name of a certain species, while the other is a group of diverse democratic and authoritarian countries. For Westerners, World War II began with Hitler's attack on Poland in 1939; But for Asians, it began two years ago in the North China Plain and along the Yangtze River. Don't forget to share your experience!

Although some people believe that the Battle of Songhu was separated from the context of World War II, it cannot be denied that this battle will leave an indelible mark on the two ancient civilizations deeply involved in the war. This is the largest conflict between countries in East Asia since the Russo Japanese War of 1904-1905. It turned a regional and potentially controllable friction between China and Japan into an eight year bloody full-scale war. In fact, either party, whether I've found that it's the middle Have you tried this before? Share your story!Neither China nor Japan (this wound) has truly healed, and to this day, nearly 80 years later, both sides are still deeply mired in mutual suspicion. A large part of the reason is attributed to the brutal atrocities committed by the Japanese army in China, and the heinous Nanjing Massacre that occurred after the Battle of Shanghai is a concentrated manifestation of the atrocities committed by the Japanese army. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

Shanghai is the largest international metropolis in Asia, gathering residents from many different countries and a large number of stateless people. Although they live in an area where the flames of war hardly extend, they often witness scenes of massacres firsthand from just a few meters away: thousands of men and women fighting in blood and bravely dying. These foreign residents became unwilling witnesses to the war raging around them, and in this way, they personally helped to write history. Before this, it was rare for so many people to witness so many killings up close. Similarly, if residents had participated in all the battles to destroy the remaining parts of the city, a district of Stalingrad could have miraculously avoided destruction. In the words of American journalist Edgar Snow, "It's like the Battle of Verdun taking place on the Seine while the right bank of Paris remains neutral, or like the Battle of Gettysburg burning in Harlem while the rest of Manhattan watches the war coldly What do you think about this?

Like the battles of Verdun and Gettysburg, the Battle of Shanghai, which broke out in the second half of 1937 in the Yangtze River Delta region, was also a major event. The outside world is well aware of this, so wars continue to occupy the front pages of all major newspapers worldwide. Shanghai has now attracted the attention of the world for similar reasons. This is a place full of excitement and strange adventures, and when its fate is uncertain, the public is eager to know about it. Don't forget to share your experience!

However, ironically, in the past few decades, apart from Chinese works, there have been few other written descriptions of this war. There are countless monographs on the Second World War and its causes, but almost none mention this crucial confrontation. Once upon a time, both academic and ordinary writers had to use all their imagination to explore relevant topics Have you tried this before? Share your story!During wartime, when Europe and the Pacific were viewed from a new perspective, the Battle of Shanghai and many other battles in the Sino Japanese War (Chinese War of Resistance Against Japan) from 1937 to 1945 filled a historical gap. Don't forget to share your experience!

I hope this book can make a modest contribution to correcting this imbalance.

Chapter 2

Black Saturday

August 13th to 15th

On the morning of August 14th, a 66 year old Christian missionaryLe LingshengAs usual, goBritish Consulate General He works in the missionary building behind, which is his habit on Saturdays. The Japanese Third FleetCruiser "Izumo"It's parked not far awayJapanese consulate On the Huangpu River ahead, this makes his workplace one of the most dangerous locations in Shanghai. The Izumo has assisted the Japanese Marine Corps on the island of Japan with its heavy artillery, especially the four caliber 20cm and fourteen caliber 15cm cannons, making it a clear target for Chinese attacks. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Shortly before 11am, five Chinese planes appeared in the air and flew to the Japanese ship base on the Huangpu River. The plane dropped bombs, but none of them hit the target. Several of them exploded at the dock, and debris and shrapnel from buildings poured down. The Japanese warships retaliated with intensive artillery fire, putting people working and living in this area in danger as shrapnel roared with deadly force onto the ground. At 11:20 am, a new round of Chinese airstrikes began. This time, the Chinese military deployed three fighter jets, and the "Izumo" is still the direct target. What do you think about this?

Lunch time has arrived, and Le Lingsheng is driving backThe Home of the French Concession.

The Park Bridge over Suzhou RiverIt is a necessary route for him to return home, as Suzhou River crosses the city center of Shanghai and serves as the final destination for sewage discharge in the city. Fortunately, his car blocked the foul odor emanating from here, Don't forget to share your experience!He chose a path along the Bund in Shanghai, but unexpectedly had to pass through very crowded crowds. Most of them are refugees from residential areas in China, coming here from hostile areas on the north bank of the river to seek refuge. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Le Lingsheng is well aware that due to the impact of political events, Shanghai could undergo significant changes overnight.

