Battle of Zaoyang–Yichang

The Battle of Zaoyang–Yichang (simplified Chinese: 枣宜会战; traditional Chinese: 棗宜會戰; pinyin: Zǎoyí Huìzhàn), also known as the Battle of Zaoyi was one of the 22 major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Background

The Japanese were seeking a quicker solution to achieve a Chinese surrender. The Japanese contemplated moving directly down the Yangtze to the relocated Chinese capital, Chongqing. To do so, they would need to capture a critical town in western Hubei province, Yichang.

The Japanese attack did not commit many troops or materiel, which enabled the main Chinese commander, Li Zongren, who had frustrated the Japanese before, to repel the Japanese.

Battle

On first May, the Japanese forces began a drive towards Zaoyang. They pushed towards the 5th War Zone's strongholds in the Tongbaishan and Dahongshan mountains, attempting to draw the Chinese forces into a battle and destroy them with a pincer movement. The Chinese strategy aimed to let the Japanese forces run low on supplies, and then destroy them.

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 334-339, Map 20, 21
  • Map 21 of Tsaoyang-Yichang Campaign
• Axis History Forum, Re: Tsaoyang-Yichang Campaign Eary May – Late June 1940
• van de Ven, Hans. War and Nationalism in China: 1925-1945,

External links

• "Occupation of Shashi", Nippon News, No. 3. in the official website of NHK.
• "Occupation of Yichang", Nippon News, No. 4. in the official website of NHK.