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Defense of Sihang Warehouse

Coordinates: 31°14′32″N 121°27′59″E / 31.242183°N 121.466298°E / 31.242183; 121.466298
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Battle of Sihang Warehouse
Part of the Battle of Shanghai in
the Second Sino-Japanese War

Sihang Warehouse during the battle
Date (1937-10-26) (1937-11-01)October 26 – November 1, 1937
(6 days)
Location
Zhabei, Shanghai, China
31°14′32″N 121°27′59″E / 31.242183°N 121.466298°E / 31.242183; 121.466298
Result Withdrawal of Chinese forces to British concession on November 1st
Belligerents
 Republic of China  Empire of Japan
Commanders and leaders
Republic of China (1912–1949) Xie Jinyuan
Republic of China (1912–1949) Yang Ruifu (WIA)		 Empire of Japan Susumu Fujita
Okochi Denshichi
Haji Kitaro
Units involved

Republic of China (1912–1949) 88th Division

  • 1st Battalion, 524th Regiment

Western Claim:
Empire of Japan 3rd Division[1][2][3]
Japanese Claim:
Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force[4]

  • 10th Battalion (reinforced)
    • Yokosuka 2nd Independent SNLF Company
    • Kure 1st SNLF
    • 8th and 9th Companies (artillery)
Strength
410-420 soldiers[5] Thousands of troops[6]
Tanks and artillery[7]
~1200 naval infantry[8][9]
Casualties and losses
Xie's Claim:[10]
10 killed
37 wounded
Modern Western Estimate:[11]
33 killed and missing
50+ wounded
Japanese Claim:
~80 killed[12]
 Japanese Claim:
1 killed, ~40 wounded (SNLF only) [13][14][12][Note 1]
Chinese Claim:
100~200+ killed[15][16][17]
Hundreds wounded
4 tanks destroyed or damaged[10]
Several armored cars destroyed or damaged
Defense of Sihang Warehouse is located in Shanghai
Defense of Sihang Warehouse
class=notpageimage|
Location within Shanghai
Sihang Warehouse
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese四行倉庫
Simplified Chinese四行仓库
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinSìháng Cāngkù
Eight Hundred Heroes
Traditional Chinese八百壯士
Simplified Chinese八百壮士
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinBābǎi Zhùangshì
Japanese name
Kanji四行倉庫
Transcriptions
Romanizationshikousouko

The Battle of Sihang Warehouse (Chinese: 四行倉庫保衛戰) took place from October 26 to November 1, 1937, and marked the beginning of the end of the three-month Battle of Shanghai in the opening phase of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Defenders of the warehouse held out against numerous waves of Japanese forces to cover Chinese forces retreating west during the Battle of Shanghai.[18]

Accounts from Chinese/Western and Japanese sources on the Defense of Sihang Warehouse vary in nature, with both Chinese and Western accounts remembering the conflict as an excellent defense against a vastly numerically superior enemy, while Japanese records point to the defense being a relatively unremarkable event within the entire Battle of Shanghai.

Regardless of the integrity of Chinese and Japanese claims, the defense of the warehouse and media reporting of the event provided a morale-lifting consolation to the Chinese army and people in the demoralizing aftermath of the Japanese invasion of China.[19] The warehouse's location just across the Suzhou Creek from the foreign concessions in Shanghai meant the battle took place in full view of the western powers.

Background

By 26 October 1937, Chinese resistance in the district of Zhabei was faltering. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek wanted to withdraw all forces in the area to defend the rural western regions of Shanghai, and ordered Gu Zhutong, acting commander of the 3rd Military Region, to leave the 88th Division behind to buy time and canvass international support by showing the other nations of the Nine Powers (which were to convene on 6 November) China's determination to resist the Japanese during the Second Sino-Japanese War.[20]

Neither Gu, Sun nor Zhang were about to disobey Chiang's orders, but Sun (via Zhang) suggested to Gu that the number of troops left to cover the withdrawal would not matter for such a show of determination. In his words, "How many people we sacrifice would not make a difference; it would achieve the same purpose."[21]

At 10 p.m. on 26 October, the 524th Regiment, based at the Shanghai North Railway Station, received orders to withdraw to the divisional headquarters at Sihang Warehouse. 1st Battalion commander Yang Ruifu was distraught at having to abandon a position he had held for more than two months.[22]

Map of the area around the warehouse:
  Sihang Warehouse, garrisoned by NRA troops
  Foreign concessions, international settlements

Order of battle and equipment

National Revolutionary Army

Lieutenant Colonel Xie Jinyuan, commander of the Chinese force
  • 524th Regiment, 88th Division: Regimental commander (CO), Army Lieutenant Colonel Xie Jinyuan
    Executive officer (XO), Army Major Shangguan Zhibiao (上官志標)
    • 1st Battalion, 524th Regiment: Battalion Commander, Army Major Yang Ruifu (楊瑞符)
      • 1st Company, 1st Battalion: Company commander, Army Captain Tao Xingchun (陶杏春)
      • 2nd Company, 1st Battalion: Company commander, Army Captain Deng Ying (鄧英)
      • 3rd Company, 1st Battalion: Company commander, Army Captain Shi Meihao (石美豪, wounded), Army Captain Tang Di (唐棣)
      • Machine Gun Company, 1st Battalion: Company commander, Army Captain Lei Xiong (雷雄)

