Battle of Kunlun Pass

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Kunlun Pass
partof= the Battle of South Guangxi


caption=
date=18 December, 1939 – 11 January, 1940
place=Suburbs of Nanning, Guangxi
casus=
territory=
result=Decisive Chinese victory
combatant1=flagicon|Republic of China National Revolutionary Army, China
combatant2=flagicon|Japan Imperial Japanese Army, Japan
commander1= flagicon|Republic of China Du Yuming
commander2= flagicon|Japan Masao Nakamura
strength1= 5th corps,40,000
strength2= 21st Brigade, 5th division
casualties1=23,000 killed or wounded
casualties2= 8000 men

The Battle of Kunlun Pass (zh-tsp|t=崑崙關戰役|s=昆仑关战役|p=Kūnlúnguān Zhàngyì) was series of battles between the Japanese and the Chinese in contention for Kunlun Pass.

The Battle

The Imperial Japanese army launched a major offensive into Guangxi province, with the objective to cut off Chinese supply route from French-controlled Vietnam, the elite Japanese 5th division spearheaded the Japanese offensive. After occupying Nanning in November 1939, they captured the key point of Kunlun pass, and threatened the Chinese rear base that protected Chungking, the wartime capital. Realizing the danger of been isolated from outside world and impossible to receive more aid if the Japanese troops were not repulsed, General Bai Chongxi, himself a native of Guangxi asked the Nationalist Government to sent reinforcement, Chiang Kai Shek in turn dispatched the 5th corps from Hunan province to come and fight the Japanese.

The 5th corps is the most elite unit in the NRA, and it is also the only Chinese unit that had tanks and armored vehicles. Its soldiers were combat-hardened veterans from previous battles against the Japanese troops and morale were high. General Du Yuming, commander of the 5th corps, dispatched two divisions to attacked the Japanese-held Kunlun Pass, and the New 22nd Division cut off Japanese reinforcement from the rear,and killing the Japanese commander, major general Masao Nakamura. The most elite unit of the Japanese 5th division, the 21st Brigade, were wiped out in the Battle. The Brigade had participated the Russo-Japanese War, and was nicknamed the unbreakable sword, but before General Nakamura's death, he admitted in his diary that Chinese soldiers' fighting ability had surpassed the Russians that the Brigade encounter in Manchuria.

The Order of Battle

Chinese

* 5th Corps
** 200th Division
** 1st Honor Division
** New 22nd Division

Japanese

* 21st Brigade / 5th Division
** 21st Infantry Regiment
** 42nd Infantry Regiment
* Cavalry Regiment / 5th Division
* 5th Artillery Regiment / 5th Division
* Two Regiments / Taiwan Mixed Brigade

External links

* [http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=124083&start=95 Japanese Map and translation of a battle account of the Battle of Kunlun Pass from Senshi Sosho and a translation of a Chinese battle account] Topographic Maps
* [http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/china/txu-oclc-10552568-nf49-1.jpgLai-pin NF49-1]
* [http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/china/txu-oclc-10552568-nf49-5.jpgNanning NF49-5]