Battle of Wuyuan
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Wuyuan was a Chinese counterattack that defeated the Japanese invasion of the Wuyuan area. This happened in reaction to the Chinese 1939-40 Winter Offensive
in Suiyuan during the Second Sino-Japanese War
. The Japanese call it 第２次後套作戦 , The second battle of Wuyuan.
By the 28th of January 1940 the Japanese had built up forces from 26th Division at Baotou
sufficient to launch the 第１次後套作戦 or "First battle of Wuyuan in Inner Mongolia" to recover lost territory and move west to take Wuyuan
which fell on February 3 and Linhe further west on the 4th of February.
Mongolia Garrison Army
駐蒙軍 - Noasaburo Okabe
Chinese Forces:
8th War Area - Deputy Commander Fu Zuoyi
In an attempt to recover the situation the Japanese sent 600 troops from Dashetai via Siyitang, in 80 trucks to make a forced crossing of the Wu-chia River at Ta-tsai-chu 10 km north of Wuyuan. For three days they fought the 101st Division without success. By the 25th they had been reinforced to 3,000 men and made the crossing with artillery and air support. Wu-yuan again fell to the Japanese on the 26th and the Chinese fell back to the banks of Fang-chi-chu [?] and continued their attacks at Xin'an, Xishanzui, Xixiaozhao, and Man-ko-su [?].
Muslim Generals Ma Hongkui
and Ma Hongbin defended west Suiyuan, especially in Wuyuan in 1940 against the Japanese. Ma Hongbin commanded the Muslim 81st corps and incurred heavy casualties, but after fierce fighting eventually repulsed the Japanese and defeated them.
Unable to withstand the pressure of Chinese attacks, the Japanese at Wuyuan retreated on March 30 and 31. On April 1 a guerrilla force and cavalry column recaptured Wuyuan and the 11th Provisional Division recaptured Wu-pu-lang-kou [?]. On April 3 Cavalry recovered Xishanzui as the Japanese retreated to the east.
1939-40 Winter Offensive
The 1939–40 Winter Offensive was one of the major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
in Suiyuan during the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
. The Japanese call it 第２次後套作戦 , The second battle of Wuyuan.
By the 28th of January 1940 the Japanese had built up forces from 26th Division at Baotou
Baotou
Baotou is a mid-sized industrial city in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Governed as a prefecture-level city, its urban areas are home to a population of approximately 1.78 million, with a total population of over 2.65 million accounting for counties under...
sufficient to launch the 第１次後套作戦 or "First battle of Wuyuan in Inner Mongolia" to recover lost territory and move west to take Wuyuan
Wuyuan County, Inner Mongolia
Wuyuan County , is a county with 280,000 inhabitants under the administration of Baynnur, Inner Mongolia. The total area of the county is 2,493 km² with the administrative center in Longxingchang ....
which fell on February 3 and Linhe further west on the 4th of February.
Units
Japanese Forces:Mongolia Garrison Army
Mongolia Garrison Army
The was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.-History:The Japanese Mongolia Garrison Army was raised on December 27, 1937 as a garrison force Japanese-dominated Inner Mongolia and adjacent areas of north China. From July 4, 1938, the Mongolia Garrison Army came under the...
駐蒙軍 - Noasaburo Okabe
- 26th Division26th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the .-History:The 26th Division was raised in September 1937 out of the three independent infantry regiments from the original 11th Independent Mixed Brigade and reserve components various divisions based in Manchukuo. It...
- Lt. Gen. Shigenori KurodaShigenori KurodaShigenori Kuroda was a general of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.-Biography:Kuroda was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1909. He graduated from War College in 1916 and became a military observer in Europe. It was during World War I. From 1935-1937, he served as military... - IJA Cavalry GroupIJA Cavalry GroupThe Cavalry Group of the Imperial Japanese Army was formed on April 21, 1933, consisting of the IJA 1st Cavalry Brigade and IJA 4th Cavalry Brigade. It was originally assigned to the Kwangtung Army. The IJA 3rd Cavalry Brigade was added in October 1937....
Chinese Forces:
8th War Area - Deputy Commander Fu Zuoyi
Fu Zuoyi
Fu Zuoyi was a Chinese military leader. He began his military career in the service of Yan Xishan, and he was widely praised for his defense of Suiyuan from the Japanese. During the final stages of the Chinese Civil War, Fu surrendered the large and strategic garrison around Beiping to Communist...
- 35th Corps - Fu Zuoyi
- New 4th Division
- New 31st Division
- 11th Provisional Division
- Garrison Brigade
- 81st Corps - Ma Hung-pinMa HongbinMa Hongbin , was a prominent muslim Ma clique warlord in China during the Republic of China era. He was the acting Chairman of Gansu and Ningxia Provinces for a short period.- Life :...
- 101st Division
- 6th Cavalry Corps - Ma Pu-chingMa BuqingMa Buqing was a prominent Ma clique warlord in China during the Republic of China era, controlling armies in the northwestern province of Qinghai.-Life:...
- 3rd Cavalry Division
- Guerrilla Force
Course of the Battle
On March 16, 1940 as the Japanese were pressuring its New 4th Division west of Linhe, the rest of the Chinese 35th Corps with the New 31st Division and a regiment of the Garrison Brigade, secretly moved east along the Wu-chia River. On the night of the 20th they entered Wuyuan by surprise and after a seesaw fight over the strongpoint captured the city at 1600 hours on the 21st, the Japanese garrison retreating northward. Chinese forces then moved on to capture strongpoint around Hsin-an-chen on the 22nd. This cut the road along the Yellow River to Wu-yuan.In an attempt to recover the situation the Japanese sent 600 troops from Dashetai via Siyitang, in 80 trucks to make a forced crossing of the Wu-chia River at Ta-tsai-chu 10 km north of Wuyuan. For three days they fought the 101st Division without success. By the 25th they had been reinforced to 3,000 men and made the crossing with artillery and air support. Wu-yuan again fell to the Japanese on the 26th and the Chinese fell back to the banks of Fang-chi-chu [?] and continued their attacks at Xin'an, Xishanzui, Xixiaozhao, and Man-ko-su [?].
Muslim Generals Ma Hongkui
Ma Hongkui
Ma Hongkui , was a prominent warlord in China during the Republic of China era, ruling the northwestern province of Ningxia. His rank was Lieutenant-general. His courtesy name was Shao-yun .- Life :...
and Ma Hongbin defended west Suiyuan, especially in Wuyuan in 1940 against the Japanese. Ma Hongbin commanded the Muslim 81st corps and incurred heavy casualties, but after fierce fighting eventually repulsed the Japanese and defeated them.
Unable to withstand the pressure of Chinese attacks, the Japanese at Wuyuan retreated on March 30 and 31. On April 1 a guerrilla force and cavalry column recaptured Wuyuan and the 11th Provisional Division recaptured Wu-pu-lang-kou [?]. On April 3 Cavalry recovered Xishanzui as the Japanese retreated to the east.
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. Page 319-334 Chinese Winter Offensive (Late Nov 1939 - Late March 1940) Map 19
External links
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- Maps of Wuyuan battle area during World War II Wu-Yuan nk49-7, Hsi-Nao-Pao nk49-10
