Battle of Changde, 1943

The Battle of Changde was a Major Conflict occurred during the Second Sino Japanese War between the Chinese Nationalist Revolutionary Army against the invading forces of the Imperial Japanese Army on 2nd November 1943 to 20th December 1943.

On 2nd November 1943, the 11th Imperial Japanese Army launched an offensive on the outskirts of Changde to conquered and captured the City of Changde in-order to reinforce the Burma Campaign.

The City of Changde was defended by 14 Nationalist Chinese Corps under the command of General Sun Lianzhong and General Wang Yaowu against the 11th Imperial Japanese Corps commanded by General Isamu Yokoyama. While there were some initial success by the Chinese Nationalist Revolutionary Army, however, most of the Chinese Division were encircled by the Imperial Japanese Forces.

Later on, the Imperial Japanese forces continue it's offensive and finally reached the outskirts of Changde on 16th November and was met by the famously known, Lieutenant General Yu Chengwan, commander of the 57th Division leading only up to 8,000 men singly fighting against two invading Japanese Division.
Although Lieutenant General Yu Chengwan Division was encircled and outnumbered, he deliberately refuse to surrender and give up the city, the city was held for another 21 days after General Isamu Yokoyama was convinced by General Iwanaga Ō, his deputy commander, to use Poisonous gas to flush out the Chinese Defender out of the city, General Isamu Yokoyama at first reluctantly refuse as it is not practical to destory their enemy by using gas, he rather wants to destory the enemy by using his forces to annihilate them with a righteous victory.(Maybe it was due to the Geneva Convention that the General understood and decided to continue on abiding it.) After a conflict with General Iwanaga Ō, a runner came down to General Isamu Yokoyama and said that he has only 2 days to capture the city of Changde, if he has not done so, the Military commander of the 11th Division must commit Seppuku to the Emperor. On that day on, the 11th Division of the Imperial Japanese Army has launched a mortar gas attack to destroy the Chinese 57th Division, the gas attack has completely annihilate within a few minutes and on that day on, the city of Changde was finally captured at the hands of the 11th Imperial Japanese Army. While for the Chinese 57th Division, reinforcements came on time, Lieutenant General Yu Chengwan decided to made an evacuation of his division to the West and managed to saved 100 survivors from the city.

On 6th December 1943, Changde was completely fell into the hands of the Japanese and all resistance in the city has came to an end.

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Note: I do not own any of the footage nor the music that is being shown in this video. All credits goes to its original owner which the link is being given down below.

Movie: (Death and Glory in Changde) changde

Music: (HOI4 - Battle of Wuhan Music) Hearts of Iron IV Soundtrack: Battle ...
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