Initially containing around 800 men, the 1st was technically an over-strength battalion, but casualties suffered over the course of the Battle of Shanghai reduced its actual strength just prior to the battle to 452 men (some sources give 423), including officers. Because of the confusion of the general retreat, some units may have failed to make it to the warehouse, which caused a further reduction in strength, down to only 414 men present at the beginning of the battle. Two months of intense fighting had also whittled down the original German-trained troops, and after five rounds of reinforcements, the majority of soldiers and officers in the battalion were garrison troops from the surrounding provinces.[23]

Most of the men were from the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment of the Hubei Provincial Garrison. Hubei did not want to send its best troops to Shanghai, as these had trained over a decade to fight against the Chinese Communists. Thus, many of the soldiers sent as reinforcements to Shanghai were green recruits, with the latest batch recruited after the outbreak of war on 7 July.[21]

The regiment was assigned used equipment from the front-line troops of the 88th, and was well equipped considering the poor equipment that most Chinese forces had. Photos and records show that soldiers were each issued a rifle, likely a Hanyang 88 or Chiang Kai-shek rifle, 300 rounds of 8 mm Mauser, two crates of M24 stick grenades, a German-made M1935 Stahlhelm , a gas mask, and food pouch.[22] There was a total of 27 light machine guns, mostly Czech ZB vz.26, approximately one for each squad. The four water-cooled Type 24 Maxim guns were the only heavy weapons available to the battalion—a mortar platoon assigned to them was never mentioned by participants of the battle, and was therefore unlikely to have joined the battle.[21]

Imperial Japanese Forces

A large number of sources record that the Warehouse was attacked by the Imperial Japanese Army's 3rd "Lucky" Division,[24][25] including Western historians Eric Niderost,[26][Note 2] Stephen Robinson,[27][Note 3] and James Paulose.[28] Historian Rana Mitter, one of the leading pioneers in Chinese historiography, has stated the Sihang Warehouse was assaulted by "thousands" of Japanese soldiers.[29] British journalist Keane Arundel, who personally witnessed and reported on the battle, estimated over 40,000 Japanese soldiers were engaged in the combat around Sihang Warehouse.[30]

The soldiers of the 3rd "Lucky" Division were considered one of the most elite formations in the Japanese military, and was supported by mortars, artillery and Type 94 Te-Ke tankettes.[26] However, the 3rd Division had been engaged in some of the fiercest fighting in the battle of Shanghai and had suffered heavy casualties as a result, estimated at 3,013 killed and 8,578 wounded out of an original prewar strength of 14,624, a 79% casualty rate.[31] So grievous was the attrition that even in spite of ample reinforcements, Japanese commander Iwane Matsui estimated the unit's combat strength had plummeted to one-sixth its original strength.[32] Nonetheless, on October 25th following the fall of Dachang, the Division would advance past Zoumatang creek behind the 9th Division, and enter Zhabei to encounter the remaining Chinese battalion in the Sihang Warehouse.[27]

There is some contention with Japanese sources, as the IJA 3rd Division's unit history published in 1967 notes the Division was in engaged in the Suzhou River Crossing Operation as its primary focus at the time.[33][Note 4] Period Japanese military reports record the IJA 3rd Division was positioned just west of the Warehouse (although not far away), with the SNLF (Japanese marine force) instead listed as the primary attackers on Sihang Warehouse.[34][12] Senshi Sosho—the official war monographs of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy authored by the Japanese National Institute for Defense Studies— credit the Special Naval Landing Forces as the main participating force in the attack on the warehouse.[35][Note 5][36][Note 6]

Commanding the SNLF forces was Captain Okochi Denshichi, who had been assigned command of the Shanghai SNLF on November 16, 1936, and was promoted to Rear Admiral at the beginning of the following month. Prior to the Battle of Shanghai the Shanghai SNLF had a strength of just over 2300 men, but in response to the Oyama Incident the force would be hastily reinforced with Special Naval Landing Forces and ship crews deployed on land. Reinforcements would continue to arrive throughout the course of the battle, eventually bringing the force to just over 10,000 men in strength by October 1937.[9] On October 27, 1937, the Shanghai SNLF began their advance on Zhabei, organizing their 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 10th, and 12th Battalions into the "Zhabei Force" for the operation. The Shanghai SNLF 10th Battalion would be assigned to the Zhabei Force’s Southern Section and serve as a force opposing the defenders of Sihang Warehouse.[34] The 10th Battalion had been raised in August 1937 from some 520 reservists at the Sasebo and Kure Naval Districts. Lieutenant Commander Haji Kitaro, an instructor at the Naval Gunnery School in Yokosuka was appointed as to the Shanghai SNLF to serve as the battalion's commander.[37] Since landing in Shanghai on August 19, the battalion had engaged in intense urban combat and suffered a number of casualties.

During the assault on Sihang Warehouse the exact number of participating marines is unclear, however the Shanghai SNLF 10th Battalion numbering over 500 men at the time of its formation was reinforced with approximately 250 sailors of the Yokosuka 2nd Independent SNLF Company and over 200 sailors from the Kure 1st SNLF. The Shanghai SNLF’s 8th and 9th Companies, originally attached to the 4th Battalion (Artillery Battalion), would also provide support with howitzers and mountain guns.[8][9][38]

Historian Stephen Robinson takes a middle ground perspective, claiming that Japanese marine forces acted in support of the battle for Sihang Warehouse alongside the 3rd Division, and were responsible for the final operation to take Sihang Warehouse on October 31st.[39] Ultimately however, regardless of which Japanese units were involved in the battle for Sihang, the consensus highlights that the Chinese defenders were heavily outnumbered by the Japanese attackers.[40][18]

Battle for Sihang Warehouse

Western accounts of events

The Sihang Warehouse during the defense. Note the black Chinese characters painted on the west wall.

