Defense of Sihang Warehouse
Part of the Battle of Shanghai in the Second Sino-Japanese War
A painting of the Defense commissioned by the Nationalist government
Date 26 October – 1 November 1937 Location Zhabei, Shanghai, Republic of China Result Chinese victory
Combatants
524th Regiment, 88th Division, National Revolutionary Army	3rd Division, Imperial Japanese Army
Commanders
Xie Jinyuan	Iwane Matsui
Strength
414 men including 16 officers	Unknown, but far more than the Chinese
Casualties
27 wounded, 10 killed	More than 200 killed

The Defense of Sihang Warehouse (Traditional Chinese: 四行倉庫保衛戰, Simplified Chinese: 四行仓库保卫战, pinyin: Sìháng Cāngkù Bǎowèi Zhàn) took place from 26 October to 1 November 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. The defenders of the warehouse, popularly known as the Eight Hundred Heroes (Traditional Chinese: 八百壯士, Simplified Chinese: 八百壮士, pinyin: Bābǎi Zhùangshì) or the Lone Battalion, held out against numerous waves of Japanese forces and covered the movements of the Chinese forces retreating west during the Battle of Shanghai. The successful defense of the warehouse provided a morale-lifting consolation to the Chinese army and people in the demoralizing aftermath of the Japanese invasion of Shanghai. The warehouse's location just across the Suzhou River from the foreign concessions in Shanghai meant the battle took place in full view of the western powers. This drew the attention, if only briefly, of the international community to Chiang Kai-shek's bid for worldwide support against Japanese aggression. Combatants Republic of China Empire of Japan Commanders Chiang Kai-shek, Chen Cheng, Chu Shao-liang, Chang Fa-kuei Heisuke Yanagawa, Iwane Matsui Strength 600,000 troops in 75 divisions and 9 brigades, 250 airplanes 300,000 troops in 8 divisions and 6 brigades, 3000 airplanes, 300 tanks, 130 warships... Combatants Republic of China Empire of Japan Commanders Chiang Kai-shek, Mao Tse-Tung, Yan Xishan, Feng Yuxiang, Zhu De, He Yingqin Hideki Tojo, Matsui Iwane, Jiro Minami, Kesago Nakajima, Toshizo Nishio, Yasuji Okamura. ... Image File history File links Sihang_painting. ... October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Zhabei district of Shanghai has a land area of 29. ... Shanghai (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Shanghainese: ), stuated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta in East China, is the largest city of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Motto: None Anthem(s): National Anthem of the Republic of China Capital Taipei City (de facto) Nanjing (de jure)1 Largest city Taipei City Official language(s) Mandarin (GuóyÇ”) Government Semi-presidential system  - President Chen Shui-bian  - Vice President Annette Lu  - Premier Su Tseng-chang Establishment Xinhai Revolution   - Declared... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ... The 88th Division (Traditional Chinese: 第八十八師; Simplified Chinese: 第八十八师; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ti-pa Shih-pa Shih) was a German-trained reorganised division in the National Revolutionary Army. ... The National Revolutionary Army (NRA) (Chinese: 國民革命軍; pinyin: guo2 min2 ge2 ming4 jun1) was the national army of the Republic of China. ... Image File history File links Naval_Ensign_of_Japan. ... The Imperial Japanese Army (: 大日本帝國陸軍 Shinjitai: 大日本帝国陸軍 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) was the official ground based armed force of Japan from 1867 to 1945 when it was Imperial Japan. ... Xie Jinyuan and 3 of his subordinates. ... General Iwane Matsui (松井 石根 Matsui Iwane, July 27, 1878 - December 23, 1948) was the commanding officer of the Japanese expeditionary force responsible for the Nanjing Massacre in 1937. ... Combatants Republic of China Empire of Japan Commanders Chiang Kai-shek, Mao Tse-Tung, Yan Xishan, Feng Yuxiang, Zhu De, He Yingqin Hideki Tojo, Matsui Iwane, Jiro Minami, Kesago Nakajima, Toshizo Nishio, Yasuji Okamura. ... It has been suggested that Manchuria Incident be merged into this article or section. ... Combatants National Revolutionary Army, China Imperial Japanese Army, Japan Commanders Zhang Xueliang, Ma Zhanshan, Feng Zhanhai, Ting Chao Shigeru Honjo, Jiro Tamon Strength 160,000 30,000 - 84,000 Casualties  ?  ? ... Combatants National Revolutionary Army, China Imperial Japanese Army, Japan Commanders Gen. ... Resistance at Nenjiang Bridge was a small war fought between small forces of Chinese militias against the Japanese Imperial Army and collaborationist forces, after the Mukden Incident in which Manchuria was lost to Japan. ... Combatants National Revolutionary Army, China Imperial Japanese Army, Japan Commanders Feng Zhanhai, Ting Chao Shigeru Honjo Strength 30,000  ? Casualties  ?  ? After General Ma Zhanshan had been driven from Tsitsihar by the Japanese in the Jiangqiao Campaign he had retreated northeastward with his beaten and depleted forces and had set up... Combatants Republic of China, 19th Route Army, 5th Army Empire of Japan, Imperial Japanese Army, 2nd Independent Tank Company, Shanghai Expeditionary Force Commanders 19th Route Army: Jiang Guangnai (Chinese: 蔣光鼐), 5th Army: Zhang Zhizhong (Chinese: 張治中) Commander: Yoshinori Shirakawa (Japanese: 白川義則), Chief of staff: Kanichiro Tashiro (Japanese: 田代皖一郎) Strength 50,000 90,000 Casualties... The Defense of the Great Wall (Traditional Chinese: 長城抗戰; Simplified Chinese: 长城抗战; pinyin: Chángchéng Kàngzhàn) (January 1 - May 31, 1933) was a battle between the armies of Republic of China and Empire of Japan, before official hostilities of the Sino-Japanese War commenced in 1937. ... The Battle of Rehe was fought from February 21 to March 1 of 1933 between China and Japan. