World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseOn 28 Jan 1940, as a reaction to the Chinese Winter Offensive of 1939-1940, Japanese 26th Division attacked Wuyuan from Baotou, both of which were in Suiyuan Province, China. On 3 and 4 Feb, Wuyuan and Linhe were taken successively. On 20 Mar, Chinese General Fu Zuoyi's 35th Corps, the New 31st Division, and a regiment of the Garrison Brigade, which had been secretly moving east along the Wuchia River, attacked Wuyuan by surprise. Initial Japanese resistance was fierce, with the front lines moving back and forth, causing casualties on both sides. By 1600 on 21 Mar, the Chinese took control of Wuyuan. On 22 Mar, the Chinese established a presence to control the major road into Wuyuan along the Yellow River. The Japanese counter attacked immediately, with an initial force of 600, then bolstered to 3,000 by 25 Mar with artillery and air support. Although the Chinese fielded more men, they were no match for the Japanese firepower, and fell back on 26 Mar, yielding control of Wuyuan to the Japanese but continued to harass in force Japanese troops in the region. On 30 Mar, Japanese command decided that it was not worthwhile to hold Wuyuan under the constant pestering of Chinese forces, and withdrew on 30 and 31 Mar. Chinese troops entered Wuyuan on 1 Apr and secured the region by 3 Apr 1940.

Battle of Wuyuan Timeline