With the Sihang Warehouse sitting directly opposite to the International Settlement across the Suzhou River, the struggle of the Lost Battalion of Chinese defenders held up in the warehouse became a spectacle for foreigners in Shanghai. Multiple newspapers, including the North-China Herald, an English-language newspaper based in Shanghai, China, and regarded as the most influential foreign newspaper of its time,[41] reported heavily on the events.

The presence of the Chinese defenders was made known in the October 28, 1937 issue of The North-China Herald reporting on the Japanese capture of Zhabei that occurred the day prior. While it was reported most of the Chinese forces had abandoned the city, a Chinese unit was observed in a warehouse near North Tibet Road along the Suzhou Creek. The unit of stragglers still held strong and all efforts by the Japanese to dislodge them had so far proved ineffective. Noting their heroism and gallantry, the issue further described these defenders as a battalion of 500 men from the 88th Division, with 150 thought to have barricaded themselves in the warehouse. Authorities attempted to persuade the defenders to lay down their weapons and surrender in the International Settlement, but the defenders stated they were "determined to die for China." The battalion commander also requested Mayor Yui supply his men with 500 lb. salt, 500 lb. sugar, and 50,000 Chinese biscuits. The Japanese attackers—noted as members of the Japanese Naval Landing Party or Japanese marines[42][43]—received reinforcements and was reported to have begun attempts to break into the warehouse around 10 AM, targeting the warehouse from North Suzhou Road where they were soon met with intense fire from the Chinese. The Japanese, about fifty men strong, were observed pushing the Chinese from their frontline sandbag positions with hand grenades back to their secondary lines and eventually their fortifications in front of the warehouse. However, when the Japanese reached the edge of the warehouse, they were met with Chinese hand grenades and forced to take cover under the ledge. Chinese machine gun fire from one of the windows drove the Japanese to abandon their cause. Casualties were reported for both sides.[44][45]

At one point during the battle, foreign correspondents witnessed a group of Japanese soldiers slowly approaching the warehouse through the rubble, taking 50 minutes to cover 50 yards. However, the Chinese defenders, who had been watching the Japanese approach from hidden vantage points the entire time, rained hand grenades down on the group the moment they were close enough. After the dust had settled, survivors were finished off with rifles, and several Japanese who ran to rescue the wounded were killed too.[46][verification needed][47]

The situation across from the warehouse on October 28 was described as a "touching scene" as crowds of spectators had gathered to observe the action and offer cheers of encouragement to the brave defenders. Japanese troops were reported to have been making efforts to take the warehouse but were beaten back each time by the Chinese after brief exchanges of fire.[48] The Japanese were reported to have assaulted the warehouse again and again with infantry attacks, but each charge was repelled by showers of hand grenades and machine-gun fire. At one point, the Japanese were reported to have attempted to "dynamite" the warehouse, but failed.[49] One witness from the North-China Daily News described the armament of the attacking Japanese Naval Landing Forces as machine-guns, rifles, hand-grenades, a few Chinese broadswords, and steel shields.[50] Another western observer witnessed three Japanese troops make their way along the south wall of the building. As one of the men attempted to smash a window to the warehouse, a Chinese soldier dropped a hand grenade from a third story window, which exploded behind them in the street. The same observer noted while the Japanese had encircled the warehouse and sporadic fighting occurred throughout the day, the Japanese apparently were making no determined effort to take the building by assault, as the warehouse's fortress-like nature would make doing so a costly endeavor.[51]

It was reported that early in the morning of October 29 the defenders had smuggled their national flag into the warehouse and raised it upon the rooftop. The flag was larger than any of the Japanese flags in the area and flew symbolically upon its high perch far above any of the Japanese-held buildings in the vicinity.[52] Crowds continued to gather to watch the event unfold and some were observed carrying food for the defenders. One Chinese observer, a 31-year old Shanghai City Government employee, was mistaken for a Japanese spy and beaten to death by a mob before authorities could arrive to save him. Two Japanese pinnaces carrying some 30 Naval Landing Force troops travelled up the Suzhou River but were stopped at the North Chekiang Road Bridge at 2:45 PM by a British officer. While the Japanese officer aboard stated they were heading up the creek to assist the Shanghai Fire Brigade, they were thought to be in fact planned for use in their attack on the Sihang Warehouse. British and Japanese consular authorities conferred over the matter, with the painnaces removed from the river for at 4:30 PM. The Japanese continued in their efforts to take the warehouse, peppering the building with rifle and grenade fire while reinforcing their machine gun position on North Suzhou Road. In the afternoon the Japanese intensified their attacks, shelling the warehouse with a barrage of four rounds from their field guns at 3 PM. At around 4 PM one Japanese soldier rushed into the open and fired a number of shots into the corner of the warehouse, causing the defenders to take cover "with lightning speed." Although wounded from the returning Chinese fire, the Japanese attacker escaped. Another western observer noted Chinese had broken holes through the large black characters on the west wall for use as vantage points. Several Japanese soldiers were seen being hit before they realized the danger. Japanese machine gunners returned fire but with difficulty due to the holes being concealed by the black background of the characters.[53][54]