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Marco Polo Bridge Incident (盧溝橋事變; also known as 七七事變, 七七盧溝橋事變) was a battle between Japans Imperial Army and Chinas National Revolutionary Army, marking the beginning of the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). ... The Battle of Beiping-Tianjin (Traditional Chinese: 平津作戰; Simplified Chinese: 平津作战; pinyin: ) (25 July - 31 July 1937) was a battle fought during the Second Sino-Japanese War in the proximity of Beiping (now Beijing) and Tianjin. ... When the China Incident happened, the 1st Independent Mixed Brigade stationed in Manchuria moved to Hebei and fought near Beijing. ... Combatants Republic of China Empire of Japan Commanders Chiang Kai-shek, Chen Cheng, Chu Shao-liang, Chang Fa-kuei Heisuke Yanagawa, Iwane Matsui Strength 600,000 troops in 75 divisions and 9 brigades, 250 airplanes 300,000 troops in 8 divisions and 6 brigades, 3000 airplanes, 300 tanks, 130 warships... Combatants China, National Revolutionary Army Japan, North China Area Army Commanders ?, ?, ?, ? ?, ? Strength  ?  ? Casualties  ?  ? The Japanese 京漢線作戦 or Peiking – Hankow Railway Operation (Mid August 1937– Dec. ... Combatants Japan, North China Area Army China, National Revolutionary Army Commanders ?, ?, ?, ? ?, ? Strength  ?  ? Casualties  ?  ? The Japanese 津浦線作戦 or Tientsin – Pukow Railway Operation (Early August to mid November, 1937) was a follow up operation to the Peiking Tientsin Operation of the Japanese army in North China at the beginning of the Second Sino... The Battle of Taiyuan is a major battle fought between China and Japan near Taiyuan, which lies in the 2nd China Theater. ... The Battle of Pingxingguan, commonly called the Great Victory of Pingxingguan (平型关大捷) in Mainland China, was an engagement fought between the 8th Route Army of the Chinese Communist Party and the Imperial Japanese Army on September 25, 1937. ... Combatants National Revolutionary Army, China Imperial Japanese Army, Japan Commanders Yan Xishan Strength Casualties The Battle of Xinkou (Traditional Chinese: 忻口會戰; Simplified Chinese: 忻口会战; pinyin: ) was the second of the 22 major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War. ... 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Combatants National Revolutionary Army Military Region 5, 9, Soviet Air Force volunteers[1] Imperial Japanese Army, Central China Expeditionary Force, 11th Army, 2nd Army, China Area Fleet, Central China Aviation Army Corps Commanders Chiang Kai-shek, Xue Yue, Wu Qiwei, Zhang Fakui, Wang Jingjiu, Ou Zhentong, Yu Jishi，Duan Langru... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Combatants Imperial Japanese Navy, Japan National Revolutionary Army, China Commanders Vice Adm. ... During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Japanese artillery forces marched a long distance into the vast area of continental China. ... For the Chinese Civil War battle in 1927, see Nanchang Uprising. ... The Battle of Suixian-Zaoyang (Traditional Chinese: 隨棗會戰; Simplified Chinese: 随枣会战; pinyin: ), also known as the Battle of Suizao was one of the 22 major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War. ... 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The Battle of Zaoyang-Yichang (Traditional Chinese: 棗宜會戰; Simplified Chinese: 枣宜会战; pinyin: ), also known as the Battle of Zaoyi was one of the 22 major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War. ... The Hundred Regiments Offensive (Chinese: 百團大戰) (August 20, 1940 - December 5, 1940) was a major campaign of the Communist Party of Chinas Red Army commanded by Peng Dehuai against the Imperial Japanese Army in Central China. ... Combatants Imperial Japanese Army, Japan French Army, France Commanders Lt. ... The Battle of Shanggao (Traditional Chinese: 上高會戰; Simplified Chinese: 上高会战; pinyin: ) was one of the 22 major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War. ... Combatants National Revolutionary Army, China Imperial Japanese Army, Japan Commanders Wei Lihuang (衛立煌)  ? Strength 180,000 troops in 8 armies 100,000 troops in 6 divisions, 3 brigades Casualties  ? more than 20,000 troops The Battle of South Shanxi (Traditional: 晉南會戰; Simplified: 晋南会战; Hanyu Pinyin: ), also known as the Battle of Jinnan was... The Battle of Changsha (September 6, 1941 _ October 8, 1941) was Japans second attempt in taking the city of China, as part of the second Sino-Japanese War. ... The Battle of Changsha (December 24, 1941 _ January 15, 1942) was the third attempt by Japan to take the city of China during the China following their attack on Pearl Harbor. ... Combatants Japan, Imperial Japanese Army United Kingdom, China, National Revolutionary Army Commanders Lo Cho-ying, Joseph Stilwell Shojiro Iida Strength  ?  ? Casualties  ?  ? Battle of Yunnan-Burma Road (Mid March - Early June 1942) was the name of the Chinese intervention to aid their British allies in the 1942 Burma Campaign. ... The Battle of Yenangyaung was fought in Burma, now Myanmar during World War II. The Battle The battle for the Yenangyaung oil fields started on 11th April and continued for a week and one of the most desperate actions was against 48th Indian Brigade at Kokkogwa. ... The Battle of Zhejiang-Jiangxi refers to a campaign by the Japanese Imperial Army and allied Chinese forces in the Chinese provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangxi in 1942. ... Combatants National Revolutionary Army, China Imperial Japanese Army, Japan Commanders Bai Chongxi Strength 14 armies 7 divisions Casualties ~60,000 25,830 troops The Battle of West Hubei (Traditional: 鄂西會戰; Simplified: 鄂西会战; Hanyu Pinyin: ), was one of the 22 major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the... Combatants United Kingdom, China, National Revolutionary Army Japan, Imperial Japanese Army Commanders Wei Li-huang, Joseph Stilwell, Daniel Isom Sultan Masakazu Kawabe, Heitaro Kimura Strength  ?  ? Casualties  ?  ? Battle of Northern Burma and Western Yunnan (Oct. ... The Battle of Changde (Traditional Chinese: 常德會戰; Simplified Chinese: 常德会战; pinyin: ) was a major engagement in the Second Sino-Japanese War. ... The Battle of Henan-Hunan-Guangxi (Traditional Chinese: 豫湘桂會戰; Simplified Chinese: 豫湘桂会战; pinyin: ) also known as Operation Ichigo or Tairiku Datsu Sakusen (Japanese:一号作戦 or 大陸打通作戦) was a series of major battles between the Imperial Japanese Army forces and the Republic of China Army, fought from April to December 1944. ... The Battle of Changsha (1944), also known as the Battle of Hengyang or Battle of Hengyang-Changsha, was an invasion of the Chinese province of Hunan by Japanese troops near the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War. ... The Battle of Guilin-Liuzhou (Traditional Chinese: 桂柳會戰; Simplified Chinese: 桂柳会战; pinyin: ), also known as the Battle of Guiliu was one of the 22 major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War. ... Combatants National Revolutionary Army, China Imperial Japanese Army, Japan Commanders Strength 17 armies 5 divisions, 3 brigades Casualties  ? 15,000 troops The Battle of West Henan-North Hubei (Traditional: 豫西鄂北會戰; Simplified: 豫西鄂北会战; Hanyu Pinyin: ), was one of the 22 major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the... Combatants China, National Revolutionary Army Japan, Imperial Japanese Army Commanders He Yingqin 板西一良 (??) Strength 2 army groups, several companies, NRA Air Force, USAAF 70-80,000 troops in 7 divisions Casualties Unknown ~20,000 The Battle of West Hunan was the last of the 22 major engagements involving 100,000 troops... Combatants China, National Revolutionary Army Japan, Imperial Japanese Army Commanders Chang Fu-kuei, Tang Enbai Yukio Kasahara Strength  ?  ? Casualties  ?  ? The Second Guangxi Campaign (Late April-July, 1945) was a Chinese counteroffensive against the Japanese forces that had taken Guangxi during Operation Ichigo and aimed at the recovery of all Guangxi... Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets. ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiÇŽntǐzì; also Simplified Chinese: 简化字; Traditional Chinese: 簡化字; pinyin: jiÇŽnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Pinyin is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard Mandarin, where pin means spell and yin means sound. The most common variant of pinyin in use is called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: , Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: HànyÇ” PÄ«nyÄ«n), also known as scheme... October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Combatants Republic of China Empire of Japan Commanders Chiang Kai-shek, Chen Cheng, Chu Shao-liang, Chang Fa-kuei Heisuke Yanagawa, Iwane Matsui Strength 600,000 troops in 75 divisions and 9 brigades, 250 airplanes 300,000 troops in 8 divisions and 6 brigades, 3000 airplanes, 300 tanks, 130 warships... Combatants Republic of China Empire of Japan Commanders Chiang Kai-shek, Mao Tse-Tung, Yan Xishan, Feng Yuxiang, Zhu De, He Yingqin Hideki Tojo, Matsui Iwane, Jiro Minami, Kesago Nakajima, Toshizo Nishio, Yasuji Okamura. ... Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets. ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiÇŽntǐzì; also Simplified Chinese: 简化字; Traditional Chinese: 簡化字; pinyin: jiÇŽnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Pinyin is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard Mandarin, where pin means spell and yin means sound. The most common variant of pinyin in use is called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: , Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: HànyÇ” PÄ«nyÄ«n), also known as scheme... The Imperial Japanese Army (: 大日本帝國陸軍 Shinjitai: 大日本帝国陸軍 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) was the official ground based armed force of Japan from 1867 to 1945 when it was Imperial Japan. ... The National Revolutionary Army (NRA) (Chinese: 國民革命軍; pinyin: guo2 min2 ge2 ming4 jun1) was the national army of the Republic of China. ... Morale is a term for the capacity of people to maintain belief in an institution or a goal. ... Shanghai (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Shanghainese: ), stuated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta in East China, is the largest city of the Peoples Republic of China. ... The French poster for Suzhou River - River of Love Suzhou River 苏州河 (2000) is a film noir by Lou Ye about a tragic love story set in contemporary Shanghai. ... Concessions in China were a group of concession territories within China that were governed and occupied by foreign powers. ... See Occident (movement) for the French political movement. ... Chiang Kai-shek (October 31, 1887–April 5, 1975) was a Chinese military and political leader who assumed the leadership of the Kuomintang (KMT) after the 1925 death of Sun Yat-sen. ...

