View source for Battle of Shanghai

{{Short description|1937 battle of the Second Sino-Japanese War}}
{{about|the 1937 battle|the 1932 Japanese attack on Shanghai|January 28 incident|other uses}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Battle of Shanghai
| partof            = the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]] and the [[interwar period]]
| image             = {{Multiple image |total_width=300 |border=infobox |perrow=2/2
 | image1 = Shanghai1937KMT machine gun nest.jpg
 | image3 = Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces in Battle of Shanghai 1937.jpg
 | image4 = Jiangyinships.jpg
 | image5 = Sihangwarehouseburning.jpg
 | footer = Clockwise: {{flatlist|class=inline|
* [[National Revolutionary Army|Chinese army]] with [[ZB vz. 26]] in [[fighting position]]
* Troops of the Japanese [[Special Naval Landing Forces|SNLF]] in gas masks prepare for an advance in street
* [[Defense of Sihang Warehouse|Sihang Warehouse]] in fire
* Scuttled ships in the [[Yangtze]] near [[Jiangyin]]
}}
}}
| caption           = 
| date              = August 13, 1937 – November 26, 1937<br />({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=08|day1=13|year1=1937|month2=11|day2=26|year2=1937}})
| place             = [[Shanghai|Shanghai city]] in the [[Nationalist government|Republic of China]]
| result            = {{ubl|Japanese victory}}
* Shanghai heavily damaged
| territory         = Japanese capture of Shanghai (excluding the [[Shanghai International Settlement]] and the [[Shanghai French Concession]])
| coordinates       = {{coord|31.2323|N|121.4690|E|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:AU|display=title}}
| combatant1        = {{flag|Republic of China (1912–1949)|name=China}}
| combatant2        = {{flag|Empire of Japan|name=Japan}}
| commander1        = {{plainlist|
* {{flagicon|Republic of China (1912–1949)|army}} [[Chiang Kai-shek]]
* {{flagicon|Republic of China (1912–1949)|army}} [[Chen Cheng]]
* {{flagicon|Republic of China (1912–1949)|army}} [[Zhang Zhizhong]]
* {{flagicon|Republic of China (1912–1949)|army}} [[Feng Yuxiang]]
* {{flagicon|Republic of China (1912–1949)|navy}} [[Chen Shaokuan]]
}}
| commander2        = {{plainlist|
* {{flagicon|Empire of Japan|army}} [[Heisuke Yanagawa]]
* {{flagicon|Empire of Japan|army}} [[Iwane Matsui]]
* {{flagicon|Empire of Japan|naval}} [[Kiyoshi Hasegawa (admiral)|Kiyoshi Hasegawa]]
}}
| units1            = {{flagdeco|Republic of China (1912–1949)|army}} [[National Revolutionary Army]]<br />{{flagdeco|Republic of China (1912–1949)|navy}} [[Republic of China Navy]]
| units2            = {{Army|Empire of Japan}}<br />{{Navy|Empire of Japan}}
| strength1         = {{unbulleted list|
* 700,000 troops<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=Dick |title=When Tigers Fight: The Story of the Sino-Japanese War, 1937–1945| url=https://archive.org/details/whentigersfights00wils/mode/1up| publisher=Viking Books |year=1982 |isbn= 978-0-670-76003-9|page=36 |language=en}}</ref>
* 70 divisions
* 7 brigades
* 180 aircraft
* 70 tanks
}}
| strength2         = {{unbulleted list|
* 300,000 troops<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=Dick |title=When Tigers Fight: The Story of the Sino-Japanese War, 1937–1945| url=https://archive.org/details/whentigersfights00wils/mode/1up| publisher=Viking Books |year=1982 |isbn=978-0-670-76003-9|page=36 |language=en}}</ref> 
* 9 divisions 
* 1 brigade 
* 500 aircraft 
* 300 tanks
* 130 naval ships
}}