The Sihang Warehouse following its capture by the Haji and Hayasaka Units of the Naval Landing Force

The North-China Herald among a number of sources reported the fiercest fighting yet on October 31. From dusk the Japanese attackers, having announced their intentions to do so earlier in the day, launched an attack on the Warehouse with heavy machine guns, hand grenades, and artillery—scoring direct hits on the lost battalion's stronghold. Heavy fighting was reported in the early hours with shots flying all over the district. Several shells fell into the Central district around 1:45 AM, one hitting the North-China Daily News building and injuring three Chinese. A number of combat casualties were reported to have been sustained during the fighting in the early dawn, although a precise figure could not be calculated.[55]

At 2am it was reported that the warehouse had caught fire from the Japanese bombardment. About 370 Chinese troops were taken in by the British troops while ambulances were rushed in for another 50 wounded. A Japanese Special Naval Landing Party was subsequently reported to be in possession of the building.[56][55] Similarly the American Consul General at Shanghai reported that during the night of the 30th the Japanese succeeded in dislodging the Chinese soldiers holding out in Zhabei with the use of their artillery. Further noting 300 Chinese survivors had crossed to the British lines and laid down their arms and that several buildings in the downtown district were hit by Japanese shells during the fighting.[57] Another western observer, Writer George C. Bruce, reported that in the aftermath 327 soldiers came out unhurt, another 28 wounded, while the survivors stated they had left 100 comrades killed within the building. Bruce also noted the defenders had brought out almost all of their large stores of weapons and munitions which were then handed over to British troops.[58]

Chinese accounts of events

October 27

The Shanghai North Railway Station, after months of fighting and bombing.

The various companies of the 1st battalion were spread out across the front lines that night. Yang Ruifu sent the 1st Company to Sihang Warehouse and personally led the 2nd Company. The 3rd Company, Machine Gun Company and part of the 1st Company could not be contacted. What initially seemed a disastrous start to the defense was averted at nine in the morning, when these companies turned up at the warehouse, having heard the orders through word of mouth from other forces that had retreated from Zhabei. That these men essentially volunteered for this suicidal mission was later noted by Chiang Kai-shek as exemplary soldierly conduct.[20]

In the early morning, news circulated throughout Shanghai that there were still Chinese forces defending Zhabei at Sihang Warehouse. This piqued the interest of Girl Guide Yang Huimin, who later played a large part in this battle. At around 4 a.m. she walked to the British guard post at the Chinese end of New Lese Bridge, where she noticed a British soldier throwing a pack of cigarettes into the warehouse.[59]

Yang asked the soldier what he was doing, and he answered that there were Chinese soldiers inside. She wrote a message and asked the British soldier to stuff it in a pack of cigarettes and throw it over. After a while a message was thrown back saying that the soldiers in the warehouse wanted food, ammunition and lubricant for their firearms. She left the bridge and pleaded with the head of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, who initially did not believe her story, much to her frustration.[59]

Xie deployed the 1st Company on the right side of the warehouse along Tibet Road, the 3rd Company on the left across from the Bank of Communications building, and the 2nd Company on the other sides. Two heavy machine guns were installed on the roof, and the other machine guns were spread out to each company.[22]

At 1 p.m. a column of Japanese soldiers were observed marching towards the warehouse in what appeared to be a victory parade, brandishing a large Rising Sun banner. Once they were close enough, the Chinese defenders ambushed them. Five Japanese soldiers were killed instantly by gunfire, while the rest of the column scattered for cover.[60] The Japanese then quickly occupied the Bank of Communications to the immediate west of the warehouse. However, upon attempting to secure some abandoned fortifications, several Japanese soldiers stumbled into a trap: the Chinese, having preemptively rigged a bunker with grenades and a mortar round, "pulled the grenade rope, which made a few bangs and caused heavy casualties to the enemy," killing another five Japanese soldiers in the ensuing explosions.[61]

One hour later at 2 p.m., a group of Chinese reconnaissance troops, led by platoon leader Yin Qiucheng (尹求成), exchanged fire with around fifty Japanese soldiers, killing four of them according to a Chinese journalist. Chinese defenders continued developing defenses by sealing the warehouse's doors, windows and entry points, as well as constructing makeshift dummy positions on the perimeter to draw Japanese fire and waste ammunition.[62] A short while after, a Japanese company consisting of 194 infantry with machine gun and light artillery support[63] attacked the warehouse from the west, eventually forcing the defenders to retreat inside the warehouse. 3rd Company commander Shi Meihao was shot in the face but continued to command the defense until he was shot again in the leg. About seventy Japanese soldiers had taken cover in a blind spot at the south-west of the warehouse. Yang Ruifu noticed them, and along with several Chinese troops climbed onto the roof and hurled mortar rounds and grenades down at the Japanese, killing seven and wounding between twenty and thirty.[64][65][22][66] A witnessing journalist estimated that around sixty Japanese were killed in total during the assault by machine gun fire and grenades.[67][68]

October 28

Yang Huimin with the ROC flag.