• Blue: Garrisoned by NRA troops
• Red: Garrisoned by IJA troops
• Green: Foreign concessions

Using the Marco Polo Bridge Incident as the pretext, Japan launched an invasion of China on 7 July 1937. As the Imperial Japanese Army swept down from the north, fighting between Chinese and Japanese forces started in Shanghai on 13 August. Despite having logistical problems, inferior training, and a lack of air and artillery support, the Chinese held on to Shanghai City, much of it reduced to ruins. The Japanese, however, did not attack the foreign concessions and remained on peaceable terms, though there was pressure on both sides. They would not occupy the concessions until four years later, following Japan's decision to go to war with the Allies. Image File history File links Sihangmap. ... Image File history File links Sihangmap. ... The National Revolutionary Army (NRA) (Chinese: 國民革命軍; pinyin: guo2 min2 ge2 ming4 jun1) was the national army of the Republic of China. ... The Imperial Japanese Army (: 大日本帝國陸軍 Shinjitai: 大日本帝国陸軍 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) was the official ground based armed force of Japan from 1867 to 1945 when it was Imperial Japan. ... The Marco Polo Bridge Incident (盧溝橋事變; also known as 七七事變, 七七盧溝橋事變) was a battle between Japans Imperial Army and Chinas National Revolutionary Army, marking the beginning of the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). ... July 7 is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 177 days remaining. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Imperial Japanese Army (: 大日本帝國陸軍 Shinjitai: 大日本帝国陸軍 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) was the official ground based armed force of Japan from 1867 to 1945 when it was Imperial Japan. ... August 13 is the 225th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (226th in leap years), with 140 days remaining. ... Military logistics is the art and science of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of military forces. ... Military education and training is a process which intends to establish and improve the capabilities of military personnel. ... Close air support (often abbreviated CAS) is the use of military aircraft in a ground attack role against targets in close proximity to friendly troops, in support of ground combat operations. ... USS Iowa (BB-61) fires a full broadside of nine 16/50 and six 5/38 guns during a target exercise near Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, 1 July 1984. ... Combined arms is an approach to warfare which seeks to integrate different arms of a military to achieve mutually complementary effects. ... The group of countries known as the Allies of World War II consisted of those nations opposed to the Axis Powers during the Second World War. ...

