The Japanese threat, 1931-41- The impact of war, 1937–39 Flashcards
how were Chiang’s fears that China had not had sufficient time to prepare for war made clear
Japan seized the port of Tianjin (apart from the foreign concessions) and also occupied Xiamen- Shantou was also bombed and captured
what was the only port left in the GMD’s possesion
Guangzhou
when did Guangzhou port fall into Japanese possession
1938– japan had naval supremacy
what did the defeat in Shanghai end in?
a frenzied retreat
what did the retreat from shanghai leave for Japan
an easy road to Nanjing (capital)
what happened when the Japanese entered Nanjing
a series of atrocities ensued ‘rape of Nanjing’, some Chinese soldiers even killed civilians to steal their clothing.
what were some of the atrocities that occurred in Nanjing?
24,000 surrendered Chinese troops were massacred, inhabitants were murdered indiscriminately, women children and senior citizens were raped, thousands were burned or buried alive/ disemboweled / mutilated
what did Japanese troops use live people as?
Targets for bayonet practice
what did two blood thirsty Japanese lieutenants race for?
the first to behead 100 Chinese, not clear who won so it was extended to 150
where did nationalist forces fall back to after the fall of Nanjing
Wuhan
where did Japanese forces suffer a severe defeat
The battle of Tai’erzhuang- GMD forces inflicted upwards of 10,000 casualties- japan still took Xuzhou
what did Chiang do to attempt to slow the Japanese advancement to Wuhan
destroyed dikes to flood the yellow river
how many square miles flooded thanks to Chiang’s rash action
30,000, thousands of villages flooded
how many people drowned due to the flooding
half a million, 3 million left homeless
how did the Soviet union offer support
formed a volunteer airforce to help the nationalists, wuhan still fell
where did Chiang choose as his next seat of government
Chongqing - sufficiently inland to not be under threat from japan
what was a consistent strategy that Chiang had been implementing in regards to the retreat to Chongqing
where ever possible, industries and facilities would be relocated westwards to chongqing out of captured areas
how many enterprises were moved down river
2000
what did the surge of refugees to Chongqing mean
stretched food supplies, food shortages , economy creaked under pressure
what Soviet aid did Chiang manage to secure
50,000 rifles, 10,000 machine guns and 100 tanks, 900 aircraft along with instructors and pilots
what did Chiang introduce in 1938 to make up for huge losses in the military
conscription
when did Japan launch an aerial bombardment on Chongqing
may 1939
why did the USA become the likely saviour of China
they had been growing increasingly suspicious of the expansionist nature of Japan– put US interests in the Philippines at risk, us bases in Hawaii
what did USA give China
war credits, loans from $25 million-$50 million to stabilise the economy
what was wrong with the Chinese airforce
had been damaged during the war, less than 70 planes and half couldn’t fly at night
who was Claire Chennault?
US adviser to Chiang, used by Chiang to negotiate the purchase of the latest P-40 fighter planes, also he was allowed to recruit a volunteer service to fly in combat and train chinese
what did the new Chinese planes become known as
the flying tigers – teeth painted on them
what was the incentive given to Chinese pilots for every Japanese plane that was shot down?
$500 bonus
what did the USA impose on Japan
economic sanctions
what did the usa do when Japan invaded french indochina in 1940
froze Japanese assets in US banks- stopped exporting oil, iron and technology to japan this showed the dependence that Japan had on the US
when did Japan launch an attack on pearl harbour
7th december 1941
what were the losses at pearl harbour
five battle ships sunk, 12 ships sunk, 100 planes destroyed and 2,400 servicemen were killed
how did the USA respond to pearl harbour
declared war on Japan
what did the USA being at war with japan mean for china
they were now allies
what financial aid did china receive from USA now they were allies
$500 million loan and a $630 million ‘lend-lease’ package to provide china with military supplies
how did the USA provide china with supplies
flying over the Himalayas
how was the nationalist army bolstered
had a US chief of staff, flying tigers were reorganised and expanded
when had Soviet aid been withdrawn from China
1939 (Nazi-soviet pact) - china had stood alone against Japan for 2 years!!
