Ninety-two years ago, the "18 September" incident that shocked China and abroad broke out, Shenyang fell overnight, and within a few months, almost the entire territory of northeast China was lost, and China fell into an unprecedented disaster.
In June 1931, the Japanese Army General Staff Headquarters and the Ministry of the Army jointly formulated the "Outline for the Solution of the Manchuria-Mongolia Problem", which specified the policy of invading and occupying northeast China by force, and this program also became the program of action for Japanese imperialism to invade and occupy northeast China by force. In September, the Japanese army not only conducted pre-war reconnaissance of troops along the South Manchuria and Anfeng railways, but also conducted many military exercises near the Shenyang Arsenal and Beidaying.
On September 10, 1931, howitzers brought from China by the Japanese Kwantung Army were set up in the Shenyang garrison barracks.
(Source: Shenyang "918" History Museum, ed.: "The Beginning of the War of Resistance and the Prelude to World War II", Liaoning Fine Arts Publishing House, 2019 edition, page 43)
The Japanese army conducted military exercises along the Manchurian Railway and Anfeng Railway
(Source: Shenyang "918" History Museum, ed.: "The Beginning of the War of Resistance and the Prelude to World War II", Liaoning Fine Arts Publishing House, 2019 edition, page 44)
After thorough preparations, the Japanese army blew up the South Manchuria Railway at about 10 p.m. on September 18 and blamed it on the Northeast Army as a pretext for attacking. At 23 o'clock that night, the Japanese army shelled the Beida camp, and under the policy of non-resistance, the Northeast Army had no choice but to fight and retreat, and at 5:30 a.m. the next day, the Northeast Army withdrew from the Beida camp and withdrew to Guannei through Jinzhou, and the Beida camp was completely occupied by the Japanese army. In the course of this occupation, the 7th Infantry Brigade of the Northeast Army lost 5 officers, 144 soldiers, 14 wounded officers and 172 soldiers, a total of 335 officers and men were killed and 483 missing.
The Japanese army occupied Peking Camp, and the Peking Camp was renamed the Japanese flag
(Source: Liu Changjiang, ed.: Illustrated History of Japan's Invasion of China, Volume VI, Shandong Pictorial Publishing House, 2015 edition, p. 79)
The Northeast Army suffered casualties in the battle of Beida Camp
(Source: Kenji Kajima, ed.: "Nippon Branch Incident Photo Poster", Hakusseisha 1931 edition, p. 27)
In response to the outbreak of the "18 September" incident, the Japanese army made public statements, pointing out that because the Chinese army illegally killed Japanese soldiers, Japan launched a war to protect its own rights and interests.
Japan's distorted report on the "18 September" incident
(Source: The First Research Department of the Party History Research Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, edited by the Memorial Hall of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, "The Illustrated Guide of China's War of Resistance Against Japan", Hunan People's Publishing House, 2005 edition, page 45)
After the Japanese occupation of Mukden, Zhang Xueliang led his subordinates to move to Jinzhou, and the "Jinzhou Neutral Zone" plan drawn up by the Nationalist government was not implemented. On October 8, Ishihara gave the order to bomb Jinzhou, and on November 27, the Japanese attacked Jinzhou in three ways, and under the heroic resistance of the volunteers in various regions and part of the Northeast Army, the first Japanese attack ended in failure. On December 24, Honjo issued another order to attack Jinzhou, calling for an attack on Jinzhou in two phases, the first to capture Goubangzi and the second to capture Jinzhou, and the Japanese flying units to assist in the entire operation. Subsequently, the Japanese army not only conducted military reconnaissance of Jinzhou City through flying units, but also repaired the communication lines damaged by Chinese soldiers and civilians on the way to Jinzhou to ensure the advance of the army.