| casualties1       = '''Chinese Report dated November 5, 1937, to the War Council:''' 187,200 killed and wounded<ref>{{cite book |last= Harmsen|first= Peter|date= 2013|title= Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze|publisher= Casemate|page= 247}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Mitter|first= Rana|date= 2013|title= Forgotten Ally: China's World War Two: 1937–1945|publisher= Houghton Mifflin Harcourt|page= 106}}</ref>{{sfn|Lai|2017|p=87}}<br/>'''Chinese Ministry of Military Affairs:''' roughly 300,000 casualties<ref name="軍政部">國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，鄂豫會戰計畫下冊，典藏號：002-080103-00034-005 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5606424XNaCpIS#gVD4]</ref><br/>'''Japanese Estimate:''' 250,000 killed and wounded<ref>{{cite book |last= Harmsen|first= Peter|date= 2013|title= Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze|publisher= Casemate|page= 247}}</ref>
| casualties2       = '''Official Japanese war records''': 47,000+ (42,202+ including at least 11,072 killed in action before November 8. After that, there is additional 4,785 casualties for the 9th division alone before December 1); this figure does not include the sick, the repatriated and those who died because of injuries{{sfn|Lai|2017|p=88}}<br /><ref>{{cite book |script-title=ja:南京戦史 |publisher=Asagumo Shimbunsha |language = ja |pages = 306–307 |year=1966 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |trans-title=[[Senshi Sōsho]] |script-title = ja:戦史叢書 |publisher = Asagumo Shimbunsha |language= ja |volume=2 |year=1966 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Ikuhiko|first= Hata|date= 1986|title= Nankyo jihen|publisher= Chuo koronsha|page= 93}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Mitter|first= Rana|date= 2013|title= Forgotten Ally: China's World War Two: 1937–1945|publisher= Houghton Mifflin Harcourt|page= 126}}</ref><br/>
'''2017 Western Estimate''': 18,800 combat killed ({{circa|17,000}} plus about 1,800 illness-induced deaths), 35,000–40,000 wounded, and 40,000 sick, KIA figure seconded by General [[Iwane Matsui]]'s Speech in 1938{{sfn|Lai|2017|p=88}}<br />
'''Official Japanese newspapers''': <br>
Imperial Japanese Army from August 23 until November 12, 1937 : 19,164 dead from all causes<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/94197123|title=淞沪会战中，日军到底死了多少人？|access-date=2025-01-07|archive-date=2022-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042448/https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/94197123|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.zhihu.com/question/268004133/answer/1046352624 |title=淞沪会战是抗战中打的最惨烈的战役吗？|access-date=2025-01-07}}</ref><br>
* Killed in action: 14,960
* Died of wounds: 2,736
* Died of illnesses: 1,464
* Died from accidents: 4
Imperial Japanese Navy from August 9 until December 17, 1937 : 882 dead from all causes<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.zhihu.com/question/268004133/answer/1194101731 |title=淞沪会战是抗战中打的最惨烈的战役吗？|access-date=2025-01-07}}</ref>
* Killed in action: 837
* Died of illnesses: 22
* Died from accidents: 23
Total August 9 to November 12, 1937 : 18,772<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.zhihu.com/question/656534908/answer/3503873351 |title=淞泸会战中国军队兵力雄厚，虽然坚持了3个月，但与日军战损比6.6:1。国军为什么惨败？|access-date=2025-01-07}}</ref> or 18,786<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/696480934|title=淞沪会战逐日战事（三十三）大幕落下|access-date=2025-01-07|archive-date=2025-01-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109042520/https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/696480934|url-status=dead}}</ref> combat deaths
'''Chinese record''': 98,417+ killed and wounded<ref>{{cite book |script-title = zh:《淞滬會戰：1937年中日813戰役始末》 |language = zh-Hant |last1 = Dai |first1 = Feng |last2 = Zhou |first2 = Ming |publisher = Zhibingtang Publishing |year=2013 |isbn = 9789868950924 |location = [[Taipei City]] |page = 194 }}</ref>
| campaignbox       = {{Campaignbox Second Sino-Japanese War}}
{{Japanese colonial campaigns}}
}}

