Battle of Kunlun Pass
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The Battle of Kunlun Pass (traditional Chinese: 崑崙關戰役; simplified Chinese: 昆仑关战役; pinyin: Kūnlúnguān Zhànyì) was series of battles between the Japanese and the Chinese in contention for Kunlun Pass.
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[edit] The Battle
The Imperial Japanese army launched a major offensive into Guangxi province, with the objective to cut off Chinese supply route from French-controlled Vietnam, the elite Japanese 5th division spearheaded the Japanese offensive. After occupying Nanning in November 1939, they captured the key point of Kunlun pass, and threatened the Chinese rear base that protected Chungking, the wartime capital. Realizing the danger of been isolated from outside world and impossible to receive more aid if the Japanese troops were not repulsed, General Bai Chongxi, himself a native of Guangxi asked the Nationalist Government to sent reinforcement, Chiang Kai Shek in turn dispatched the 5th corps from Hunan province to come and fight the Japanese.
The 5th corps is the most elite unit in the NRA, and it is also the only Chinese unit that had tanks and armored vehicles. Its soldiers were combat-hardened veterans from previous battles against the Japanese troops and morale were high. General Du Yuming, commander of the 5th corps, dispatched two divisions to attacked the Japanese-held Kunlun Pass, and the New 22nd Division cut off Japanese reinforcement from the rear,and killing the Japanese commander, major general Masao Nakamura. The most elite unit of the Japanese 5th division, the 21st Brigade, were wiped out in the Battle. The Brigade had participated the Russo-Japanese War, and was nicknamed the unbreakable sword, but before General Nakamura's death, he admitted in his diary that Chinese soldiers' fighting ability had surpassed the Russians that the Brigade encounter in Manchuria.
[edit] The Order of Battle
[edit] Chinese
- 5th Corps
- 200th Division
- 1st Honor Division
- New 22nd Division
[edit] Japanese
- 21st Brigade / 5th Division
- 21st Infantry Regiment
- 42nd Infantry Regiment
- Cavalry Regiment / 5th Division
- 5th Artillery Regiment / 5th Division
- Two Regiments / Taiwan Mixed Brigade
[edit] External links
Topographic Maps
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