Japanese aircraft conducted reconnaissance missions to Jinzhou
(Source: General Affairs Division, General Affairs Department, South Manchuria Railway Co., Ltd., ed.: "Manchurian Incident Photo Poster", South Manchuria Railway Co., Ltd., 1932 edition, p. 25)
The Japanese attack on Jinzhou was a key map
(Source: Japanese Kwantung Army Command, ed.: "Commemorative Photo Sticker of the Kwantung Army in the Manchurian Incident in the 6th and 7th Years of Showa")
On December 31, 1931, a Japanese motorcycle convoy assembled on the banks of the Liaohe River to prepare to invade Jinzhou
(Source: Japanese Kwantung Army Command, ed.: "Commemorative Photo Sticker of the Kwantung Army in the Manchurian Incident in the 6th and 7th Years of Showa")
During the invasion of Jinzhou, the Japanese laid bridges to enable the troops to cross the Liao River
(Source: General Affairs Division, General Affairs Department, South Manchuria Railway Co., Ltd., ed.: "Manchurian Incident Photo Poster", South Manchuria Railway Co., Ltd., 1932 edition, p. 23)
On the way to Jinzhou, the Japanese army repaired the Xiaolinghe bridge
(Source: Japanese Kwantung Army Command, ed.: "Commemorative Photo Sticker of the Kwantung Army in the Manchurian Incident in the 6th and 7th Years of Showa")
In order to invade Jinzhou, the Japanese army repaired the railway damaged by the Chinese army
(Source: Japanese 20th Division Headquarters Mixed into 39th Brigade Headquarters Editor: "Commemorative Photo Sticker of the Korean Army Dispatch in the Manchurian Incident in Showa 6th and 7th")
On January 3, 1932, the Japanese army occupied Jinzhou, and subsequently, Jinxi and Suizhong fell one after another, and the Liaoxi region was completely under the control of the Japanese army, and all of Liaoning Province fell.
Japanese troops occupy the city of Jinzhou
(Source: General Affairs Division, General Affairs Department, South Manchuria Railway Co., Ltd., ed.: "Manchurian Incident Photo Poster", South Manchuria Railway Co., Ltd., 1932 edition, page 28)
Japanese troops enter the city of Jinzhou
Japanese troops enter the city of Jinzhou
(Source: General Affairs Division, General Affairs Department, South Manchuria Railway Co., Ltd., ed.: "Manchurian Incident Photo Poster", South Manchuria Railway Co., Ltd., 1932 edition, page 28)
The Japanese flag is hung in front of the Liao Pagoda of Guangji Temple in Jinzhou City
(Source: General Affairs Division, General Affairs Department, South Manchuria Railway Co., Ltd., ed.: "Manchurian Incident Photo Poster", South Manchuria Railway Co., Ltd., 1932 edition, p. 27)
The Japanese cavalry wing invaded Jinzhou City Hall
(Edited by the editorial board of the Japanese Tadado Hall: "Manchurian Incident Commemorative Photo Post")
Japanese troops invaded Jinzhou Station
(Source: Japanese 20th Division Headquarters Mixed into 39th Brigade Headquarters Editor: "Commemorative Photo Sticker of the Korean Army Dispatch in the Manchurian Incident in the 6th and 7th Showa Incident")
After the army invaded Jinzhou, in front of Northeast Jiaotong University, the Japanese army built a new stronghold
(Source: Japanese 20th Division Headquarters Mixed into 39th Brigade Headquarters Editor: "Commemorative Photo Sticker of the Korean Army Dispatch in the Manchurian Incident in the 6th and 7th Showa Incident")
The 73rd Infantry Wing of the Japanese Army surrounded and suppressed the anti-Japanese armed forces in Jinxi City
(Source: Japanese Kwantung Army Command, ed.: "Commemorative Photo Sticker of the Kwantung Army in the Manchurian Incident in the 6th and 7th Years of Showa")
The Japanese Koga Wing captured Jinxi Castle. The background in the picture is the remnant watchtower in the western part of Jinxi City
(Source: Japanese Kwantung Army Command, ed.: "Commemorative Photo Sticker of the Kwantung Army in the Manchurian Incident in the 6th and 7th Years of Showa")
After the Japanese army occupied Jinxi City, the broad masses of the people were very angry, and under the leadership of Liu Chunqi and others, they ambushed the west of the county and formed a siege of the county seat. Faced with this situation, Koga chose to make a desperate bet and took the initiative to break through. At this time, the members of the West Fifth Association not only blocked Jinzhou's support for Jinxi County, but also launched an attack on the county seat, cutting off the back road of the Koga United. Koga tried to cross the encirclement and return to the county seat, but was ambushed by the anti-Japanese people in Nishiyuanzi Village, and Koga died after being seriously injured. According to incomplete statistics, this battle killed 4 officers below the rank of second lieutenant below, more than 40 ordinary soldiers, and more than 20 seriously wounded; One war knife, one short gun, and dozens of other long guns used by Koga were captured, and more than 40 war horses were killed and captured. The successful annihilation of the Koga Wing by the 3,000-strong brave army led by Liu Chunqi and others greatly encouraged the people of the whole country to participate in the War of Resistance Against Japan.