The '''Battle of Shanghai''' ({{lang-zh|t=淞滬會戰|s=淞沪会战|first=t|p=Sōng hù huìzhàn}}) was a major battle fought between the [[Empire of Japan]] and the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] in the Chinese city of [[Shanghai]] during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]]. It lasted from August 13 to November 26, 1937, and was arguably the single largest and longest battle of the entire war,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wakeman, Jr. |first=Frederic |author-link=Frederic Wakeman |title=The Shanghai Badlands: Wartime Terrorism and Urban Crime, 1937–1941 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1996 |isbn=0-521-49744-2 |edition=1st |location=Cambridge |pages=6 |language=en}}</ref> with it even regarded by some historians as the first battle of [[World War II]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sun |first=Lianggang |title=Shanghai 1937 – Where World War II Began |url=http://www.shanghai1937.tv/ |access-date=2020-11-14 |website=Shanghai, August 13, 1937: Where World War II Started |language=en-US |quote=When did World War II begin? Americans might say December 7, 1941&nbsp;... The day the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. For Europeans, it was September 1, 1939&nbsp;... When Nazi Germany invaded Poland. But in China, people will tell you a different date. August 13, 1937.}}</ref> It resulted in the Japanese capture of Shanghai and heavy destruction to the city.

It was the first of the twenty-two major engagements fought between the [[National Revolutionary Army]] (NRA) of the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] (ROC) and the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] (IJA) of the [[Empire of Japan]] at the beginning of the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]]. The Japanese eventually prevailed after over three months of extensive fighting on land, in the air and at sea. Both sides accused each other of using chemical weapons during the battle, with Japanese forces confirmed to have deployed poison gas at least thirteen times.<ref>{{cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |publisher=Casemate |year=2013 |isbn=978-1612001678 |edition=1st |pages=178–179 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Paine |first=S. C. M. |title=The Wars for Asia, 1911-1949 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2014 |pages=132}}</ref> Historian Peter Harmsen stated that the battle "presaged [[Urban warfare|urban combat]] as it was to be waged not just during the Second World War, but throughout the remainder of the twentieth century" and that it "signalled the totality of modern urban warfare".<ref name=":22">{{Citation |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Armageddon Rehearsed: The Battle of Shanghai, August–November 1937 |date=2020 |work=A History of Modern Urban Operations |pages=33–54 |editor-last=Fremont-Barnes |editor-first=Gregory |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27088-9_2 |access-date=2024-02-24 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-27088-9_2 |isbn=978-3-030-27088-9|url-access=subscription }}</ref> It was the single largest urban battle prior to the [[Battle of Stalingrad]], which occurred almost 5 years later.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rigg |first=Bryan Mark |author-link=Bryan Mark Rigg |title=Japan's Holocaust: History of Imperial Japan's Mass Murder and Rape During World War II |publisher=Knox Press |year=2024 |isbn=9781637586884 |pages=71 |language=en}}</ref>

