The War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression

The War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, also known as the Second Sino-Japanese War, took place from 1937 to 1945 and was a major conflict between China and Japan. This war is often considered part of the larger scope of World War II. ### Background The roots of conflict can be traced back to earlier instances of Japanese aggression in China, including the invasion of Manchuria in 1931. By the late 1930s, tensions escalated as Japanese forces sought to expand their territorial and economic influence in China. ### Outbreak of War The war officially began on July 7, 1937, with the Marco Polo Bridge Incident near Beijing, where clashes between Japanese troops and Chinese nationalist forces led to full-scale war. The conflict soon engulfed much of eastern China. ### Major Events - **Nanking Massacre (1937)**: Following the capture of Nanking (Nanjing), the capital of Nationalist China, the Japanese military engaged in widespread atrocities, including mass executions and sexual violence against civilians. - **Battle of Shanghai (1937)**: One of the major battles where Chinese forces, though heavily outmatched, fought fiercely against the Japanese. - **Battle of Wuhan (1938)**: A significant attempt by Chinese forces to resist Japanese advances, where the Chinese managed to put up a strong defense. - **Guerrilla Warfare**: As the war progressed, especially after the fall of major cities, the Chinese Nationalist government (Kuomintang) and the Chinese Communist Party engaged in guerrilla tactics to harass Japanese forces. ### Chinese Resistance The war galvanized both the Nationalist government led by Chiang Kai-shek and the Communist Party under Mao Zedong to unite against the Japanese invasion, albeit with underlying tensions between the two factions. The war brought about significant suffering for the Chinese population, including a high civilian death toll and dislocation. ### International Involvement The war gained international attention and attracted support for China, particularly from the United States, the Soviet Union, and Britain. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the United States actively supported China against Japan. ### Conclusion of the War The war continued until Japan's defeat in World War II in 1945, following the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the subsequent surrender of Japan. After the war, the Chinese Civil War re-escalated between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, eventually leading to the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. ### Legacy The War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression had long-lasting effects on China's national identity, historical memory, and international relations. It is commemorated in China as a significant period of national unity against foreign aggression, although interpretations of the war can vary based on political perspectives.