Battle of Wuhan- 11th Army Advances Up the Yangtze River (Part 3)

by Quin Cho 

In July, the Japanese continued their advance up the Yangtze River, targeting the towns of Huangmei and Xiaochikou. On July 23rd, the Hata Detachment landed at Gutang and seized Xiaochikou on July 26th (JM 179, 49). Simultaneously, the 6th Infantry Division advanced north of the Yangtze and captured Huangmei on August 2nd (Peattie et al., 212). Following these successes, the 106th and 101st Infantry Divisions moved in, with the 106th advancing south of Chili Hu and the Sato Detachment of the 101st Infantry Division landing east of Xiaochikou in mid-August, subsequently seizing Xingzu (JM 179, 49).
Despite initial successes, the 106th and 101st Infantry Divisions encountered significant resistance. The 106th Infantry Division became embroiled in positional fighting near Maanshan for a month. At the same time, the 101st Infantry Division, even after reinforcement, struggled for two months to capture the base of Lushan Mountain due to solid Chinese resistance (JM 179, 49). Heavy casualties were reported for both divisions (Peattie et al., 212). Recognizing the need for more manpower, the Central China Expeditionary Army dispatched the 9th and 27th Infantry Divisions to Xiaochikou in August 1938 (JM 179, 50).

Strategic Objectives and Encirclement Plans

The Central China Expeditionary Army aimed to capture Ruichang and Tehan to cut off Chinese forces near Lushan Mountain (JM 179, 68). The 101st and 106th Infantry Divisions were tasked with advancing south towards Lushan Mountain and Tehan, fixing Chinese defenders in place. Their advance was to be supplemented by the newly arrived 9th and 27th Infantry Divisions to facilitate the Japanese push away from the Yangtze River. The commander of the 11th Army ordered five battalions of the 9th Infantry Division to advance north of Tehan via Ruichang, while the Hata Detachment would protect the 9th Infantry Division's flank (JM 179, 68). The 6th Infantry Division would advance from Huangmei to Guangji north of the river and eventually seize Tianjiazhen fortress (JM 179, 71). These forces would then converge on Wuhan from both the north and south (JM 179, 71).

JM 179, 73 Map 10

Execution of the Japanese Plan

The Japanese plan commenced in late August, with the Hata Detachment occupying strategic areas east of Ruichang (JM 179, 71). The Maryuama Detachment of the 9th Infantry Division seized Ruichang on August 24th and advanced on Mahuiling with the 106th Infantry Division (JM 179, 71). The combined forces captured Mahuiling on September 3rd (JM 179, 71). Afterward, the 106th Infantry Division moved towards Tehan, while the Maryuama Detachment returned to the 9th Infantry Division to advance west.

Advance Towards Wuhan

On September 11th, the 9th Infantry Division and Hata Detachment advanced west along Rui-yang and Rui-wu highways towards Wuhan, joined by the 27th Infantry Division on September 16th. They progressed to Laowuge by September 15th and crossed the Fu Shui after October 7th (JM 179, 77). The 9th Infantry Division captured Sanchikou on October 16th, and the 27th Infantry Division seized Xintanpu on October 18th (JM 179, 77). However, strong Chinese defenses west of these towns slowed further progress. To bypass these defenses, 11th Army commander Okamura Yasuji aimed to cut off the Chinese by seizing Jinniu and Xianning and cutting the Guangzhou-Hankou railway (JM 179, 77). Both divisions attacked towards the railway on October 22nd, with the 9th Infantry Division taking Jinniu and the railway on October 27th, while the 27th Infantry Division cut the railway further south on the same day (JM 179, 78). These moves effectively isolated Wuchang (part of Wuhan) from the south.

JM 179, 79, Map 11

The Battle of Wanjialing

​South of Wuhan, the 101st and 106th Infantry Divisions advanced towards Tehan, facing the Chinese 1st Army Corps' defenses. On September 25th, the 106th Infantry Division aimed to outflank the Chinese from the west while the 101st Infantry Division advanced southwest along Lake Poyang (JM 179, 78-81). However, the 106th faced logistical challenges and poor communication, while the 101st struggled against strong Chinese resistance (Ao, Great Victory of Wanjialing in Wuhan Campaign, 3). The 106th Infantry Division was eventually encircled near Lushan Mountain by 16 Chinese divisions (Ao, 3). Elements of the 27th Infantry Division and the Suzuki Detachment (17th Infantry Division) were dispatched to relieve the 106th, which was low on supplies (JM 179, 81). Despite fierce resistance, they managed to break through and relieve the 106th. The Battle of Wanjialing was a significant Chinese victory, reportedly inflicting 30,000 casualties on the Japanese and demonstrating the effectiveness of the "luring the enemy in deep" strategy (Ao, 3).

JM 179, 83, Map 12

Sources:
Frank, Richard B. Tower of Skulls: A History of the Asia-Pacific War, July 1937-May 1942. W.W. Norton & Company, 2021. 
Hsu, Long-hsuen, and Ming-kai Chang. History of the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). Chung Wu Publishing, 1972. 
Macri, Franco David. Clash of Empires in South China: The Allied Nations’ Proxy War with Japan, 1935-1941. University Press of Kansas, 2015. 
Ness, Leland. Kangzhan. Helion and Company, 2016. 
Peattie, Mark. The Battle for China: Essays on the Military History of the Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945. Stanford University Press, 2022. 
United States, Congress, Military History Section Headquarters, Army Forces Far East. Central China Area Operations Record, July 1937-May 1941, Office of the Chief of Military History, Dept. of the Army. 
United States, Congress, Military History Section Headquarters, Army Forces Far East. South China Area Operations Record, July 1937-May 1941, Office of the Chief of Military History, Dept. of the Army. 
Wu, Di. “The Cult of Geography: Chinese Riverine Defence During the Battle of Wuhan, 1937-1938.” War in History, vol. 29, no. 1, 26 Nov. 2020, pp. 185–204, https://doi.org/10.1177/0968344520961548. 

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