Since the [[Japanese invasion of Manchuria]] in 1931 followed by the [[January 28 incident|Japanese attack on Shanghai]] in 1932, there had been ongoing armed conflicts between China and Japan without an official declaration of war. These conflicts finally escalated in July 1937, when the [[Marco Polo Bridge Incident]] triggered a full-scale war between the two countries.<ref>{{cite news |date=2018-11-02 |title=Articles published during wartime by former Domei News Agency released online in free-to-access archive |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/11/02/national/history/articles-published-wartime-former-domei-news-agency-released-online-free-access-archive/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604045909/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/11/02/national/history/articles-published-wartime-former-domei-news-agency-released-online-free-access-archive/ |archive-date=2019-06-04 |access-date=2019-06-04 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0447-5763}}</ref> [[Shanghai]] was China's largest and most cosmopolitan city, with it being the world's fifth largest city at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davidson |first=Jason |title=The story of the Royal Ulster Riflemen and the battle of Shanghai |url=https://www.history.co.uk/article/the-story-of-the-royal-ulster-riflemen-and-the-battle-of-shanghai |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=Sky HISTORY TV channel |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":22" /> Shanghai was known as the "Pearl of the Orient" and "Paris of the East", with it being China's main commercial hub and largest port.{{sfn|Lai|2017|p=7}}<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Peck |first=Michael |date=2020-07-30 |title=Asia's Stalingrad: World War II's Battle For Shanghai Was A Hell Like No Other |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/asias-stalingrad-world-war-iis-battle-shanghai-was-hell-no-other-165929 |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=The National Interest |language=en}}</ref> By deliberately initiating a major conflict in Shanghai, it's believed that the Chinese leadership aimed to achieve several objectives: to divert the main Japanese focus to the Yangtze delta, thereby stalling the perceived north-to-south advance of the Japanese army, to give much needed time for the Chinese government to move vital industries to the interior, while at the same time attempting to bring sympathetic [[Western powers]] to China's side, though there is no consensus on whether this strategy was successful.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Su |first=Sheng-hsiung |date=2015 |title=蔣中正對淞滬會戰之戰略再探 |trans-title=Re-visiting Chiang Kai-shek's Strategy for the Battle of Shanghai |url=https://www.airitilibrary.com/Article/Detail/10162933-201512-201601060001-201601060001-61-101 |journal=國史館館刊 |issue=46 |pages=61-101}}</ref><ref>{{cite thesis |last=Whitney |first=Matthew Dwight |title=A Military Analysis of the Battle of Shanghai: 13 August – 8 November 1937 |date=2000 |degree=Master of Arts |publisher=Cornell University |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA378228.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chen |first=Tingxiang |date=2014 |title=Reassessing the Strategic Significance of the Song-Hu Campaign during the Anti-Japanese War |url=https://journal.scu.edu.cn/info/1109/12683.htm |journal=Journal of Sichuan University (Social Science Edition) |volume=192 |issue=03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Greer |first=Tanner |date=2016-04-19 |title=Chiang Kai Shek’s Gamble–Reviewing Shanghai and Nanjing 1937 |url=https://scholars-stage.org/chiang-kai-sheks-gamble-reviewing-shanghai-and-nanjing-1937/ |access-date=2025-08-24 |website=The Scholar's Stage |language=en-US}}</ref> During the fierce three-month battle, the forces of China and Japan fought in downtown Shanghai, in the outlying towns, and on the beaches of the Yangtze River and [[Hangzhou Bay]], where the Japanese had made amphibious landings.

Chinese forces were equipped primarily with small-caliber weapons against much greater Japanese air, naval, and armor power.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hsiung |first=James |title=China's Bitter Victory |publisher=M.E. Sharpe |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-87332-708-4 |location=Armonk |page=143}}</ref> In the end, Shanghai fell, and China lost a significant portion of its best troops, the elite [[List of German-trained divisions of the National Revolutionary Army|Chinese forces trained and equipped by the Germans]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Macgregor |first=Douglas |title=Margin of Victory: Five Battles that Changed the Face of Modern War |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=2016 |isbn=978-1612519968 |pages=92 |language=en}}</ref> while failing to elicit any international intervention. However, the resistance of Chinese forces over three months of battle shocked the Japanese, who believed they could take Shanghai within days and China within months.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Liu |first=Frederick Fu |url=https://archive.org/details/amilitaryhistory0000unse/page/199 |title=A Military History of Modern China, 1924–1949 |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=1956 |pages=199 |language=en}}</ref>