After all, he has been in China for 35 years. Looking back at when he first arrived in Shanghai, China was still dominated by feudal dynasties. He was only a young missionary at that time, and gradually fell in love with China's ancient culture. He even took the Chinese name Lelingsheng. Now he has a prestigious status and numerous titles, not only as an editor of the Academic Affairs Magazine, but also Don't forget to share your experience!Shanghai American SchoolAs a partner, China is his home.

Over the years, he witnessed how his beloved China disintegrated under the iron hooves of Japanese imperialism. Less than two weeks ago, he wrote a message to his friends in the United States: "I don't like war, it's anti Christian. If China doesn't want to become a Japanese colony, it has no other choice but to rise up and resist Japan." However, after enduring for many years, China finally launched a counterattack. Therefore, on Saturday, China's most prosperous city was shrouded in the deadliest modern war. What do you think about this?

Normally, Le Lingsheng would return to the office in the afternoon to work quietly, but now the war on the Huangpu River is intense, and everything cannot be compared to peaceful times. So he stayed at home for a few hours and then went out to pick up the evening newspaper near 4 o'clock. The whole family mobilized, his wife Don't forget to share your experience!FlorenceAnd my 13-year-old daughtersimpleDrive with him. The road is not far, he followed it on his return journeyPublic Concession and French ConcessionDriving on Edward VII Avenue at the border, the road was also crowded with people.

The Huangpu River is several hundred meters away, but the sky is still filled with thick smoke from anti-aircraft fire, indicating that the battle on board the "Izumo" has continued until the afternoon. Le Lingsheng has always been keen on observing the life around him. When trying to drive through the crowded streets of cars, bicycles, and pedestrians, he eagerly observed the flashing scenes through the car window. As the vehicle approached the Grand World Theatre, someone was distributing rice to the refugees, making the road even more crowded. At this point, it becomes very dangerous to observe while driving, as there is a possibility of injuring someone at any time. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

So, LelingMrs. Sheng asked her husband to park the car and told him that it might be better to observe outside.

At the moment when Le Lingsheng got off the car, a white light flashed across the sky, followed by a deafening explosion. After a period of bewildered silence, Mrs. Le Lingsheng looked out of the car with concern as her heart began to sink. She saw her husband lying on his back by the roadside. She stumbled out of the car and held her husband, who was no longer breathing, in her arms. She was shocked to find a big hole in his left chest, with blood and tears oozing out. Jian also got off the car and stood nearby incredulously watching everything. What do you think about this?

Around them, people got up one after another, trying to figure out where they were, wandering aimlessly like sleepwalkers. The asphalt road is in a mess, with some bricks, tiles, and concrete blown away, and some bodies shattered by the explosion, which is unbearable to see. Several cars are burning fiercely, and thick smoke is billowing from the location of the Grand World Theater. What do you think about this?The center of Shanghai fell into chaos, among which Le Lingsheng died. He was one of the four American citizens who died in Shanghai on the same day. They became the first Americans to die in the Second World War. Don't forget to share your experience!

On the so-called 'Black Saturday' or 'Bloody Saturday', some stray bullets thrown by Chinese Air Force fighter jets landed in densely populated areas, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians. Have you tried this before? Share your story!At the same time as these tragedies occurred, the battle in Shanghai entered its second day.Starting from Friday, August 13th, the sound of gunfire from rifles and machine guns, as well as the occasional rumbling of cannons, kept ringing in people's ears. Even the most optimistic person towards life would not consider this an isolated event. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

This is war.

The front line roughly runs along the northern boundary of the public concession, extending from the North Railway Station through Hongkou and Yangshupu to the Huangpu River 12-13 kilometers away. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Friday, August 13th, will go down in history, but I've found that it's also a sad day. The first shot of the three-month long Battle of Shanghai was fired early on this day. At 9:15 am, Let me know your thoughts in the comments!Member of the Japanese Marine CorpsDressed in civilian clothes and disguised as a violent ronin, outNow?Yangshupu, where the Shanghai Security Corps is stationedBefore the defense works in the north, they constantly mocked and provoked the members of the Security Corps. When firing warning shots in the middle of the air, the Japanese began a deadly counterattack. Subsequently, Chinese soldiers retaliated in the same way, and a deadly firefight began. From that moment on, the situation had spiraled out of control. This is the statement given by the head of the Security Corps in an interview decades after the end of the war regarding this incident. Don't forget to share your experience!