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 (顾祝同), acting commander of the 3rd Military Region, to leave the 88th Division behind to buy time and canvass international support by showing the other powers of the Nine Powers, convening on 6 November, China's determination to resist the Japanese war of aggression.^[1] Gu was personally attached to the 88th and unwilling to leave the division behind, as he was the commander of the 2nd Division, which became the 88th after reorganisation. He telegraphed the 88th's divisional commander Sun Yuanliang (孙元良), who vehemently opposed this plan and sent his chief of staff Zhang Boting (张柏亭) to Gu's Headquarters, about 20 km from the frontlines, to argue against it. October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Shanghai district map highlighting Zhabei Zhabei District of Shanghai has a land area of 29. ... A generalissimo is a commissioned officer of the highest rank; the word is often translated as Supreme Commander or Commander in Chief. It is an Italian superlative substantive, which grammatically would actually be disallowed in Italian (superlatives can be made with adjectives only). ... Chiang Kai-shek (October 31, 1887–April 5, 1975) was a Chinese military and political leader who assumed the leadership of the Kuomintang (KMT) after the 1925 death of Sun Yat-sen. ... Gu Zhutong(顾祝同)(1893～1987) Courtesy name:Moshan(墨山) Gu Zhutong was born in Lianshui,located in Jiangsu. ... The 88th Division (Traditional Chinese: 第八十八師; Simplified Chinese: 第八十八师; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ti-pa Shih-pa Shih) was a German-trained reorganised division in the National Revolutionary Army. ... Signed by the US, France, Great Britain, Japan, Italy, Belgium, China, Netherlands, and Portugal. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... Preceding and during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Republic of China government sought German assistance in modernizing its National Revolutionary Army. ... Telegraphy (from the Greek words tele = far away and grapho = write) is the long distance transmission of written messages without physical transport of letters, originally over wire. ... Sun Yuanliang (Traditional Chinese: 孫元良; Pinyin: SÅ«n Yúanlíang) (1904 - ) is a general of the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China. ... The chief of staff is the chief aide to the commander of larger military formations and units. ...

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, "It would achieve the same purpose no matter how many people we sacrifice."^[2] He proposed that a single regiment be left behind to defend one or two fortified positions, and Gu approved the plan. Zhang returned to the 88th's divisional headquarters at Sihang Warehouse. Back at the headquarters, Sun decided that even a regiment would be a terrible waste of lives and decided on a single over-strength battalion instead. Xie Jinyuan, a relatively new commander to the 88th Division, volunteered to lead the battalion. Table of Fortification, from the 1728 Cyclopaedia. ... Xie Jinyuan and 3 of his subordinates. ...

