The Battle of Songhu (also known as the August 13th Battle, the Second Battle of Songhu and the Second Shanghai Incident in Japan) was the first large-scale battle between War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, China and Japan, and it was also the largest and most tragic battle in the whole Sino-Japanese war.

Time:1937 August 13 to 165438+ 10/2.

Location: Shanghai

Number of participants: Japanese army: about 300,000 national army: about 700,000.

Casualties: Japanese army: more than 60,000 casualties; National army: around 300,000.

1. The background of the Battle of Songhu:

After World War I, Japan's expansion in China was restrained by British and American powers, and China's Northern Expedition weakened Japan's interests in China.

1932 65438+1At midnight on October 28th, the Sino-Japanese War broke out in Shanghai.

1937 Japanese imperialism created the Lugouqiao Incident in an attempt to create a second Manchukuo in North China.

Driven by the national anti-Japanese wave, the National Government issued the Declaration of Self-Defense and the War of Resistance the next day, declaring that "China will never give up any part of its territory, and in case of aggression, it can only respond by exercising its natural right of self-defense".

In the early 1930s, the world economic crisis broke out, and Japan's economy suffered heavy losses and fell into extreme difficulties, which led to a political crisis.

At that time, Japan implemented the Outline of National Defense Policy formulated by Shintaro Ishihara, chief of staff of the General Staff. The order of imaginary enemies is the United States and the Soviet Union.

2. Battle process of Songhu:

On August 1937, the war broke out, and the Japanese army launched a full-scale attack on the enemy in Shanghai. At the same time, the air force was dispatched to bomb the Chinese Marine Corps Command, Huishan Wharf and surface ships. The focus of its attack was Hongkou at first, and then turned to the cotton mill of the University of Technology. After several days' efforts, the 87th Division occupied Hujiang University, and the 88th Division occupied Wuzhou Cemetery, Baoshan Bridge, Bazi Bridge and other key points.

In June, 5438+05, Emperor Hirohito of Japan ordered General Matsui Shigen to be the commander of the Shanghai Dispatching Army, commanding the troops directly under the 3rd Division and 1 1 Division to attack Shanghai.

From August 23rd, under the cover of intensive naval gun fire, the 3rd and 1 1 divisions of the enemy landed at Wusongkou Railway Hub, Shizilin and Chuanshakou, and launched attacks on Japanese positions in Baoshan, Yuepu, Luodian and Ruozaobang.

At dawn on August 3 1 day, the Japanese attacked Wusong with more than 30 planes and naval guns and landed forcibly;

On September 1 day, 1000, more than 1000 Japanese troops besieged the lion forest fort.

From September 2nd to 5th, with the support of warships, planes and tanks, we launched a fierce attack on the China 98th Division, which defended Yuepu and Baoshan.

On September 6th, the third war zone issued the second battle plan: Shanghai war zone aims at lasting resistance, limiting the development of the enemy who landed and striving for mutual destruction.

On September 9th, the Japanese army launched a powerful offensive against the China army along Simon Road, Songhu Highway, Yuepu Line and Luodian Line, and our army fought to the death with the enemy.

On September 1 1 day, the right-wing position of 15 army was breached and its strength was seriously reduced. So he gradually retreated to the prefabricated positions of Shixianggong Temple and Liuhe Line south of Luodian, and the 9th Army also moved to the prefabricated positions on the right bank of North Station, Jiangwan, Miaohang and Nianzaobang, forming a confrontation with the Japanese army.

Late September: The two sides continuously increased their troops, with the total strength of the Japanese army in Shanghai reaching 200,000, and the total strength of the National Revolutionary Army reaching more than 700,000 people in 73 divisions.

10 From 1, the Japanese navy and air force launched a new attack with the cooperation of ground forces.

10 10 15, the Japanese army broke through the algae dike, and the war situation was once again in a hurry.

1June19th, the defenders of China launched a comprehensive counterattack on the south bank of Nianzaobang, cooperating with Liao Lei's 2 1 army.

101On October 25th, the troops were forced to retreat. The Japanese army took the opportunity to counterattack, and the soldiers pointed directly at the stadium.

1October 28th, 10, China army retreated from Liuhe, Shenjiaqiao, Chaowangmiao, Xujiaxing, Guangfu, Chen Jiaxing, Jiangqiao and Beixinjing to the second phase of Fanwangdu Line.

The battle of Songhu entered 10 and ended, and 1 10 began. Although China's army was in a passive position and retreated after repeated battles, it still controlled Shanghai.

165438+1On October 5th, 80,000 Japanese troops 10 landed in jinshanwei.

165438+1On the evening of October 8, Chiang Kai-shek ordered a full retreat. All troops withdrew from Shanghai to participate in the war and retreated to Nanjing, Suzhou and Jiaxing in two ways.

165438+1On October 9, the Japanese army repelled the sporadic resistance of the China army and occupied Hongqiao Airport, Longhua, Fengjing and Qingpu.

1 1 day, Japanese troops entered Suzhou River. On the same day, Yu Hung chun, the mayor of Shanghai, published a letter to the citizens, sadly announcing the fall of Shanghai, the largest city in the Far East.

Three. The result of the Battle of Songhu

China casualties: According to the history of China and War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, during the Battle of Songhu, more than 300,000 soldiers of China Army gave their blood and lives to defend the motherland! Our army lost 1 lieutenant general, 4 officers and deputies, 28 heads and 44 battalion commanders. The Central Navy was completely annihilated due to the leakage of the "shipwreck tactics" of China Navy Commander.

Finally, the Japanese army confirmed landing in Shanghai and occupying Nanjing. As of February 27th, 12, there were ***23 104 Japanese soldiers killed in battle, wounded in battle and sick in war, and about 50,000 people were injured. Considering that the Japanese army suffered little casualties in the pursuit and capture of Nanjing, it is estimated that about 20,000 Japanese soldiers were killed and 40,000 injured in the Battle of Songhu, totaling about 60,000.

4. The influence of the battle of two battles in Shanghai:

Although China was defeated in the Battle of Songhu, it bought time for China's national industry to move inward. At the same time, let the world clearly see the position of the China administration: it will not wait for Japan to conquer and embezzle its territory peacefully piece by piece, which also proves that China will never surrender to Japan.

After three months of bloody fighting in Shanghai, the Japanese army managed to seize the position of the national army, which made all countries in the world have a sit-up attitude towards China's anti-Japanese strength and determination. However, the Japanese army did not win for a long time, and the morale of the Japanese people became suspicious and confused.

It is almost certain that Japan can't end its war with China in a short time, so Japan will face the biggest achilles heel of its strategy, that is, it lacks resources for war and people's livelihood and can't stand long-term consumption. Once it fails to make a quick decision on the battlefield in China, the final defeat will become the inevitable fate of Japan.

In the thrilling battle of two battles in Shanghai for three months, the whole of China condensed a * * * knowledge, that is, resisting Japanese aggression. China "will never stop the war of resistance even if he pays one soldier and one shot." This is the most tragic decision in the history of the Chinese nation, and the whole nation is determined to face the challenge of the historical crisis with all-round sacrifice.

The Battle of Songhu defeated the strategic intention of the Japanese central government to break through and make a quick decision, and shattered their dream of destroying China for three months. It is a historical turning point of China's transition from partial war of resistance to total war of resistance. It also made China understand that there is still a big gap between China and Japan in military strength, weapons and equipment, and multi-arms tactical cooperation, which provided valuable experience for the tactical core of the eight-year protracted war.