The battle can be divided into three stages, and eventually involved around one million troops. The first stage lasted from August 13 to August 22, 1937, during which the NRA besieged the Japanese Naval Landing Force stationed in Shanghai in bloody urban fighting in an attempt to dislodge them.<ref name=":32">{{Cite journal |last=Paulose |first=James |date=2013 |title=Three Months Of Bloodshed: Strategy And Combat During The Battle Of Shanghai |url=https://athena.westpoint.edu/items/ca1491c1-b912-49e7-9e38-8ec9867d13c4 |journal=Report: West Point Undergraduate Historical Review |volume=3 |issue=2}}</ref> The second stage lasted from August 23 to October 26, 1937, during which the Japanese launched reinforcing amphibious landings on the [[Jiangsu]] coast and the two armies fought a house-to-house battle in the creek country north of Shanghai,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Battle of Shanghai 1937 |url=https://www.pacificatrocities.org/battle-of-shanghai-1937.html |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=Pacific Atrocities Education |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":52">{{Cite web |last=Peck |first=Michael |date=2016-05-30 |title=Shanghai 1937: This Is China's Forgotten Stalingrad |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/shanghai-1937-chinas-forgotten-stalingrad-16396 |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=The National Interest |language=en}}</ref> with the Japanese attempting to gain control of the city and the surrounding regions. The last stage, ranging from October 27 to the end of November 1937, involved the retreat of the Chinese army in the face of Japanese flanking maneuvers, and the ensuing combat on the road to China's capital at the time, [[Nanjing]]. In addition to the urban combat, [[trench warfare]] was also fought in the outskirts of the city.<ref>{{cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |publisher=Casemate |year=2013 |isbn=978-1612001678 |edition=1st |pages=136 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":22" />
[[File:盧溝橋_淞滬上海保衛戰_抗戰真實紀錄影片.ogg|right|thumb|250x250px|Documentary film on Japanese Shanghai invasion. 淞滬會戰]]

== Prelude ==
=== Ōyama Incident ===
[[File:Ohyama_incident.PNG|thumb|Ōyama Incident on August 9, 1937]]
On August 9, Naval Sub-Lieutenant {{nihongo|Isao Ōyama|大山勇夫}}, head of the Western Detachment of the [[Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces]] stationed in Shanghai and his driver, First-Class Seaman Saito Yozo, along with a guard from the Chinese Peace Preservation Corps were found dead around the gate to [[Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport|Hongqiao Airport]] on Monument Road. Several accounts allege Ōyama and his driver were stopped by the Peace Preservation Corps Guard before Ōyama opened fire and killed them. The Sub-Lieutenant and his driver were then subsequently killed in returning fire from other guards at airport.<ref name="Hoyt20012">{{cite book |author=Edwin Palmer Hoyt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xITp5N5hceEC&pg=PA152 |title=Japan's War: The Great Pacific Conflict |date=January 2001 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-8154-1118-5 |pages=152–}}</ref> 

However, Ōyama was unarmed at the time of the shooting, having left his sidearm at the headquarters. Historian Peter Harmsen purported the so-called shootout to in fact be a staged scene to coverup the killing of the two Japanese naval personnel by Chinese soldiers masquerading as Peace Preservation Corps.<ref>{{cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=61–63}}</ref>

It is still unknown whether Ōyama attempted to enter the military airport under higher orders. The incident heightened the tensions between the Chinese and Japanese forces in Shanghai. On August 10, 1937, the Japanese Consul General demanded that the Chinese withdraw the Peace Preservation Corps and dismantle their defense works around the city. He also made it clear that the Imperial Japanese Army regarded the shooting of a Japanese officer as humiliating, and that any further incident would escalate the situation. In response to the incident, the Japanese began sending in reinforcements to Shanghai. Facing the increasing Japanese military presence in Shanghai, Chinese troops were also being deployed to the Shanghai area beginning on August 11.

=== Final efforts at negotiation ===
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2018}}
On August 1, 1937, representatives from the United Kingdom, France, United States and Italy along with Japan and China participated in the joint conference held in Shanghai to discuss the ceasefire terms. Japan demanded the withdrawal of Chinese troops from Shanghai, while the Chinese representative [[Yu Hung-chun]] dismissed the Japanese demand, stating that the terms of ceasefire have already been violated by Japan. The major powers did not wish to see another [[January 28 Incident]], which greatly disrupted foreign economic activities in Shanghai. On the other hand, Chinese citizens feverishly welcomed the presence of Chinese troops in the city. In Nanjing, Chinese and Japanese representatives met for the last time for final efforts at negotiation. The Japanese demanded that the Chinese withdraw all Peace Preservation Corps from Shanghai and all regular troops from the vicinities of the city. The Chinese insisted that the Japanese demand of a unilateral Chinese withdrawal was unacceptable since the two countries were already fighting a war in North China. At last Mayor Yu made it clear that at most the Chinese government would concede that the Chinese troops would not fire unless fired upon. Japan on the other hand placed all responsibility on China because of Chinese deployment of troops around Shanghai. Negotiation was impossible and there was no alternative other than the spread of war into Central China.

