When did the First Battle of Changsha begin?
The First Battle of Changsha began on the 17th of September 1939. This timing occurred just two weeks after Germany invaded Poland.
Questions about Battle of Changsha (1939)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who commanded the Japanese forces during the First Battle of Changsha?
General Toshizō Nishio and Lieutenant-General Seishirō Itagaki planned the offensive south of the Yangtze River. The Japanese force included divisions led by Lieutenant General Masatoshi Saito, Lieutenant General Ryotaro Nakai, Lieutenant General Shinichi Fujita, Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba, General Shizuichi Tanaka, and Lieutenant General Jutaro Amakasu.
What was the strategic goal of Japan in the First Battle of Changsha?
Japanese command sought to capture Changsha, the provincial capital of Hunan province. They hoped crushing China would pave the way for Wang Jingwei's puppet government in Central China.
How many casualties were reported in the First Battle of Changsha?
Military historian Micheal Clodfelter estimates a total of around 50,000 Japanese casualties sustained in the fighting. Foreign military observers claimed Japanese casualties totaled approximately 30,000 while estimating Chinese losses at much lower numbers around 20,000 killed and wounded.
Why did the First Battle of Changsha end with a Chinese victory?
Chinese defenders executed a flexible strategy that lured the enemy into the vicinity for a decisive battle. By the 1st of October 1939, vanguard troops reached the outskirts of Changsha only to be surrounded by 60,000 screaming Chinese soldiers on all sides.