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,^[3] but agreed to do so after being shown Sun's orders for the 1st Battalion to defend Sihang Warehouse. October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ... Yang Ruifu (Traditional Chinese: 楊瑞符; Simplified Chinese: 杨瑞符), courtesy name Jieqing, was a Chinese military officer. ...

The warehouse, known also as the Chinese Mint Godown by those from the concessions, is a six-story concrete building situated in Zhabei District north of Suzhou Creek, at the north-western edge of New Lese Bridge (now North Tibet Road Bridge). Built jointly by four banks — hence the name Sihang (literally, Four Banks) — in 1931, it sits on a 0.3-acre (0.12 ha) plot of land, with an area of 20,700 square metres (222,800 sq ft), 64 metres (210 ft) wide by 54 metres (177 ft) long, and 25 metres (82 ft) high, making it one of the tallest buildings in the area. The warehouse, used as the divisional headquarters of the 88th Division prior to the battle, was stocked with food, first aid equipment, shells and ammunition. Zhabei district of Shanghai has a land area of 29. ... Suzhou Creek (Chinese: 苏州河; Pinyin: SÅ«zhōu Hé; Wade-Giles: Su-chou-ho; literally Suzhou River) is a river in China that passes through the Shanghai city centre. ... An acre is an English unit of area, which is also frequently used in the United States and some Commonwealth countries. ... A hectare (symbol ha) is a unit of area, equal to 10,000 square meters, commonly used for measuring land area. ... A square foot is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 foot long. ... This article is about a foot as a unit of length. ... The metre, or meter (US), is a measure of length. ... First aid is a series of simple, life-saving medical techniques that a non-doctor or layman can be trained to perform. ... A shell is a projectile, which, as opposed to a bullet, is not solid but contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage includes large projectiles without a filling which are properly termed shot. ... Boxes of ammunition clog a warehouse in Baghdad Ammunition is a generic military term meaning (the assembly of) a projectile and its propellant. ...

Xie Jinyuan

Image File history File links Xiejinyuan_portrait. ... Image File history File links Xiejinyuan_portrait. ... Xie Jinyuan and 3 of his subordinates. ...

Order of battle and equipment

National Revolutionary Army

• 524th Regiment, 88th Division - Regimental commander, Army Lieutenant Colonel Xie Jinyuan

• Regimental commander, Army Major Shangguan Zhibiao (上官志标)

• 1st Battalion, 524th Regiment - Battalion Commander, Army Major Yang Ruifu (杨瑞符)

• 1st Company, 1st Battalion - Company commander, Army Captain Tao Xingchun (陶杏春)
• 2nd Company, 1st Battalion - Company commander, Army Captain Deng Ying (邓英)
• 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, it was technically an over-strength battalion, but casualties suffered over the course of the war made it actually below strength, at 423 men, including officers. As a further reduction in strength, only 414 were present during the battle. Some sources give 453 as the paper strength of the battalion, and due to the confusion of the general retreat, it is possible some groups failed to make it to the battle. Two months of intense fighting had also whittled down the original German-trained troops, and after five reinforcements, the majority of soldiers and officers in the battalion were garrison troops from the surrounding provinces.^[4] Most of the men were from the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment of the Hubei Provincial Garrison. Hubei also did not want to send its well-trained troops, built over a decade to fight against the Chinese Communists, to Shanghai. Thus ultimately 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.^[2] Though the 1st Battalion was not the only battalion in the 524th, it was by far the most famous after the battle. Eventually the 1st came to be equated with the 524th, even within official documents of the period. In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... Major is a military rank denoting an officer of mid-level command status. ... July 7 is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 177 days remaining. ...