== Order of battle ==
{{Main list|Order of battle of the Battle of Shanghai
}}

== First phase (August 13–22) ==

=== Opening shots ===
[[File:Shanghai1937KMT_preservation_corps.jpg|thumb|Chinese troops of the Peace Preservation Corps manning fortifications in Shanghai]]
Around 9 am on August 13, the Chinese Peace Preservation Corps exchanged small arms fire with Japanese troops in the Zhabei, Wusong, and Jiangwan districts of Shanghai. At about 3 pm the Japanese army crossed over the Bazi Bridge (八字橋) in [[Zhabei]] and attacked various centers in the city.{{Citation needed|reason=The Japanese Army did not arrive in Shanghai until August 23, 1937, so this uncited claim is highly unlikely|date=July 2024}} The [[88th Division (National Revolutionary Army)|88th Division]] retaliated with [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] attacks. Sporadic shooting continued through the day until 4 pm, when Japanese headquarters ordered ships of the Third Fleet stationed in the [[Yangtze]] and the [[Huangpu River]] to open fire on Chinese positions in the city. Late that night, Chiang Kai-shek ordered Zhang Zhizhong to begin Chinese offensive operations the next day. The next morning the [[Republic of China Air Force]] (ROCAF) began bombing various Japanese targets and Chinese ground forces attacked at 3 pm. On the same day, August 14, 1937,  the Chinese government issued the Proclamation of Self-Defense and War of Resistance (自衛抗戰聲明書), explaining the government's resolution against Japanese aggression. The Battle of Shanghai had officially begun.

Chiang's initial plan was to have the numerically superior Chinese forces attack the Japanese by surprise and push them into the Huangpu River using ''[[Stormtroopers (Imperial Germany)|Entscheidungsschlacht]]'' tactics recommended by his German advisor [[Alexander von Falkenhausen]]. His troops were then to [[blockade]] the coast to deny the Japanese the opportunity to land reinforcements at the Huangpu [[wharves]] between [[Yangshupu]] and [[Hongkou]],. The 88th Division was to attack Japanese army headquarters near [[Zhabei]], and the 87th Division was to attack the reinforced Kung-ta Textile Mill, where the Japanese naval command was located.
[[File:Japanese artillery shelling from the buildings' rooftops.jpg|thumb|Japanese artillery positions atop a roof.]]
The Japanese strongholds in the Hongkou salient were heavily fortified with thick concrete, barbed wire, sandbags, and machine guns. Their bunkers and were also resistant to 150mm [[howitzers]], the only heavy weapons the Chinese possessed. Zhang estimated it would take one week to achieve these objectives; however, the operation ran into trouble when his troops were fought to a standstill just outside the [[Shanghai International Settlement]].

=== First attacks ===
[[File:Shanghai1937city bazi bridge.jpg|thumb|Chinese troops on the Bazi Bridge, where fierce fighting occurred in the early days of the battle.]]
On the late afternoon of August 14, 1937, the Chinese 88th Division attacked Japanese positions in downtown Shanghai, but was halted by direct fire from the entrenched Japanese and heavy bombardments from the Japanese [[Third Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)|Third Fleet]] moored in the [[Huangpu River|Huangpu]]. Chinese artillery was also positioned too far in the rear, with inexperienced crews and poor communication from their observers preventing effective Chinese artillery support in the fighting.<ref name=":11">{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937, Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=51–53}}</ref> Chinese troops could only advance, under the cover of [[machine gun]] fire, by getting close enough to the emplacements to kill those within with hand [[grenade]]s. The Chinese advance was greatly slowed and the element of surprise was lost.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=War in the Far East. Volume 1: Storm clouds over the Pacific, 1931–1941 |date=2018 |publisher=Casemate |isbn=978-1-61200-480-8 |location=Philadelphia Oxford |pages=105–109}}</ref>
[[File:NH 78376.jpg|thumb|Heavy smoke rises from Pudong, as seen from [[The Bund]]. August 14, 1937. ]]
As a result, the Chinese suffered heavy losses in the first attack, with over a thousand casualties including brigade commander Huang Meixing who was killed when an artillery shell destroyed his position near the Bazi Bridge. By nightfall, Chiang ordered Zhang Zhizhong to pause the assault.<ref name=":11" /> The Japanese SNLF had suffered roughly a hundred casualties including twenty-seven dead.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=淞沪会战战史文字版 |url=https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/10074504969 |access-date=February 28, 2025}}</ref>

