A Province Under Siege: The Strategic Importance of Shanxi

In the autumn of 1937, Yan Xishan, the warlord ruler of Shanxi province, faced an impossible dilemma. Known as the “Shanxi King” for his iron-fisted control over the region, Yan now watched helplessly as two of Japan’s most elite military formations – the 5th Division under General Itagaki Seishiro and the Chahar Expeditionary Force led by Tojo Hideki – advanced toward his territory. The Japanese invasion following the July 7 Marco Polo Bridge Incident had already claimed Beijing and Tianjin, with Shanghai becoming a bloody stalemate.

Yan’s predicament symbolized China’s fragmented resistance. For years, he had balanced precariously between three competing forces: the Japanese who supplied his arsenal, Chiang Kai-shek’s central government forces he distrusted, and the Communists he had long opposed. Now, with Japanese troops approaching his capital Taiyuan, Yan had to make a choice. His decision to collaborate with both Nationalist and Communist forces would set the stage for one of China’s most significant early victories in the War of Resistance.

The Unlikely Alliance: Communists Enter the Battlefield

September 1937 witnessed an unprecedented military cooperation. On September 23, with his forces retreating to the Pingxingguan pass in northeastern Shanxi, Yan Xishan sent a fateful telegram to Zhu De, commander of the newly redesignated Eighth Route Army (formerly the Red Army). The message requested Lin Biao’s 115th Division to attack the Japanese flank at Pingxingguan.

This marked a historic moment – Communist forces entering the war as recognized combatants under the United Front against Japan. The Red Army’s transformation into the Eighth Route Army on August 22 had been emotionally charged, with many soldiers reluctant to replace their red stars with Nationalist insignia. Yet as their mobilization pledge declared, they marched to defend China against an enemy seeking “to annihilate our nation and race.”

Japanese intelligence had long warned about Communist military capabilities. A 1936 report by Colonel Matsumuro Takayoshi noted their ability to fight with “simple living conditions, inferior weapons, insufficient ammunition” through guerrilla tactics and ideological conviction. Now these toughened Long March veterans would test their mettle against Japan’s best.

The Trap Is Set: Laying the Ambush at Pingxingguan

The Pingxingguan pass, part of the Ming Dynasty’s inner Great Wall, presented ideal terrain for an ambush. On September 24, after three reconnaissance missions, Lin Biao finalized plans to trap Japanese forces along a 13-kilometer stretch between Guangou and Donghenan village. That night, amidst torrential rain, three regiments of the 115th Division moved into position.

Unknown to the Communists, their Nationalist allies at the pass’s main defenses had already withdrawn without orders, leaving the flank exposed. As dawn broke on September 25, about 1,000 Japanese troops – including a battalion from the 21st Brigade’s 42nd Regiment with cavalry and supply units – advanced confidently through the narrow valley with 300 vehicles. Their complacency reflected months of easy victories; they deployed no scouts along the vulnerable route.

The Battle Begins: First Clash with the Imperial Army

At 7:00 AM, signal flares lit the sky over Pingxingguan. Yang Dezhi’s 685th Regiment struck the Japanese vanguard, destroying lead vehicles to block the convoy. What followed shocked both sides. Unlike previous Chinese opponents, the Japanese quickly organized into three-man combat teams and counterattacked uphill. The ensuing melee revealed stark contrasts:

– Weapons: Many Eighth Route fighters lacked firearms, relying on grenades and bayonets
– Training: Japanese soldiers demonstrated superior individual combat skills
– Tactics: Communist units compensated with coordinated assaults and terrain use

At the battle’s critical point, Japanese troops seized the strategic Laoyemiao Heights that Lin Biao had failed to occupy preemptively. The 686th Regiment’s bloody two-hour assault to retake the position, under machine gun fire and aerial bombardment, became the battle’s turning point. By afternoon, with the 687th Regiment reinforcing from the rear and reserves committed, the Japanese found themselves completely surrounded.

Aftermath and Significance: Shattering the Myth of Invincibility

The battle’s conclusion revealed the brutal nature of the conflict. Eighth Route medics attempting to treat wounded Japanese soldiers were attacked, and not a single prisoner was taken – an ominous preview of the war’s ferocity. Japanese records initially claimed only 60 casualties, an absurd figure given the destruction of over 100 vehicles and death of two lieutenant colonels. More reliable estimates suggest about 1,000 Japanese killed against 600 Communist casualties.

While tactically modest compared to later engagements, Pingxingguan’s psychological impact was enormous:

– First major Chinese victory after months of retreats
– Demonstrated Japanese forces could be surrounded and defeated
– Proved Communist troops as effective combatants
– Boosted recruitment – the 686th Regiment enlisted 3,000 men in a week

For Lin Biao and his veterans, the battle also provided sobering lessons about Japanese military prowess that would inform later guerrilla strategies. The mixed Nationalist-Communist cooperation, though short-lived, showed the potential of united resistance.

Legacy of Pingxingguan: From Battlefield to National Symbol

Today, Pingxingguan occupies a complex place in historical memory. In mainland China, it’s celebrated as the Communist Party’s first major contribution to the anti-Japanese war, while in Taiwan its Nationalist participants were long ignored. The battle’s true significance lies in its timing – providing hope during China’s darkest early war months that resistance was possible.

The Eighth Route Army’s ability to adapt – combining traditional warfare with emerging guerrilla tactics – previewed the conflict’s evolution. More importantly, Pingxingguan began transforming Communist forces from marginalized rebels to recognized national defenders, a crucial step in their eventual postwar ascendancy.

As the first check to Japan’s unchecked advance, this obscure mountain pass became where China began believing victory might be possible after all. The collaboration between former enemies, however brief, offered a glimpse of what unified resistance could achieve – a lesson that would resonate through the remaining eight years of war.