The defenders rushed to construct fortifications during the night; nobody was given any sleep. In the morning Xie contacted the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, whose telephone number was provided by Yang Huimin.[59]

At 7 a.m. a flight of Japanese bombers circled the warehouse but did not drop any bombs, for fear of hitting the concessions. They were driven away from the warehouse by anti-aircraft fire. At 8 a.m. Xie gave a pep talk to the defenders and inspected the defenses constructed by the soldiers. While on the roof, he noticed a group of Japanese soldiers along the Suzhou River, which according to Yang Ruifu's memoirs was some 1 km (1,100 yd) away. Xie grabbed a rifle from a sentry and shot; one of them promptly fell dead.[22][69]

Meanwhile, the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce was overjoyed at the news of Chinese defenders left in Zhabei, and news of this spread quickly through radio. Crowds numbering around thirty thousand gathered on the southern bank of the Suzhou River in the rain, cheering the defenders on. More than ten truckloads of aid were donated by Shanghai's citizens.[59]

At 3pm, the Japanese mounted a second assault on the warehouse, bombarding the building with five artillery pieces and machine gun fire from the Bank of Communications rooftop.[69] The Chinese retaliated with machine gun fire of their own and showered hand grenades onto Japanese soldiers attempting to approach the warehouse, which was reported on by the English newspaper North China Daily News.[70] The combat was witnessed by some 30,000 Chinese and foreigners across the Suzhou Creek, who relayed enemy assembly locations and operations to the defenders using large blackboards.[71] After two hours, the Japanese gave up the assault, but cut off water and electricity to the warehouse, forcing Yang to institute rationing.[72]

The same night, the Chamber of Commerce decided to send the soldiers a flag of the Republic of China.[59][73] Regiment-sized Chinese units did not carry army or national flags during the war, so when Yang Huimin delivered the flag to the warehouse, Xie had to personally accept the flag as the highest-ranking officer present. Yang Huimin asked for the soldiers' plans, to which the answer "Defend to the death!" was given. Yang Huimin, moved, asked for a list of all the soldiers' names to announce to the entire country.[59]

As doing so would inform the Japanese of their real strength, Xie did not want to release this information. However, he did not want to disappoint Yang Huimin either. Instead, he asked someone to write down around 800 names from the original roster of the 524th Regiment, and this fake name list was given to her. According to Yang Ruifu, the wounded soldiers sent out earlier that night were also ordered to say 800 if questioned about their strength. Thus the story of the "800 Heroes" spread.[22]

October 29

Chinese light machine gun position

In the early morning of 29 October, residents of Shanghai found a 4-metre-wide (13 ft) flag of the Republic of China flying atop Sihang warehouse. Yang Huimin had only brought the flag, and the defenders did not have a flag pole in the warehouse. Therefore, the flag was hoisted on a makeshift pole made of two bamboo culms tied together. Only a small group of soldiers attended the flag-raising ceremony.[59]

The crowd gathered across the river, reportedly thirty thousand strong,[74] was jubilant, shouting "Long live the Republic of China!" (Chinese: 中華民國萬歲！; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó wànsuì！), while the Japanese were furious and sent aircraft to attack the flag.[22] Because of heavy anti-aircraft fire and fear of hitting the foreign concessions, the planes soon left without destroying the flag. Meanwhile, two days of fighting had damaged or destroyed many field fortifications around the warehouse, and the warehouse itself was also damaged.

Sihang Warehouse burns during the battle (Taken by Royal Welsh Fusilier John Montgomery)

At noon the Japanese mounted the largest assault thus far. Hundreds of Japanese infantry attacked the warehouse from all directions with artillery fire and support from five Type 94 Te-Ke tankettes, who Yang Ruifu observed advancing down the road.[75] Warned of the attack by spectators, Chinese soldiers resisted the assault from all three sides under intense artillery fire. The Japanese assault pushed the 3rd Company out of their defensive line at the base of the warehouse and forced them into the warehouse itself. The west side of the warehouse originally lacked windows, but the Japanese artillery attacks conveniently opened up firing holes for the defenders. Groups of Japanese soldiers tried to scale the warehouse's walls to the second floor with ladders, but Chinese defenders pushed them over and returned fire with rifles and machine guns.[76] Xie just happened to be at the window where one of the ladders appeared from. He grabbed the first Japanese soldier's rifle, choked him with the other hand, pushed him off, and finally shot another Japanese soldier on the ladder before pushing the ladder off.[66] Japanese fire from a field gun was met with rifle fire from the warehouse roof. The Japanese were reported to have assaulted the warehouse again and again with infantry charges, but each time were repelled by showers of hand grenades and machine-gun fire. At one point, the Japanese were reported to have attempted to "dynamite" the warehouse, but failed.[49]

The attempt in question saw a group of Japanese soldiers attempting to plant explosives at the base of the West Wall to breach it. Upon noticing this, 21-year old Chinese private Chen Shusheng strapped grenades to himself and jumped off the building into the Japanese squad, killing twenty Japanese soldiers in a suicide attack.[22][77][78][79] Historian Stephen Robinson argues in favor of the account's accuracy, noting that the Chinese had used suicide attacks many times before during the Battle of Shanghai, such as the case of a soldier in the 36th Division destroying a Japanese tank with an explosive belt at the cost of his own life.[80]

The fighting lasted until dark, with Japanese waves now supported by armoured fighting vehicles and artillery fire against the fortified Chinese positions, but to no progress and with heavy casualties.[65] At one point, Japanese marines attempted to flank the warehouse from the river, but were stopped by a makeshift boom fashioned out of Chinese junks at the Zhejiang Road Bridge. British troops in the Settlement refused to move the boom due to the violation of the British Settlement sector, and escorted the Japanese sailors back.[81]

