Another Forgotten Campaign

[Chukada]

The Second Sino-Japanese War.

Chinese Casualties- 3,200,000 Military, 17,530,000 Civilian

7-July 1937, 9 September 1945.


I was wondering If I could get some of your opinions on this war. This subject interests me greatly, the sacrificial value, the heroric battles.

The conflict between Japan and China during the second world war is a story of epic struggle. At the start of the war China is split, by political conflicts, warlords, and a shattered nationhood. It's industrial strenght non-existent. It's military un-trained.

It fought an industrialized nation, who's military knew no bounds to cruelty. Japan at this time was strong, dominated the sea's and skies. It's soldiers very well equipped. Wielding an asortment of heavy arms, a luxuary that the Chinese could not afford.

The Japanese did something that has never happened in China for a thousand years. Unite them.

Sadly most documents of this struggle have been lost and it's sacrifice downplayed by the Japanese, United States, Britain, and thier allies.

I want to raise discussion on this topic, as I have never been granted the luck of talking about it, with an educated audience.

That means you Enigma. :D

[enigma]

lol :p

Well from what ive read, i wqas surprised to find that until the Japanese allied with the Germans. The German supplied weapons, equipment and i believe advisors to the Nationlists.
Ranging from Kar98s to helmets, am unsure but i think ive read that some Mk I Panzers were sent there way, but i am not 100% sure on that one.

From reading FM Silms account of the war for and in Burma. The majoirty of the Chinese troops it would seem were of very low quality, in the beginning of the campaign at least.
There was one general, who i forget his name but Silm highly respected him and the troops he lead. It was either a Division or a few, but these guys iirc were alot better then the average soldier.

Later on in the campaign, Chinese numbers increased and there men were dispersed over Northern Burma with a small British and American contigent mixed in with them.
These guys iirc, in the campaigns following the great retreat had low morale and low fighting ability. Needing officers to keep them going although this wasnt always enough iirc.
But on a positive note as the campaign went on, i believe he mentions how there fighting ability increased alot.

I was also surprised to learn from Silms book, that the Americans were flying supplies etc into China from India and Burma i believe it was, over the "hump" .... the Himalayas! (after the Burma road was closed)
And during the Chinese build up in northern Burma, the C47s were flying in thousands of men across the hump to Burma and India!


As for the war on the mainland, other then reading of the atrocities commited, especially the medical units (ala unit 731) i know little of the war. I hope to learn some new stuff from this topic :)

[EvilHobo]

I believe the figure is some 300,000 German helmets supplied to the Chinese. They used a lot of German equipment, and in early war photos, you can see Chinese soldiers using German equipment (Battle of Shanghai, for instance). The level of Sino-German cooperation prior to the shift to a Pro-Japan foreign policy was considerable. One could argue that China would have been steamrolled from the outset had it not been for German equipment, advisors, and industrial assistance.