Other Chinese officials, includingZhang ZhizhongInternally, I've found that it's believed that the Battle of Shanghai began west of "Little Tokyo"commercial pressConflicts nearby. The Commercial Press was destroyed in the 1932 battle and has just been rebuilt. The sporadic gunshots lasted for nearly 20 minutes before gradually disappearing. Mayor of Shanghai Let me know your thoughts in the comments!Yu HongjunImmediately onAssociated Press and ReutersA statement was issued condemning the Japanese for firing first. The Japanese claimed that they were attacked by a machine gunner hiding in the Commercial Press building and then began to retaliate. Don't forget to share your experience!The truth about who started the war first, where and when it began, will become forever unknown in the confrontational claims. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

No matter what the exact situation was when the war broke out on August 13th, it quickly became unstoppable. Small and medium-sized incidents continued to occur in the northern part of Shanghai throughout the day. Chinese commanders dispatched patrol troops for exploratory attacks, hoping to find the weak points of the Japanese defense and force them to retreat as much as possible. The Japanese also intensified their efforts to seize key positions outside their main defense line, in order to occupy a more advantageous position when their opponents launched larger scale attacks. Small groups of soldiers from both sides were advancing in narrow alleys to reduce the risk of being discovered by the other side, but in this situation, whenever they happened to meet, the result was undoubtedly death. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

On the western front, just arrivedThe 88th Infantry Division of ChinaThey are currently in place, and their core goal isThe Japanese Marine Corps Headquarters near Hongkou ParkThis is a sturdy fortress with a massive four story structure, and the roof is constructed with double layered reinforced concrete, which can effectively prevent air raids and shelling. This building has a large inner courtyard spanning two blocks, which can accommodate troops of several thousand soldiers at the same time. It is very conspicuous, both a powerful military threat and an important symbol of Japan's presence in Shanghai. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!Nationalist Army Undoubtedly, they have no choice but to sweep it away.

The main passage between the Japanese Marine Corps Command and the Japanese Concession in the Southern Public Concession is Sichuan North Road. What do you think about this?Since the outbreak of the battle, this road has been a dispute prone area. Japanese armored vehicles and tricycles equipped with machine guns patrolled back and forth on this empty street, while mortars on the sidewalk occasionally threw shells at the western Zhabei district. Thick smoke billowed over Chinese residential areas, and Japanese officials crowded into the narrow command tower of the Marine Corps headquarters, observing the shelling results with binoculars. The report stated that Chinese snipers were lurking in high-rise buildings on the roadside, and officers wielding swords sent soldiers to search every house for suspects who were casually dragged away, with their fate uncertain. No one was seen on the street. Everyone closes their doors, windows, and doors tightly, afraid to go out. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

On the afternoon of August 13th, west of the Japanese Marine Corps CommandBazi BridgeBecoming the main battlefield. The Bazi Bridge is only 18 meters long and spans a small river. Although its bridge is not large, it holds significant strategic importance for both parties. Chinese commanders regard it as the main passage to Hongkou District, and if it falls into the hands of the Japanese army, it will become like a thorn in the throat. Don't forget to share your experience!

At noon, the commander of a certain battalion in the 88th DivisionMajor Yi JinLed hundreds of soldiers from the North Railway Station to Baziqiao and arrived at their destination at 3pm in the afternoon. They discovered a small group of Japanese soldiers who had just crossed a small river and were building defensive fortifications. Chinese soldiers launched an attack in an attempt to control the bridge. As a counterattack, the Japanese army launched a brief shelling, resulting in several casualties among Chinese soldiers. Subsequently, both sides stopped and stopped near the Bazi Bridge until 9 pm when the bridge finally calmed down. What do you think about this?

In the East87th DivisionThe battlefield, this day is full of tense military exercises, occasionally interrupted by violent conflicts. Chinese reconnaissance troops infiltrated the Japanese controlled area and infiltrated the Japanese golf club near the Huangpu River, where they began firing at workers busy building a temporary airport. The first wave of bullets from Chinese snipers caused dust and smoke to spread everywhere, and workers hurriedly fled in search of cover. The Japanese soldiers stationed at the club immediately retaliated, Have you tried this before? Share your story!Destroyed the target of Chinese reconnaissance troops.

About an hour later, two ships docked at the Huangpu RiverThe Japanese warship "Su" destroyer and "Shiduo" gunboatOrdered to support the 87th Division against the shore. 10 centimeter and 15 centimeter caliber shells whizzed through the air and exploded in residential areas in northern China. Have you tried this before? Share your story!Shanghai UniversityIt was also covered by artillery fire, as the Japanese troops on the shore believed that Shanghai University had been occupied by Chinese soldiers. In the end, the two last American teachers on duty had to quickly flee the campus. The Japanese naval artillery team has arrived to rescue the infantry who were suppressed on the shore. In the coming weeks, this scene will continue to unfold. What do you think about this?