Defenders with M1935 helmets and ZB vz.26 Light machine guns

The regiment was assigned used equipment from the front-line troops of the 88th. Photos and records show that every soldier was issued a rifle, likely a Gewehr 88 or Gewehr 98, 300 rounds of 8 mm Mauser, two crates of grenades, a German-made M1935 helmet, a gas mask, and food pouch.^[3] There were a total of 27 light machine guns, mostly of the 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 regiment — a mortar platoon assigned to them was never mentioned by participants of the battle, and was therefore unlikely to have joined the battle.^[2] ImageMetadata File history File links Sihang_defenders. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Sihang_defenders. ... German Stahlhelme from the Second World War Stahlhelm (plural, Stahlhelme) is German for steel helmet. ... The ZB vz. ... The M249 SAW, one of the most popular 5. ... A rifle is a firearm with a stock and a barrel that has a spiral groove or grooves (rifling) cut into its interior. ... The Gewehr 88 was a German rifle adopted in 1888. ... Mauser Model 98 The Gewehr 98 was the standard German infantry rifle from 1898 to 1935, when the Karabiner 98k replaced it. ... The 8mm Mauser cartridge next to a United States nickel. ... Grenade may refer to: The well-known hand grenade commonly used by soldiers. ... German Stahlhelm from the Second World War Stahlhelm is German for steel helmet. ... Belgian 1930s era L.702 model civilian mask A gas mask is a mask worn on the face to protect the body from airborne pollutants and toxic materials. ... The M249 SAW, one of the most popular 5. ... The ZB vz. ... An early Maxim gun in operation with the Royal Navy A 1895 . ... US soldier loading a M224 60-mm mortar. ...

Imperial Japanese Army

• Shanghai Expeditionary Force - General Iwane Matsui

• 3rd Division

The Japanese had access to armoured vehicles, likely Type 94 Te-Ke tankettes, and also Type 89 mortar teams. Japanese infantry used the Arisaka Type 38 Rifle. A General is an officer of high military rank. ... General Iwane Matsui (松井 石根 Matsui Iwane, July 27, 1878 - December 23, 1948) was the commanding officer of the Japanese expeditionary force responsible for the Nanjing Massacre in 1937. ... An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is a military vehicle, equipped with protection against hostile attacks and often mounted weapons. ... The Type 94 Te-Ke was a Japanese tankette which entered service in 1935. ... Polish TK-3 A tankette was a type of small armoured fighting vehicle resembling a tank, intended for infantry support or reconnaissance. ... Arisaka is a family of Japanese military bolt-action rifles, in production from approximately 1898 until the end of World War II in 1945. ... The Type 38 Rifle Arisaka (三八式歩兵銃 Sanpachi-shiki hoheijyuu) was a bolt-action rifle. ...

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

Image File history File links Shanghai_North_Railway_Station. ... Image File history File links Shanghai_North_Railway_Station. ...

27 October

The various companies of the 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 defence 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.^[1]

In 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 would later play 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 the British soldier throwing a pack of cigarettes into the warehouse. She 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. Yang Huimin 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.^[5] The Girl Guides (known as Girl Scouts of the USA in the United States) is the largest intenational youth organisation for girls and young women. ... Yang Huimin (Traditional Chinese: 楊惠敏; Simplified Chinese: 杨惠敏) was a girl guide during the battle of Shanghai who supplied a Republic of China flag and brought supplies to besieged defenders of the Sihang Warehouse. ... A lit cigarette will burn to ash on one end. ... Lubricants are an essential part of modern machinery. ... Chambers of commerce are business advocacy groups which are usually not associated with government. ...

Defenders in position on the roof of the warehouse

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.^[3] Xie noted that the fortifications built by the Nationalist Army before the war in preparation against a European attack from the foreign concessions could be used by the Japanese against the warehouse. Therefore, he rigged these fortifications with explosives in case the Japanese tried to occupy them. ImageMetadata File history File links Sihang_roof. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Sihang_roof. ... Bank of Communications HKEx: 3328 (Simplified Chinese: 交通银行, traditional Chinese: 交通銀行) Founded in 1908 (the 34th year of the Guangxu reign period, Qing Dynasty), the Bank of Communications emerged as one of the first few major national and note-issuing banks in China in the early days, and was chartered as the...

Makeshift defences were constructed from sandbags and the sacks of corn, beans, and other merchandise stocked within the warehouse. The electric lights in the warehouse were destroyed, and some of the immediate surrounding buildings were razed to clear a killing field. In military science, a killing field is a field of fire, usually covered by machine guns in modern warfare. ...

By 7 a.m. the Japanese 3rd Division had moved to the Shanghai North Railway Station, and by 1 p.m. they had reached the general vicinity of the warehouse. A dozen Japanese soldiers tried to secure the rigged fortifications and were promptly killed. 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. A short while after, a Japanese company attacked the warehouse from the west, and 3rd Company commander Shi Meihao was shot in the face but continued to command the defence 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, and some Chinese troops climbed on the roof and threw grenades down at the Japanese. They reported seven Japanese killed and about twenty wounded.^[3][6] Having failed their first assault, the Japanese set fire to the north-west section of the warehouse, which stored fuel and wood. It was put out by 5 p.m. In their wake the Japanese looted and burned Zhabei. The term blind spot has several meanings. ... Arsonists redirects here. ... Firefighter with an axe A firefighter, sometimes still called a fireman though women have increasingly joined firefighting units, is a person who is trained and equipped to put out fires, rescue people and in some areas provide emergency medical services. ...

