The Strategic Importance of Xuzhou in 1938

By early 1938, the Imperial Japanese Army had captured major Chinese cities including Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Jinan following the Battle of Shanghai. Xuzhou remained the last significant unconquered urban center between Beijing-Hangzhou corridor. This railway hub’s capture would allow Japanese forces to threaten Nanjing from the north, pressure Jinan from the south, and control the vital Longhai Railway – effectively linking their northern and central China theaters.

For Chinese defenders, losing Xuzhou meant surrendering the last strategic strongpoint in eastern China and removing a critical protective barrier for Wuhan. Japanese control would connect their North China and Central China Army Groups, giving them dominance over China’s entire coastline from Liaodong Peninsula to Hangzhou Bay. Recognizing this, Japanese commanders aggressively advocated for the Xuzhou operation to unify their forces and threaten Wuhan.

Japanese Preparations and Strategic Calculations

The Japanese High Command developed an ambitious pincer strategy in January 1938, planning to attack Xuzhou from both Nanjing and Jinan. Their objectives were clear: capture Xuzhou, connect the Tianjin-Pukou Railway, merge northern and southern battlefields, then advance toward Wuhan and Guangzhou. To execute this, Japan dramatically expanded its forces in China from the planned 15 divisions to 26 divisions.

Key developments included:
– January 22: Japan’s 73rd Diet session approved long-term war preparations
– February 4: Imperial Headquarters discussed capturing Wuhan and Guangzhou
– February 11: Army Ministry decided on military expansion

The Japanese redeployed significant forces to strengthen their North China Army, including transferring the 16th Division to Hebei and the 114th Division to Baoding. For the Xuzhou campaign, Japan ultimately committed eight divisions plus additional brigades – approximately 240,000 troops attacking from north and south.

Two Critical Events Shaping the Battle

Two pivotal incidents influenced the campaign’s trajectory:

1. The Fall of Jinan: In December 1937, General Han Fuju abandoned Jinan without orders, allowing Japanese forces to capture this strategic city on December 27. This created an advantageous position for attacking Xuzhou. Han was subsequently court-martialed and executed on January 24, 1938, becoming a symbol of cowardice contrasted with the coming resistance at Xuzhou.

2. Failed Secret Negotiations: From December 1937 to January 1938, Japan attempted to force China into accepting harsh peace terms including recognizing Manchukuo, creating demilitarized zones, and paying reparations. When Chiang Kai-shek rejected these on December 27, Japan’s military ambitions intensified. On January 8, China’s National Government declared it would defend territorial integrity and reject all puppet regimes.

The Opening Moves of the Campaign

By February 1938, Japanese forces advanced on two fronts:

Southern Route (General Hata Shunroku):
– 13th Division advanced north from Nanjing to Chuxian
– 9th Division moved up the Huainan Railway to Chaoxian

Northern Route (General Terauchi Hisaichi):
– 5th Division (General Itagaki Seishiro) advanced east along the Jiaoji Railway
– 21st Brigade (20,000 troops) attacked Linyi on February 21

Meanwhile, Chinese commander Li Zongren arrived in Xuzhou in October 1937 as commander of the 5th War Zone. Facing public panic, Li deliberately projected calm through daily horseback rides through the city, restoring civilian confidence. Behind this facade, he prepared defenses with his 160,000 troops (mostly regional forces), developing tactics of mobile defense and targeted counterattacks to offset Japanese technological advantages.

The Southern Front: Holding the Huai River Line

In January 1938, Li Zongren implemented his “advance when enemy retreats, attack when enemy advances” strategy against the Japanese 13th Division. Chinese forces deliberately yielded ground along the Jinpu Railway, luring Japanese troops into ambushes in western mountainous areas.

Key engagements included:
– January 18: 31st Army inflicts heavy losses at Mingguang
– February 8: 31st Army repels Japanese crossing attempts at Bengbu, killing 500
– February 16: General Zhang Zizhong’s 59th Army counterattacks, driving Japanese back across the Ni River

After month-long fighting, southern Japanese forces suffered 2,000 casualties and lost over 100 tanks before retreating south of the Huai River – buying critical time for Chinese defenses.

The Northern Front: Epic Defense of Linyi

The 5th Division’s advance on Linyi became one of the campaign’s most dramatic chapters. General Pang Bingxun’s 40th Army (only 5 regiments) held against elite Japanese forces from March 10-18, despite being outgunned.

The critical moment came when Li Zongren ordered Zhang Zizhong’s 59th Army to reinforce Linyi – despite historic enmity between Zhang and Pang dating to 1930 when Pang had attacked Zhang’s headquarters. Zhang famously responded: “Absolutely obey orders,” marching 90km in a day to reach Linyi on March 11.

Their combined forces achieved:
– March 14-18: Decisive counterattack kills 3,000 Japanese
– Destruction of 6 tanks and 2 aircraft
– Temporary relief of Linyi

Though later forced to withdraw after second Japanese assault in April, this defense prevented the 5th and 10th Divisions from linking up – setting the stage for Taierzhuang.

The Western Front: Sacrifice at Teng County

While Linyi held, the Japanese 10th Division’s 33rd Brigade (15,000 troops with artillery superiority) attacked Teng County on March 14. General Wang Mingzhang’s 122nd Division (only 2,000 combat troops) defended under orders to “hold for three days.”

The epic defense included:
– March 16: Wang moves command into besieged city
– March 17: After walls breached, hand-to-hand combat in streets
– March 18: Wang dies leading final resistance

Though Teng County fell, Wang’s division:
– Held for 4.5 days against 10:1 odds
– Inflicted 2,000 Japanese casualties
– Delayed Japanese advance critical for Taierzhuang preparations

As Li Zongren later acknowledged: “Without Teng County’s sacrifice, there could have been no Taierzhuang victory.”

Legacy and Historical Significance

The Xuzhou Campaign demonstrated:
1. Chinese Adaptability: Li Zongren’s mobile defense tactics proved effective against superior Japanese forces
2. Unlikely Unity: Former rivals like Zhang Zizhong and Pang Bingxun cooperated against the common enemy
3. Strategic Delay: The prolonged fighting bought time for China to relocate industries and prepare Wuhan’s defense
4. International Attention: Victories like Linyi challenged perceptions of inevitable Japanese victory

Most significantly, the campaign set conditions for the April 1938 Taierzhuang victory – the war’s first major Chinese victory that boosted morale and proved Japan could be resisted. The cooperation between central and regional forces, though imperfect, showed growing national unity against invasion.

The sacrifices at Teng County and Linyi became legendary, commemorated in monuments and popular culture. Figures like Wang Mingzhang and Zhang Zizhong entered China’s pantheon of war heroes, their stories still taught as examples of courage and patriotism in the face of overwhelming odds. The campaign remains a pivotal chapter in understanding China’s prolonged resistance against Japanese aggression.