Finally, after all else had failed, the Japanese used an excavator and tried to dig a tunnel towards the warehouse. in conjunction with tank assaults. During this day's battle, Chinese citizens across the river helped the soldiers by writing on large posters, warning of the Japanese army's movements.[22]

October 30

The Japanese launched a new wave of attacks at 7 a.m. on the 30th. There were fewer infantry assaults at the warehouse this time; the Japanese attack was mainly concentrated artillery fire. Because of the sturdy construction and the abundance of sandbags and materials with which to fortify and mend the warehouse, the defenders simply repaired the warehouse while the Japanese tried to destroy it. Artillery fire was so rapid, recalled Yang Ruifu, that there was approximately one shell every second.[22]

The foreigners in the concessions in Shanghai did not want the site of combat to be so close to them. With that consideration in mind, and faced with pressure from the Japanese, they agreed to try to convince the Chinese to cease resisting. On the 29th the foreigners submitted a petition to the Nationalist Government to stop the fighting "for humanitarian concerns". To Chiang, the battle was already won as most of the Chinese forces in Shanghai had successfully been redeployed to defend more favourable positions, and the defense of the warehouse now had the attention of the western world, so he gave the go-ahead for the regiment to retreat on 31 October. A meeting was arranged with the British general Telfer-Smollett through the commandant of Shanghai Auxiliary Police (上海警備), Yang Hu (楊虎),[21] and it was decided the 524th would retreat to the foreign concessions and then rejoin the rest of the 88th Division, which had been fighting in west Shanghai. The Japanese commander Matsui Iwane also agreed and promised to let the defenders retreat, but later reneged on the deal. Xie, on the other hand, wanted to remain in the warehouse and fight to the last man. Zhang Boting finally convinced Xie to retreat.[21][82]

Chinese retreat from Sihang Warehouse, October 31 (Chinese and Western Accounts)

In the late night of October 30, the Japanese moved their artillery even closer to the warehouse and escalated the bombardment of the building. Observers across the creek watched the Japanese batteries fire intense barrages, which were only broken by intermittent pauses during which a Japanese searchlight would move around the wall to inspect the damage. A Chinese soldier attempted to destroy the searchlight by hurling a hand grenade from a window, but it fell short.[83]

As the Japanese barrage continued, the Chinese began their breakout near midnight. To reach the British settlement, the Chinese soldiers had to run across 20 yards over the New Lese Bridge whilst being exposed to Japanese fire. The Chinese planned to send the wounded first, followed by the 1st Company and Machine Gun Company in small groups under Xie Jinyuan, then by the 2nd and 3rd Companies under Yang Ruifu.[84]

To cover the retreat, the Chinese formed a rearguard of a platoon from the 1st company along with some twenty-seven troops too heavily wounded to be moved easily; these men agreed to stay behind to man heavy machine guns and cover the remaining forces.[22] During the retreat, Western journalists observed the Chinese rearguard exchanging gunfire with Japanese soldiers from seven "rifle-ports" in the Warehouse's west wall, occasionally throwing hand grenades at Japanese soldiers trying to approach and enter the building.[85]

To conceal their movements, the Chinese defenders evacuated in a gradual manner, moving every now and then in groups of twos and threes or alone. Each time, a Japanese machine gun posted near the north end of the bridge would open fire. However, the darkness and extreme confusion near the warehouse meant only a few Chinese were hit before they reached the British lines. Among them was Yang Ruifu, who was shot through the left leg while crossing, but managed to limp the remaining distance on his good leg.[83]

Upon reaching the International settlement, the Chinese escapees were greeted by British soldiers who shook hands with them and congratulated their courage. Major-General Telfer-Smollett, the commander of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at the bridge, received the Chinese soldiers and remarked that "I have never seen anything greater."[86] Whether or not British soldiers opened fire in support of the Chinese retreat is unknown. British travellers W.H. Auden and Christopher Isherwood encountered rumors in 1938 of British troops returning fire against the Japanese, putting a machine gun out of action.[87] Similarly, Zhang Boting and Major Shangguan Zhibiao claimed the British had assisted in eliminating one of the four Japanese machine guns near the North Railway Station.[88] Stephen Robinson claims that British soldiers probably did open fire, citing their obvious sympathies with the Chinese defenders and their anger over the deaths of four Royal Ulster Riflemen killed by Japanese shelling two days prior.[89]

As the Chinese escaped, a Japanese column headed by a tank attempted to cut off the retreat by blocking the road. Platoon commander Yang Yangzheng attacked the column with a machine gun, but was wounded when the tank fired a shell at him, destroying his left eye with shrapnel. Yang was then dragged half-conscious across the creek by his comrades.[90]

By 2am, the last troops in Sihang Warehouse had retreated into the settlement safely, with dozens of wounded troops and Yang Huimin's flag being carried out along with 400 rifles, 24 light machine guns, 6 heavy machine guns and ammunition boxes, many of which were still hot from combat. Some 50 wounded Chinese soldiers were taken by British ambulances to various hospitals to be treated for their injuries including Yang Ruifu.[91] According to Western newspapers, the number of Chinese casualties during the retreat were estimated between two and six killed, and ten to twenty-four wounded.[92] However, the vast majority of the Chinese defenders had escaped alive, some 377 men and officers in total including Xie Jinyuan.[62]

Japanese Account of Events (SNLF)

