Illustrated History of China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression: 1931-1945

Author: Zhang Xianwen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the anti-invasion war of the Chinese nation gradually developed into two major battlefields—the front battlefield and the rear battlefield. In the early stages of the full-scale war, the Eighth Route Army had not yet advanced into the rear areas and was still fighting in coordination with friendly forces on the front or flanks. Meanwhile, in the rear areas, the Kuomintang also launched guerrilla warfare. The emergence of two battlefields, both interconnected yet relatively independent, during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was an inevitable result of historical development. Faced with a formidable enemy, the Communist and Kuomintang parties united to resist Japan, but significant political differences still existed between them. Mao Zedong once pointed out, "Under current and general conditions, it is necessary and appropriate for the Kuomintang to take on the regular warfare on the front and for the Communist Party to engage in guerrilla warfare in the rear areas." The interdependent and mutually supporting relationship between the two battlefields existed throughout the entire War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. During the strategic defensive phase, the two battlefields coordinated well. Mao Zedong's concept of a protracted war had a significant impact on the upper echelons of the Nationalist government. After the Eighth Route Army entered Shanxi, it participated in successive battles such as Pingxingguan, Xinkou, and Taiyuan. The New Fourth Army in the Ehuai-Bian region also fought dozens of battles of varying scales in coordination with friendly forces against Japanese troops. The tacit strategic coordination between the two battlefields directly influenced the development of the overall war situation. The Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army's strategic offensive operations in the rear areas provided undeniable support to the Nationalist Party's strategic defensive operations. According to incomplete statistics, the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army fought more than 1,600 battles during the strategic defensive phase, eliminating over 54,000 enemy soldiers; from 1938 to 1943, during the strategic stalemate phase, they fought over 62,000 battles, eliminating more than 590,000 Japanese and puppet troops, and“”、“”; in 1944 alone, they fought over 20,000 battles, eliminating nearly 300,000 Japanese and puppet troops. The rear battlefield tied down a large number of enemy forces, alleviating pressure on the front battlefield and making significant contributions to the entire Chinese anti-invasion war. In summary, both battlefields contributed to safeguarding the independence and territorial integrity of the Chinese nation. Denying the status or role of either battlefield is inappropriate; they are an integral part of the entire Chinese battlefield and the national anti-invasion war. This book, with its rich illustrations and detailed text, provides incisive arguments on the roles of the Communist and Kuomintang parties during the war, as well as the functions of the front and rear battlefields. It also presents a comprehensive view of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. The book features precious images, thorough documentation, and accessible language. Reading it allows one to understand the tragic yet heroic history of the war and revisit the great spirit of the Chinese people's united resistance against aggression.