Sichuan invasion

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The Sichuan Invasion, also known as the Chungking Operation, Chunking Campaign or Operation 5, was the Imperial Japanese Army plan developed by Imperial General Headquarters to destroy the Chiang Kai-shek Government and take ultimate control of the China mainland, during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was to follow the first phase operations, when they were concluded in the southern regions.

It was aimed at the Chinese army in Central West China. It was undetaken from the spring of 1942 through to the spring of 1943. The central feature of the invasion was the sustained bombing of cities in Central West China.

It is discussed in Chiang Kai Shek's book Soviet Russia in China and Chiang Wei-kuo (Chiang's son) in his book How the Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek won the Chinese-Japanese eight year War, 1937-1945.

Chiang Kai Shek in his book wrote

The Imperial General Headquarters sent the order for drawing down 16 divisions and logistics support units from Japan reserves, Manchukuo and Southern Areas (including New Guinea and Solomon islands also) to reinforce the Japanese expeditionary forces in Central China area, to prepare the principal force of ten divisions in south Shanshi and other support group conformed by six Divisions of Ichang in Hupei amongst other Divisions located in Changteh, in Hunan, for striking Szechwan and the occupation ofChungking in September 1942"

By coincidence Germans closed in upon Stalingrad in December 3,1942 also.

Contents 1 Basis strategy 2 Japanese Army political and administrative interests in Szechwan region 3 Factors affecting the Sichuan Invasion 4 Last operative strike attempt of Japanese Army to invade Szechwan 5 See also 6 Sources

[edit] Basis strategy

The basic strategy was a pincer operation from the northern area in Shansi, central Hupei and south sector in Hunan, with heavy aerial support for strategic bombing of Chungking, followed by the entrance of Japanese Army and collaborationist forces. Such strikes were to receive further support provided by Japanese Navy patrol boats from Yangtze river.

These units was debt to occupied first Wanhsien,how echelon in route to advance at proper Chungking. Another area for cut-off any scape route of Chinese refugees was the occupation of North Kweichow for advanced to Suifu in route to Chengtu. The north Japanese group had the option to advance for South Shensi for captured Sian and Hangchung for taken directly Chengtu.

In last alternative, Japanese can to utilized airborne forces by cut-off enemy scape routes and take directly the proper Chungking metropolitan area also

[edit] Japanese Army political and administrative interests in Szechwan region

Chiang was thought why one possibly interests in Japanese "Bombardment of Chungking" was support of the pretend Japanese operations against Chungking metropolitan area inside of Invasion to Szechwan.same opinion was expresed for General Wego W.K. Chiang for explain the Japanese intense Japanese Navy and Army Aviation air strikes against Chungking another explain was possibly Japanese conduct one "Terror Campaign" for conduct the Chinese authorities to seated at negotiation table with Japanese for finalizing the conflict and making Peace treated separate of other Allieds.

General Wego, added why if probably why Japanese decided also to installing the Nanjing puppet regime of Wang Chingwei in Chungking or suggest at proper Chiang for convert your regime in political support of Japanese policies in region, inside of Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere;also in eventually to any offensive against Russians in Siberia and Central Asiamainland.another possibility was the Japanese stablishment decided to installing your proper own Civil or Military Governor-General for administered such areas how possibly Japanese Army fief in own territorial and political sphere of influence in AsianMainland, for extend this control to Tibet and Sinkiang more later also.

[edit] Factors affecting the Sichuan Invasion

Chiang Kai Shek wrote

But in June 1942, Japanese forces suffered the humiliating defeat in the Battle of Midway, and in August the U.S] forces initiated the counteroffensive against the Solomon Islands, with a landing at Tenaru River, Guadalcanal (Operation Watchtower). The Japanese suffered frequent losses at the end of September 1942, and decided to delay the implement of invasion plan for Szechwan. Later in November, the Japanese forces having been totally defeated in Guadalcanal, (Battle of Guadalcanal, Battle of Tassafaronga and Battle of Rennel), the situation was turned around, with Japan losing all possibility to transfer with impunity its forces in the area (the Japanese werw obliged to used all disposable vessels in their retreat, "Operation KE" during the night of Febrary 1-2 1943, the last part of the so-called "Tokyo Express"). At the end of 1942, the planning for the Sichuan Invasion was suspended.

[edit] Last operative strike attempt of Japanese Army to invade Szechwan

Still IGHQ opinion, the China Expeditionary Army Hq, traced your own plans for Capture of Szechwan,when revised the previous plan and making new strategies. theirs issued direct orders during May 1943 at Japanese forces in West Hupei for cominzed the "Battle of West Hupei" in new attempt for controlled Szechwan and putting the finish of Chinese War. Japanese in subsequents battles suffered other defeats in hands of Nationalists Chinese Armies, supported by "Flying Tigers" (A.V.G.) Americans, commanded by General Claire Chennault.at consequence of such defeat the Japanese forces was obligued to occult during six months for preparing new offensives in area.this period Chinese Army approved for envoy seven Army corps, for Yunnan and India for clean the China-Burma route.

The Japanese Army decided envoy forces and sustaing the Battle of Changteh for prevent such Chinese military movements in Yunnan area for prevent the Chinese preparings in your own future counteroffensives.

[edit] See also

• Bombing of Chongqing
• Battle of West Hubei
• Battle of Changteh

[edit] Sources

• Chiang Kai Shek,"The Soviet Russia in China"
• General Wego W.K. Chiang "How the Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek gaining the Chinese-Japanese eight years War,1937-1945".
• Gen. Wego W.K. Chiang, Die Strategische Bedetung Taiwans, Taipei
• Idem. Chinese Communists Modernization Problems, Taipei, 1979
• Alphonse Max, Southeast Asia: Destiny and Reality, Montevideo, Uruguay: International Studies (Spanish translation By Dr. Santiago Rompani and Prof. Alvaro Casal), 1985.