When did the Battle of West Hunan take place?
The Battle of West Hunan was fought from the 6th of April to the 7th of June 1945, during the final months of the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was the last major Japanese offensive of the conflict.
Questions about Battle of West Hunan
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What were Japan's objectives in the Battle of West Hunan?
Japan's three main goals were to neutralize the Allied airfield at Zhijiang, secure the Hunan-Guangxi and Guangzhou-Hankou railways, and preemptively disrupt a planned Chinese counteroffensive. A successful campaign would also have opened a route toward Chongqing, the Chinese wartime capital.
How many troops were involved in the Battle of West Hunan?
Japan committed approximately 80,000 men from five divisions and one independent brigade. China deployed 110,000 men across 20 divisions, supported by roughly 400 aircraft from Chinese and American air units.
Who commanded Chinese forces at the Battle of West Hunan?
He Yingqin served as commander-in-chief of Chinese forces. The Japanese 20th Army was led by Ichiro Banzai.
What were the casualties in the Battle of West Hunan?
Chinese sources claimed 36,358 Japanese casualties including 12,651 killed, while Japan eventually acknowledged 27,000 casualties. Chinese forces sustained 21,040 casualties, including 7,817 killed and 380 missing.
Why was the Battle of West Hunan significant in World War II?
It was the last major Japanese offensive of the Second Sino-Japanese War and the last of 22 major battles in that war to involve more than 100,000 troops. The Japanese defeat left them back at their starting positions by the 7th of June 1945 and sharply improved China's strategic position heading into a planned full-scale counterattack across South China.