Troops of the Shanghai SNLF 10th Battalion "Haji Unit" celebrate outside of the Shanghai North Railway Station in Zhabei.
Commander of the Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force 10th Battalion Lieutenant-Commander Haji Kitaro and his adjutant outside of Sihang Warehouse, Shanghai, circa November 1937

At 0505 hours on October 27, 1937, the Imperial Japanese Navy's Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force (Shanghai SNLF) ordered their forces to launch a general assault on Zhabei. With few of Chiang's defenders left in the Zhabei, the Shanghai SNLF moved through the district and captured former enemy strongholds with relative ease. By around 1800 hours Zhabei had largely fallen to the Japanese, with the exception of the Four Banks' Joint Warehouse (Sihang Warehouse), where the Shanghai SNLF reported approximately 800 enemy troops to still be held up at.[13]

The Japanese initially advised the troops held up in Sihang Warehouse to surrender, but by the early hours of October 31 with their demands still unmet and signs of the defenders making an escape into the British defense sector of the International Settlement, the Japanese decided to attack the warehouse. On October 31 at 0115 hours the Imperial Japanese Navy confirmed sightings of Chinese troops evacuating into the International Settlement and began to bombard the warehouse with artillery fire from the Shanghai SNLF's 8th and 9th Companies thirty minutes later. At 0300 hours, troops from the Shanghai SNLF's 10th Battalion stormed the Sihang Warehouse and within ten minutes had completely cleaned the warehouse of enemy troops and occupied the building.[13][4][12]

After securing the warehouse, the Imperial Japanese Navy reported roughly 80 corpses of fallen Chinese troops and a number of weapons to be inside. According to Japanese naval records, the Imperial Japanese Navy's advance on Zhabei from October 27 to 31 resulted in a total of 42 wounded, four of which were directly injured during the assault on Sihang Warehouse on October 31. One of wounded, Warrant Officer Tanaka Shiroku—a platoon leader from the Shanghai SNLF 10th Battalion—later died on November 2, after being shot near the warehouse on October 30.[12][13][14][Note 1]

Casualties and Aftermath

The Chinese casualties from the battle were disputed; immediate newspapers claimed between 100 and 200 Chinese soldiers had been killed in the fighting.[93][94] Xie Jinyuan stated in an interview on November 2 that of the 410 defenders, 10 had been killed and 30 wounded,[95] but later revised this figure to 420 defenders present with 10 killed and 37 wounded.[96] The Imperial Japanese Navy reported finding around 80 dead Chinese soldiers in the warehouse,[12] but declared finding 100 corpses to the press.[85] Stephen Robinson calculated that since 377 defenders had retreated (along with the 10 wounded men evacuated earlier), and some 420 defenders had been present, the Chinese "death toll was likely higher [than 10] though probably fewer than 50 men," with 33 men killed or missing from the battalion roster following the retreat.[97] A similar figure is given by Michael Clodfelter, who claims 34 Chinese soldiers were killed in action defending the Warehouse.[98]

Immediately after the retreat, Commander Xie reported to the Chinese newspaper Zhongyang Ribao that over 100 Japanese troops had been killed by his defenders.[15] 88th Division commander Sun Yuanliang estimated that "Enemy corpses in the vicinity of Sihang Warehouse totalled over two hundred approximately."[99] with Xie Jimin giving the same figure, "more than 200 enemy troops were killed and countless ones were wounded. Two enemy tanks were also destroyed and two more were damaged. The number of enemies was the sum of the daily counts obtained by observation posts."[68] Of this number, Historian Stephen Robinson claims the majority of Japanese casualties were suffered by the 3rd "Lucky" Division, with a handful of Japanese marines killed in the fighting.[62]

Formerly classified records from Imperial Japanese Navy reported a total of 42 wounded during the advance on Zhabei from October 27 to 31. Within this figure, four of the wounded sustained their injuries during the final assault on Sihang Warehouse on October 31. One officer shot outside of the warehouse on October 30 later died from their injuries on November 2, 1937. The use of tanks during the assault on the warehouse is note recorded in Japanese naval military records.[12][13][14][Note 1] Historian Richard Frank noted that Japanese casualty reports during the Shanghai campaign did not truly reflect the true scale of their losses sustained in combat,[100] with the official Bureau of the Japanese War Ministry claiming only 5,173 troops had been killed in Shanghai[101] when the actual number was over double[102] (or triple)[103] that number.

Chinese defenders observed dogs dragging away Japanese troops during nighttime.[104]

Chiang Kai-shek promoted every defender by a rank and awarded Xie Jinyuan and Yang Ruifu the Order of Blue Sky and White Sun.[105][full citation needed][106][full citation needed]

Legacy

Three different portrayals of Yang Huimin: 1938 film, 1976 film, and c. 1940 "gum card" ephemera.

There was a large discrepancy between Japanese reports and the testimonies of Chinese troops and western journalists present during the defense. Both the Chinese and Japanese have alleged claims which contradict with each other, particularly in regards to losses.

Cao Juren, a prominent Chinese war correspondent attached to the Chinese 88th Division during the Defense of Sihang Warehouse, would state postwar "the news in the papers at the time, including my reports, were all bravado and exaggerations, and did not reflect the real situation."[107][need quotation to verify][improper synthesis?]