At 9 p.m. Yang Ruifu concluded that there would be no more Japanese attacks for the day, and ordered meals to be prepared and fortifications repaired. Two defenders were killed and four wounded on this day.

28 October

The defenders rushed to construct fortifications during the night; nobody was given any sleep. In the morning Xie called with the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, whose telephone number was provided by Yang Huimin.^[5]

British officers watching the battle at Sihang Warehouse

The location of the warehouse, chosen mainly for its sturdy structure and availability (already a divisional headquarters), turned out to be a fortunate one for the defenders. It was across the foreign concessions in Shanghai, and the Japanese did not dare to call artillery strikes on the area, since a stray shot might land in the concessions and provoke an incident with the Europeans and Americans, whom the Japanese wanted to keep out of the war. Moreover, the Japanese dared not use mustard gas here as they did elsewhere in Shanghai, in full view of the foreign powers. Image File history File links Brits_watching_Sihang. ... Image File history File links Brits_watching_Sihang. ... A concession is a territory within one country that is administered by another country. ... Airborne exposure limit 0. ...

At 7 a.m. a flight of Japanese bombers circled the warehouse, but did not drop any bombs in fear of hitting the concessions. After anti-aircraft fire by the defenders, they flew away from the battle. American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging military aircraft in combat from the ground. ...

At 8 a.m. Xie gave a pep talk to the defenders and inspected the defences 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 kilometre (1,100 yd) away. Xie grabbed a rifle and shot; one of them promptly fell.^[3] km redirects here. ... This article is about the unit of measure known as the yard. ...

West side of the Sihang Warehouse, riddled with bullet and artillery holes. The New Lese Bridge is to the right of main building.

It started to drizzle around 3 p.m., and the fire and screen of smoke around the warehouse were gradually extinguished. The Japanese launched another major attack concentrated in the west, occupying the Bank of Communications building, and deployed cannons to the north of the warehouse. The cannons were unable to damage the thickly sandbagged walls of the warehouse, and Japanese troops in the bank building were easily suppressed by the defenders on the roof of the warehouse, who had a higher vantage point. After two hours the Japanese gave up the attack, but managed to cut electricity and water to the warehouse. Image File history File links Sihang_bullet-ridden. ... Image File history File links Sihang_bullet-ridden. ... A sandbag is typically used in flood control, but the exact use can vary. ... Suppressive fire is a military term for firing weapons at the enemy with the goals of forcing them to take cover and reduce his ability to return fire, such as when attacking an enemy position. ... Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ...

Some time in the day, a small group of Chinese soldiers led by regimental commander Shangguan Zhibiao and battalion field surgeon Tang Pinzi (汤聘梓) arrived and joined the battle. Surgeon may refer to: a practitioner of surgery the moniker of British electronic music producer and DJ, Anthony Child; see Surgeon (musician) This is a disambiguation page—a list of articles associated with the same title. ...

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 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.^[5] At night the trucks drove near the warehouse, and the defenders constructed a sandbag wall to the trucks, and then dragged the supplies into the warehouse. The unloading of supplies took four hours, and three soldiers were killed by Japanese fire. The defenders received food, fruits, clothing, utensils and letters from the citizens. A couple of journalists arrived at the scene, but the commanding officers were busy, and the journalists ended up only meeting Lei Xiong, the Machine Gun Company commander. Journalism is a discipline of collecting, analyzing, verifying, and presenting news regarding current events, trends, issues and people. ...

Yang Huimin with the ROC flag

Xie arranged with the British officers, via the Chamber of Commerce, to transport around ten wounded soldiers from the battle. The British agreed, and the wounded were carried off under the cover of darkness. ImageMetadata File history File links Sihang_scout. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Sihang_scout. ...

The same night, the Chamber of Commerce decided to send the soldiers a flag of the Republic of China.^[5][7] 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. Y National flag. ...