Battle of Nanchang

Part of the Second Sino-Japanese war

Date	March 17 – May 9, 1939
Location	Nanchang and proximity Coordinates: 28°41′N 115°53′E / 28.683°N 115.883°E / 28.683; 115.883
Result	Japanese victory

Belligerents

National Revolutionary Army

Imperial Japanese Army

Commanders and leaders

Xue Yue

Yasuji Okamura

Strength

200,000 troops in 39 Divisions in 4 Army Groups: 19th, 1st, 30th and 32nd Army Groups, Hunan–Hupei–Kiangsi Border Area Guerrilla Command

120,000 troops in 3 Divisions: 6th, 101st and 106th, Ishii Tank Unit (130 tanks and tankettes), 1 Cavalry Regiment, 1 Artillery Brigade, 2 Artillery Regiments (200 artillery pieces), 30+ ships and 50 motor boats and one battalion of Marines, and several air squadrons

Casualties and losses

51,328

24,000

The Battle of Nanchang (simplified Chinese: 南昌会战; traditional Chinese: 南昌會戰) was a major battle between the Chinese National Revolutionary Army and the Japanese Imperial Japanese Army in the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was the first major conflict to occur following the Battle of Wuhan.

After the Battle of Wuhan, Wuhan was the base of the 11th Army of the Imperial Japanese Army, and was surrounded by the 5th and 9th Military Regions of the National Revolutionary Army. Nanchang was a railway center and the western terminus of the Chekiang-Hunan Railway. Due to these connections, Nanchang was a major supply line between the 3rd and 9th Military Regions, and site of the airbase threatening Japanese shipping in Yangtze River. In addition, its proximity to the center of the Shanghai-Wuhan strip controlled by Japan was a strategic threat.

The 9th Military Region was reshuffled, with Chen Cheng staying as the supreme commander in name and Xue Yue becoming the commander in actuality. 200,000 troops in 52 divisions were gathered near Nanchang. However, lacking vehicles, the reorganization took a long time and the planned attack was delayed.

In July 1938, Japanese troops had tried to approach Nanchang during the Battle of Wuhan, but they were stopped at Xiushui River. Despite having gathered a strong force from their base at the Yangtze port 80 miles to the North, the Chinese force of 200,000 troops were well entrenched. These strong opposition measures, combined with unfavorable weather conditions, halted the Japanese advance to Nanchang in 1938 and led to a standstill during the winter months.

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