Annihilate the anti-Japanese people of the Koga United
(Source: Chi Fengchen, Wang Fengshan: "Liaoxi "Sanyuanli" - Anti-Japanese Masses Angry Annihilation of Koga United", Party History Review, No. 9, 2002)
After the collapse of the Koga United, the Japanese army held a cremation ceremony for Koga and others
(Source: Japanese Kwantung Army Command, ed.: "Commemorative Photo Sticker of the Kwantung Army in the Manchurian Incident in the 6th and 7th Years of Showa")
Moreover, after the "18 September" incident, Gao Pengzhen, a national hero, led more than 10 of his subordinates to kill the Japanese army at the old road crossing of Huanggutun, and recruited soldiers and horses through captured guns and ammunition, and the number of them could reach more than 7,000 at the most. On November 20, 1931, Gao Pengzhen led his troops to attack Gaotaizi in the north of Xinmin Street, not only expelling all the Japanese troops from Gaotaizi, but also sending Yamada Yuezhao, a senior adviser to the Japanese army, and Wang Naixin, a traitor translator. Zhang Jiwu, deputy commander of the Liaoxi Self-Defense Army, and others corrected the law on the spot. On December 4, Gao Pengzhen led his troops to attack Wutaizi in Heishan County, killing more than 120 Japanese soldiers, while Gao only suffered two casualties. The First Battle of Wutaizi dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese army and greatly lifted the anti-Japanese people's army, and since then, the ranks of the anti-Japanese volunteer army in western Liaoning have also expanded.
At that time, the press reported on Gao Pengzhen
(Source: Left: JoongAng Daily, August 20, 1932; Right: Declaration, August 21, 1932)
The Liaoxi Volunteer Army won one victory after another
(Source: Left: JoongAng Daily, January 30, 1932; Right: Jiji Neue Gazeta, January 28, 1932)
A Large Number of People from Western Liaoning Joined the Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army The Japanese army launched a large-scale attack on the Volunteer Army, and Huang Jigang, the leader of the death squad, was killed in battle
(Source: News, 18 January 1932) (Source: Declaration, 11 June 1932)
The North China Art Troupe assisted the Northeast Volunteer Army and held a national salvation fair
(Source: Yishi Bao (Beijing), July 31, 1932)
Memories never fade, and history still reverberates. The sound of artillery fire from 92 years ago still rings in my ears. The Japanese aggressors created the "18 September" incident and began a 14-year war of aggression against China. This has caused countless human tragedies, displaced Chinese people, destroyed families, and countless crimes committed by the Japanese aggressors. At present, the right-wing elements in Japan still do not recognize their acts of aggression, but through Japan's own record of the war of aggression, the Japanese right-wing has effectively refuted the attitude of denying its acts of aggression. In view of this historical event, the Chinese people should not forget history, adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China, vigorously carry forward the spirit of the Great War of Resistance, and create a better future in the continuous struggle. At the same time, as an important part of the spirit of the Anti-Japanese War, the spirit of the Northeast Anti-Japanese Federation should be vigorously promoted in the current society, and it will certainly play a major role in promoting the comprehensive and all-round revitalization of the Northeast region.
Written by|Gu Shutong (The author is a 2021 graduate student of the School of History and Culture of Bohai University)
Editor|Hou Shuhe