Xuzhou Operation

Japanese: 徐州作戦 - じょしゅうさくせん

From April 7 to May 19, 1938, the Japanese army pincered 70 Chinese divisions (approximately 500,000 troops) that had gathered near Xuzhou, China, from the north and south, in an attempt to destroy the Chinese army's will to resist. After the occupation of Nanjing, the Japanese local army, intending to expand the front line, advanced ahead of the Imperial General Headquarters and advanced to Taierzhuang in March 1938, but was defeated. In retaliation, four Japanese divisions captured Xuzhou, aiming to connect North and Central China while encircling and annihilating the 500,000 Chinese troops that had gathered in Xuzhou. From late April, fierce fighting approached Xuzhou from the north and south, but the Chinese army adopted a retreat tactic, and although Xuzhou was occupied, the encirclement ended in failure. The Nationalist government retreated to Chongqing. The Japanese government abandoned its policy of non-expansion.

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

1938年４月７日〜５月19日，中国の徐州付近に集結した中国軍70個師団（約50万）を日本軍が南北から挟撃，中国軍の抗戦意志を喪失させようとした作戦。南京占領後戦線拡大を意図した日本の現地軍は大本営に先行，1938年３月台児荘(たいじそう)に進出したが敗北。日本軍４個師団はその報復をかねて徐州を攻略，華北，華中を結ぶと同時に徐州集結中の中国軍50万の包囲全滅をねらった。４月下旬より南北からの激戦で徐州に接近したが，中国軍は退却戦術をとったため，徐州は占領したが包囲戦は失敗に終わった。国民政府は重慶に撤退。日本政府は不拡大方針を放擲(ほうてき)した。

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