After the fall of Nanjing (南京), Japan advanced deep into China’s territory. On 27 December 1937, the Japanese Army captured Ji’nan (濟南), Shandong Province (山東). Using Nanjing and Ji’nan as a base of operation, the Japanese Army aimed at attacking Xuzhou (徐州) along the Tianjin-Pukou Railway (津浦鐵路) so that its southern and northern fronts could be connected. Tai’erzhuang, a key location 30 kilometres to the northeast of Xuzhou on the Tianjin-Pukou Railway along the Grand Canal of China, became the ground the two sides competed for. It was thus became the battlefield of the Battle of Xuzhou.

The Battle of Tai’erzhuang, also known as the Battle of Lunan (魯南會戰, Lunan being the southern Shandong Province﹝山東﹞), took place between 16 March and 15 April 1938. During this month-long battle, the National Revolutionary Army (NRA) committed around 290,000 troops, and the Japanese Army committed around 50,000 troops. The NRA was led and joined by numerous high-ranking officers including Li Zongren (李宗仁), Bai Chongxi (白崇禧), Sun Lianzhong (孫連仲), Tang Enbo (湯恩伯), Zhang Zizhong (張自忠), Guan Linzheng (關麟徵), and Wang Mingzhang (王銘章). During the fighting, Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) travelled to Xuzhou to inspect and supervise the operation. The NRA leveraged its superior numbers and took the offensive, forcing the Japanese Army to retreat. Japan suffered around 20,000 casualties, while China around 50,000. This battle is also known in China as the “Great Victory of Tai’erzhuang” and strengthened the determination of the soldiers and civilians nationwide to resist Japanese aggression.

The photo of Li Zongren, the Commander of the 5th War Zone, standing at Tai’erzhuang Station before the Battle of Tai’erzhuang in 1938. Li was the key commander of the NRA at the Battle of Tai’erzhuang.

Left: The Japanese forces assaulting Teng County (滕縣) of Shandong in March 1938. Right: Wang Mingzhang (王銘章), the Commander of the 122th Division, died in the Defence of Teng County. The defence was a skirmish before the Battle of Tai’erzhuang.

The NRA erecting a machine gun station at Tai’erzhuang to engage the Japanese Army.

The NRA building a bridge at Tai’erzhuang to cross the river to attack the enemy.

     The Japanese forces bombarding Tai’erzhuang Station.

       A wooden relief carving of the bloody fighting at Liujiahu Village (劉家湖村) during the Battle of Tai’erzhuang.

The NRA firing at the Japanese Army from the trench during the Battle of Taier’zhuang.

The NRA and the Japanese Army fighting at the streets of Tai’erzhuang.

The Japanese Army retreating after being defeated at the Battle of Tai’erzhuang.

At the Battle of Tai’erzhuang, the NRA seized a massive amount of military weaponry and equipment, including tanks, from the Japanese. This was the NRA’s first major victory after the outbreak of the War of Resistance, which greatly boosted the morale of the Chinese soldiers and civilians.

Source of most photos used in this feature piece: Fotoe.