Marco Polo Bridge incident
The eleven-arch granite bridge stands as a silent witness to history, first erected under the Jin dynasty. It gained its Western name from Marco Polo's travel records in Il Milione. Local communities called it Lukouchiao or Lugouqiao, derived from the Yongding River's former name. The Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty restored the structure in 1698. This architectural feat connected Beijing with the port of Tianjin for centuries before the conflict began.
Japanese forces extended their control into northern China after invading Manchuria in 1931. They created a puppet state called Manchukuo with Puyi as its head of state. A commission of inquiry from the League of Nations published the Lytton Report which criticized Japan. Japan quit the League following this report. By July 1937, Japanese military strength in the region exceeded 15,000 men along railways connecting Beijing and Tianjin. These numbers greatly surpassed limits set by the Boxer Protocol of 1901.
On the night of the 7th of July, Japanese units stationed at Fengtai crossed the border to conduct military exercises. Private Shimura Kikujiro failed to return to his post around 23:00 hours. Chinese regimental commander Ji Xingwen received a message demanding entry into Wanping to search for him. The Chinese refused permission while negotiations continued. Shimura later returned claiming he sought relief from a stomach ache in darkness. Peter Harmsen suggests he may have visited a brothel instead. Both sides were mobilizing when the missing soldier reappeared.
Chinese forces held the bridge with about 100 men under Colonel Ji Xingwen's command. They faced superior Japanese artillery and infantry during the Battle of Beiping-Tianjin. An ultimatum issued two hours after the initial exchange proved fruitless. Qin Dechun ordered troops on heightened alert as precautionary measures. At 04:50 on the 8th of July, shots rang out marking full-scale commencement of fighting. The Chinese 219th Regiment staged effective resistance despite being completely outnumbered and outgunned.
Japanese armored units joined attacks on the 9th of July following constant Chinese assaults. Full scale fighting commenced at Langfang on the 25th of July. General Song Zheyuan was defeated and forced to retreat behind the Yongding River by the 27th of July. By the 20th of July, total Japanese military strength in the area exceeded 180,000 personnel. The Japanese captured Beiping and Taku Forts at Tianjin on 29 and the 30th of July respectively. A sudden volte-face occurred when Konoe government foreign minister opened negotiations stating Japan wanted cooperation not land.
Historians debate whether the incident could have been planned like the earlier Mukden incident. Jim Huffman notes this notion has been widely rejected by scholars. Conservative Japanese historian Ikuhiko Hata suggested the Chinese Communist Party might have caused it. He considers this less likely than the accidental shot hypothesis involving a low-ranking soldier. The first shot remains attributed to an unplanned moment of fear according to many accounts. Controversial theories persist regarding premeditation versus accident as the true cause.
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Common questions
What is the Marco Polo Bridge incident and when did it start?
The Marco Polo Bridge incident began on the 7th of July 1937 with a missing soldier search that escalated into full-scale fighting by 04:50 on the 8th of July. This event marked the initial battle of the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Who commanded Chinese forces during the Marco Polo Bridge incident?
Chinese regimental commander Ji Xingwen led about 100 men to hold the bridge against superior Japanese artillery and infantry. General Song Zheyuan later ordered troops on heightened alert as precautionary measures before being defeated and forced to retreat behind the Yongding River by the 27th of July.
How many Japanese soldiers were present in the region before the Marco Polo Bridge incident?
By July 1937, Japanese military strength in the region exceeded 15,000 men along railways connecting Beijing and Tianjin. These numbers greatly surpassed limits set by the Boxer Protocol of 1901 and grew to exceed 180,000 personnel by the 20th of July.
Why is the Marco Polo Bridge named after Marco Polo?
The eleven-arch granite bridge gained its Western name from Marco Polo's travel records in Il Milione. Local communities called it Lukouchiao or Lugouqiao, derived from the Yongding River's former name.
Did the Marco Polo Bridge incident start as a planned conspiracy or an accident?
Historians debate whether the incident could have been planned like the earlier Mukden incident but Jim Huffman notes this notion has been widely rejected by scholars. The first shot remains attributed to an unplanned moment of fear according to many accounts involving a low-ranking soldier.