Battle of Changsha (1941–1942)

The third Battle of Changsha (24 December 1941 – 15 January 1942; Chinese: 第三次長沙會戰) was the first major offensive in China by Imperial Japanese forces following the Japanese attack on the Western Allies and the attack on Pearl Harbor. The offensive resulted in failure for the Japanese, as Chinese forces were able to lure them into a trap and encircle them. After suffering heavy casualties, Japanese forces were forced to carry out a general retreat.[1]

Battle of Changsha (1942)
Part of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II

A Chinese soldier mounts his ZB vz. 26 light machine gun at Changsha, January 1942.
Date24 December 1941 – 15 January 1942
(3 weeks and 1 day)
Location
Changsha, Luo River (Henan) in China
Result Chinese victory
Belligerents
Republic of China (1912–1949) Republic of China  Empire of Japan
Commanders and leaders
Republic of China (1912–1949) Xue Yue Empire of Japan Korechika Anami
Units involved
Republic of China (1912–1949) National Revolutionary Army
9 armies - 20+ divisions

Empire of Japan Eleventh Army


Empire of Japan Imperial Japanese Navy
Strength
300,000 soldiers 120,000 soldiers[1]
600 pieces of artillery[1]
200 aircraft[1]
Casualties and losses
Japanese claim:
28,612 killed
1,065 captured

Japanese claim:
1,591 killed
4,412 wounded
American and Chinese claim:
52,000 killed

Chinese claim:
33,941 killed
23,003 wounded [2]

Planning and forces

The offensive was originally intended to prevent Chinese forces from reinforcing the British Commonwealth forces engaged in Hong Kong. Infuriated by Chinese claims of having defeated him in his September-October 1941 Changsha Offensive, Japanese Eleventh Army commander General Korechika Anami originally intended to mount a thrust with his army to support the Twenty-Third Army's attack on Hong Kong. Anami's main force consisted of 27 infantry battalions, 10 artillery battalions, and one artillery battery.[3]

Attack

The Japanese commenced combat operations on 24 December 1941, with the 6th and 40th Divisions leading the way. Japanese forces initially cut through Chinese defenders. By 29 December 1941, believing that the city of Changsha was "inadequately defended", Anami elected to capture it. He was supposed to drive from the south of Hankou, about 19 miles (31 km) east of the Hankou-Canton Railway, and reach the Miluo River, but disobeyed orders from Imperial General Headquarters and penetrated Chinese lines as far as 22 miles (35 km) toward Changsha.[3] He committed the 3rd and 6th Divisions and his forces were surprised to be met with fierce opposition. The 3rd Division penetrated the southeastern side of the city but made no further advances. On 4 January 1942, the Eleventh Army occupied "all the important points of the city," but they were in danger of encirclement by counterattacking Chinese.[3]

Result

With the prospect of becoming encircled, and low on ammunition and rations, the Eleventh Army ordered a withdrawal on 4 January 1942. While both withdrawing and protecting rear service units and wounded personnel, Eleventh Army forces fended off attack by nine Chinese armies and over 20 Chinese divisions. Some Japanese units — like the 200-man detachment from the 9th Independent Mixed Brigade, from which only one man survived — were almost completely destroyed.[3]

See also

References
  1. Hsiung, James Chieh; Levine, Steven I. China's Bitter Victory: The War with Japan, 1937–1945, p. 158
  2. Frank, Richard B., "Tower of Skulls: A History of the Asia-Pacific War, Vol 1: July 1937-May 1942 pp. 665
  3. Frank, Richard B. (2020). Tower of skulls : a history of the Asia-Pacific war, July 1937-May 1942 (First ed.). New York. p. 315. ISBN 978-1-324-00210-9. OCLC 1141201603.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

28.2000°N 112.9670°E / 28.2000; 112.9670

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