Capture of Nanjing

Capture of Nanjing
Conflict	Capture of Nanjing
Partof	Second Sino-Japanese War
Date	December 1937
Place	Nanjing, Jiangsu
Result	Imperial Japanese Army victory
Combatant1	Republic of China
Combatant2	Empire of Japan
Commander1	Chiang Kai-shek, Tang Shengzhi, He Yingqin
Commander2	Iwane Matsui, Prince Yasuhiko Asaka, Tetsuzan Nagata
Strength1	Chinese forces of the National Revolutionary Army, local militia
Strength2	Kwantung Army elements, Central China Expeditionary Army, Imperial Japanese Navy
Casualties1	tens of thousands, Chinese civilian casualties contested
Casualties2	several thousand

Capture of Nanjing

The Capture of Nanjing was the decisive fall of Nanjing to Imperial Japanese Army forces in December 1937 during the Second Sino-Japanese War, leading to a months-long episode of extreme violence. The event involved major figures such as Chiang Kai-shek, Iwane Matsui, and Prince Yasuhiko Asaka and had profound effects on Chinese military, diplomatic, and humanitarian outcomes. It precipitated international responses from actors including the United States, United Kingdom, and the League of Nations.

Background

In the years after the Mukden Incident and the establishment of Manchukuo, tensions between Empire of Japan and China escalated into full-scale war with the Marco Polo Bridge Incident and subsequent campaigns such as the Battle of Shanghai (1937). The capture followed the costly urban fighting of Battle of Shanghai (1937), the withdrawal of the National Revolutionary Army to protect the wartime capital, and Japanese strategic plans formulated by the Central China Expeditionary Army and planners linked to the Kwantung Army. International observers, including representatives from the International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone and diplomats from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy were present in or near Nanjing during the preceding weeks.

Forces and Commanders

The Chinese defenders comprised units of the National Revolutionary Army, provincial militias, and retreating elements from the Battle of Shanghai (1937), under nominal command of Chiang Kai-shek and operational control by commanders such as Tang Shengzhi and He Yingqin. Japanese forces were drawn from the Central China Expeditionary Army, elements associated with the Kwantung Army, and supporting units from the Imperial Japanese Navy, commanded by senior leaders including Iwane Matsui and influenced by figures like Prince Yasuhiko Asaka. Military planners and staff officers with ties to figures such as Tetsuzan Nagata and the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office coordinated the assault, while logistical support involved rail and riverine assets tied to the Yangtze River corridor.

Prelude and Strategy

Following the fall of Shanghai, Japanese strategy prioritized capturing Nanjing to break Chinese resistance and secure control of the lower Yangtze River basin, a plan debated in military circles tied to the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and political leadership in Tokyo. Chinese strategy, shaped by Chiang Kai-shek and his advisers, focused on trading space for time to preserve forces and maintain international sympathy, a posture influenced by losses at Battle of Shanghai (1937) and fears of encirclement. Both sides prepared fortifications, evacuation plans, and diplomatic messaging involving the League of Nations and missions from the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, while neutral foreign nationals organized the International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone to protect civilians.

The Battle and Capture

Japanese assaults combined infantry, artillery, and coordinated riverine operations along the Yangtze River, employing tactics learned from campaigns such as the Battle of Shanghai (1937) and actions in North China. Urban combat, encirclement maneuvers, and bombardment forced Chinese withdrawals and contributed to breakdowns in command and supply for defenders like units under Tang Shengzhi. The fall of defensive lines and breaches at key points around Nanjing led to the city's fall to forces under Iwane Matsui and elements with ties to Prince Yasuhiko Asaka, culminating in formal occupation in December 1937. Amidst the capture, foreign diplomatic compounds, including missions from the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany, became focal points for refugee aid and reporting, and the International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone attempted civilian protection.

Aftermath and Casualties

The immediate aftermath saw large-scale civilian displacement, destruction of property in parts of Nanjing, and contested casualty figures that remain subject to historical debate involving scholars and institutions in People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, and international academia. Chinese military losses included units of the National Revolutionary Army; Japanese losses and attrition were recorded by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office. The humanitarian crisis prompted relief efforts by foreign missionaries, diplomats, and organizations tied to the International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone, while casualty estimates and documentation were later examined by historians, journalists, and commissions in contexts connected to the Tokyo Trials and postwar inquiries.

International Reactions and Legal Consequences

News of the capture and subsequent events prompted diplomatic protests and media coverage across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Soviet Union, and other states, influencing public opinion and policies toward Empire of Japan. Legal and political repercussions emerged during postwar proceedings such as the International Military Tribunal for the Far East and related hearings where actions by commanders like Iwane Matsui were scrutinized alongside wartime doctrines from the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office. The episode affected international law discussions on protections for civilians, influenced later treaty debates, and became a focal point in Sino-Japanese relations throughout the 20th century.

Category:Second Sino-Japanese War Category:Battles of the Second Sino-Japanese War Category:Nanjing