  • Sihang Warehouse from the other side of the Suzhou River. October 2006
    Sihang Warehouse from the other side of the Suzhou River. October 2006
  • The entrance. October 2007
    The entrance. October 2007
  • A bust of Army Lieutenant Colonel Xie Jinyuan inside the entrance. October 2007
    A bust of Army Lieutenant Colonel Xie Jinyuan inside the entrance. October 2007

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c "支那事変概報第３９号" - "China Incident Summary Report No. 39" is a formerly classified Japanese military document that covers IJN and IJA movements during the later stages of the Shanghai campaign. Frame 25 states for the following casualties on October 31 [1937] for the Naval Landing Forces. "At 0300 hours our attack force broke through and at 0310 hours completely occupied [the Sihang warehouse] and cleared out remnant enemy forces. They found approximately 80 enemy corpses and a number of weapons. Our own casualties were extremely light, with only 4 wounded. "閘北進撃戦" - "Assault on Zhabei" covers the Japanese capture of Zhabei on October 27 and the occupation of Sihang Warehouse completed on October 31. The second page lists the following casualties for the entire operation from Oct 27-31: "3 heavily wounded, 24 lightly wounded, and 14 barely wounded." "支那事変尽忠録 第三卷" - "China Incident Loyalty Record: Volume 3," a catalog of all Imperial Japanese Navy personnel killed in action or fatally wounded from the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War until December 11, 1937 has only a single entry relating to fatal casualties around Sihang Warehouse. Page 231 titled "同年十月三十日上海閘北四行倉庫附近ニ於ケル戰傷後死者" - "Same Year [1937] October 30: Those who died of their battle wounds while fighting around the Shanghai Sihang Warehouse" lists Naval Special Duty Ensign [posthumous rank] Tanaka Shiroku (田中士陸). Page 231-232 further states "Warrant Officer Tanaka was a platoon leader in the Haji Corps, Sunouchi Company, landing at Shanghai on the evening of August 19 and being placed under the Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force Commander's authority." Page 233 continues "Tanaka was heavily wounded by an enemy machine gun round passing through his lower left leg at 6:25 PM [on Oct 30]. He was bandaged at his position and immediately transferred to the hospital for treatment. He temporarily improved in health but by November 2 his condition suddenly worsened and on the same day at 3:30 PM he honorably died of his battle wounds."
  2. ^ Niderost's work "Chinese Alamo" (December 2007) states "The Sihang defenders faced the Japanese 3rd Division, considered one of the best of the Imperial Japanese Army. They also had mortar teams, artillery, and armor—probably Type 94 Te-Ke tankettes."
  3. ^ Robinson cites Niderost's "Chinese Alamo" for the IJA 3rd Division's involvement at Sihang Warehouse.
  4. ^ The English translation of the relevant sections are as follows: On October 27 the Division spent until the evening moving their front line to the Suzhou Creek from Dachang. The Division subsequently ordered their manpower to pursue retreating enemies, moving to the left of the Suzhou Riverbank and ordering units to the areas listed below: Right Flank (68th Infantry Regiment) - North of Toyoda Cotton Mills Left Flank (18th Infantry Regiment) - Chenjiabang (陳家浜) 34th Infantry Regiment - Linjiagang and Jixiangwei (林家港、基巷衛) The Other Units - Zhenru Town Area (真如鎮) With the enemy fleeing west of the Shanghai-Wusong Railway and orders for the Division to cross the Suzhou, late in the evening of the 27th the Division Commander reordered part of the Division stay at the Suzhou Riverbank while the bulk of his manpower were to regroup around Zenhru Town (真如鎮) and Feijiajao (斐家角) and prepare for the river crossing. By the afternoon of October 29 preparations were complete and on October 31st the 3rd Division began crossing the river.
  5. ^ The English translation of the relevant sections are as follows: October 26 - Our forces captured Dachang Village and blocked the Shanghai-Nanking Railway. Oct 27 - Our forces reached the Suzhou River lines. The Tanigawa Detachment broke through the Jiangwan Village area and advanced to the southern sector and returned to the 101st Division on the 27th. On the 27th the Special Naval Landing Forces captured the Zhabei region and completed their sweep of the enemy. The 3rd Division began their crossing of the Suzhou River on October 31.
  6. ^ The English translation of the relevant sections are as follows: On the evening of October 26, our naval landing forces, wanting to maintain contact with the enemy, particularly on the left wing of the Suzhou Creek area, continued their vicious battle. Using the moonlight at 0430 hours on October 27, the right flank launched an attack on critical points as planned. At 0505 hours the entire force began their advance and with an initial breakthrough of the frontline on Baoxing Road, each unit attacked with all of their might. The Rightward Force was the first to succeed in breaking the frontline at 0700 hours and advanced to the west edge of Zhabei, later moving to the southern area and working to cut off the enemy's escape routes. At the same time the Leftward Force captured the North Station and Railway Bureau, followed by the Central and Leftward Forces sweeping enemies in the west and southern areas and moving to clear out enemies of the eastern pocket area. By around 1800 hours some 100 stragglers retreating from our advance had held up in the Sihang Warehouse. The other remaining stragglers were mopped up in the evening. Some troops also advanced west and captured Zhenru Station (真如駅). Our naval landing forces captured all of Zhabei, the Continental Rail Factory, the Central Weapons Arsenal, and Zhenru Station, with the enemy losses amounting to some 630 dead and a number of captured weapons. Our casualties amounted to 3 heavily wounded and another 24 wounded. The stragglers in the Sihang Warehouse were later encircled and told to surrender, but after ignoring the offer, on October 31 at 0145 hours they were suppressed with artillery and at 0300 hours our forces broke through and completely swept up what was left of the enemy.

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