Marco Polo Bridge CBI (id:#60686)

(BFP 3: Blood and Jungle ID: BFP-28)   [next]   [previous]

Wanping, China 1937-07-09 (0 others)

Overview:

Shortly before July 7, 1937, Japan had carried out intensive military training exercises in the vicinity of Marco Polo Bridge. These exercises were held every night, and these exercises greatly alarmed the local Chinese forces. On July 7, the Japanese army telegraphed the Chinese Nationalist forces stating that a Japanese soldier was missing and believed to be hiding inside the town of Wanping, and demanded that the Japanese army be allowed to enter the town of Wanping to search for the missing soldier. This request was denied by the Chinese army, although China responded that Chinese troops would conduct a search with an attached Japanese officer. Then Japan sent an ultimatum that Japanese troops must be allowed to enter the town within the next hour or the town would be fired upon. Around midnight, Japanese artillery started bombarding the town and shortly afterward, their infantry with tanks marched across the bridge. Colonel Ji Xingwen led the Chinese defenses with about 100 men, with orders to hold the bridge at all costs. After furious fighting, the Chinese were able to hold the bridge with the help of reinforcements. At this point in time, the Japanese military and members of the Japanese Foreign Service began negotiations in Beijing with the Chinese Nationalist government.

Defender: Japanese (Reinforced elements of 117th Infantry Battalion)  

Errata (source)