=== Operation Iron Fist ===
On August 15, 1937,  Chiang convened with his divisional staff to organize a second assault on the Japanese defenses, this time with greater firepower and preparation. The Chinese divisions were to use German ''[[Stormtroopers (Imperial Germany)|Stosstrupp]]'' shock tactics, advancing immediately after an intense artillery barrage to break through Japanese lines and fight their way deep behind enemy positions before the defenders could recover.<ref name=":13">{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937, Stalingrad on the Yangzte |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=71–75}}</ref>

Since their forces lacked adequate heavy weapons to destroy the Japanese bunkers directly, the Chinese command decided to use encirclement tactics. To this end, Zhang Zhizhong instructed his troops to take the streets surrounding the Japanese strongholds, avoiding costly frontal attacks on heavily fortified positions.<ref name=":13" />
[[File:Shanghai1937KMT charge.jpg|thumb|Chinese troops mount a charge past a machine gun crew.]]
In the morning of the 16th, the 88th and 87th Divisions launched ''Iron Fist,'' first intensely shelling the Japanese positions and then charging with infantry. In line with Zhang's tactics, every time a street was successfully cleared, the Chinese would construct sandbag blockades and gradually surround each Japanese stronghold, closing off all possible routes of escape. The tactic was successful at first and the Chinese were able to destroy several emplacements and outposts on the first day.<ref name=":13" />

Upon several successful penetrations near the Sajing Port and Guangzhong Road, the Japanese countered by deploying several [[tank]]s and armored cars in the streets, enabling them to blunt and eventually halt the Chinese attacks. At the Baji Bridge, the Chinese 88th Division suffered high casualties in a seesaw battle against Japanese armor units, which had flanked their positions from multiple directions.<ref name=":13" />
[[File:Shanghai1937KMT_intersection.jpg|thumb|Troops of the elite 88th Division guarding an intersection in downtown Shanghai]]
The Japanese then shifted their attack to the Chinese positions in the Patriotic Girls School and Guangzhong Road. However, the 88th Division defending the road possessed anti-tank guns, and successfully held their positions against the Japanese counterattack, destroying or damaging three Japanese tanks. After several hours of intense fighting, the Japanese assault on Guangzhong Road had been repelled with some 200 SNLF casualties, including 83 killed.<ref name=":12" />

In spite of the fierce fighting and heavy casualties, the Chinese were unable to make a major breakthrough because of ineffective coordination between infantry and artillery, poor reconnaissance, and the relentless shelling from Japanese ships on the Huangpu River. The Chinese were further hampered by their reluctance to fight inside the International Settlement so as to not alienate international opinion, which prevented potential flanking maneuvers against weaker points in the Japanese line.<ref name=":13" />

By August 18, 1937, the Chinese attack had been called off. ''Iron Fist'' had proved a costly affair for the Chinese, who had endured heavy casualties in the vicious urban fighting.<ref name=":13" /> The Japanese had suffered some 600 casualties in the fighting, of which 134 were fatalities according to the Official Gazette.<ref name=":0" />

=== Urban fighting ===
On August 18, 1937, another 1,400 Japanese marines were shipped in to Shanghai from Manchuria, bolstering the ranks of the Japanese Shanghai SNLF. On the same day, Chinese General [[Chen Cheng]] reached the front lines to discuss the situation with Zhang Zhizhong. Due to the attrition sustained by the forces present, the Chinese commanders decided to send the newly arrived German-trained 36th Division into the attack. Half the division was ordered to attack towards the Hueishan (匯山) docks on the northern side of the Huangpu River, which would cut the Japanese forces in two. The plan entailed fighting through five heavily defended intersections; heavy casualties were expected.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937, Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=81–82}}</ref>

On August 19, two regiments of the 36th Division began their assault towards the wharf, enduring withering fire from Japanese defenders positioned on the roofs and upper floors of the buildings lining the streets. The Chinese were also subject to fierce bombardments from the Japanese Third Fleet anchored in the Huangpu.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937, Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=82–84}}</ref> 
[[File:Japanese cruiser Izumo in Shanghai.jpg|thumb|The Japanese flagship Izumo moored in the Huangpu, before the Bund.]]
At this point, the Chinese decided to deploy British-made [[Vickers 6-ton|Vickers]] 6-ton tanks to assist their troops in the assault. However, the Chinese were insufficiently trained in coordinating infantry-tank tactics, and the troops were unable to keep up with the tanks. Without sufficient infantry to protect them, the tanks were vulnerable to Japanese [[anti-tank weapon]]s and artillery in the close quarters, and became useless when they entered the city center.<ref name=":1" /> The few troops who did manage to keep up with the tanks through the city blocks were then trapped by Japanese blockades and cut down by [[flamethrower]]s and intense machine gun fire.<ref name=":0" /> 

At the intersection of Zhoushan Road and Kunming Road, the Japanese SNLFs utilized fortifications and high-rise buildings to resist the attacking 212th regiment. Chinese soldiers had to use the bodies of the dead as cover to advance. The commander of the assault battalion was wounded, and brigade commander Chen Ruihe (陳瑞河) went to lead from the front until he too was seriously injured. The 2nd battalion of the 215th regiment was sent in the reinforce the 212th regiment. Battalion commander Li Zeng (李增) was killed immediately, while 300 soldiers from the battalion rushed into an alleyway to infiltrate the Japanese defenses through the buildings. In response, the SNLF blocked the entrance of the alleyway with two tanks and set the surrounding buildings on fire, killing all 300 men in the inferno.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (三)">{{cite book |title=抗日戰史: 淞滬會戰 (三) | publisher=國防部史政編譯局| date=1966}}</ref>{{rp|p=274}}<ref name="戰鬥詳報">{{cite book |title=陸軍第七十八軍第三十六師京滬抗日戰鬥詳報|date=1937}}</ref>{{rp|p=9}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=White |first=Matthew |date=May 2000 |title=A Military Analysis of the Battle of Shanghai, 13 August  – 8 November  1937 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA378228.pdf |journal=Cornell University |pages=36}}</ref> The Japanese also lost tanks to Chinese anti-tank weapons within the battle's urban confines. 36th Division staff officer Xiong Xinmin saw a Chinese [[suicide bomber]] stop a Japanese tank column by strapping grenades to himself, diving beneath the lead tank and detonating the vest.<ref>{{cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jpPUAgAAQBAJ&q=shanghai+grenade+tanks+japanese&pg=PT127 |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |publisher=Casemate |year=2013 |isbn=978-1612001678 |edition=illustrated |page=112 |access-date=24 April 2014}}</ref>
[[File:Nra tank fighting japanese 1937.jpg|thumb|Japanese SNLF fighting against a Chinese Vickers tank. August 22, 1937.]]
Despite the heavy resistance and at the cost of heavy casualties, the Chinese were able to push the Japanese back. At the same time, the 87th Division had broken through Japanese lines at Yangshupu, and pushed the Japanese back to the Hueishan docks along with the 36th Division.<ref name=":1" /> By August 21, 1937, Chinese tanks had managed to punch through to Broadway, the last street before the Huangpu.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937, Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=88–89}}</ref>

However, the Chinese were unable to finish their breakthrough, as the Japanese had taken position atop the high walls lining the wharf, through which the only entrance was a steel gate impervious to the heaviest Chinese artillery pieces. Chinese soldiers attempting to scale the gate were gunned down by enfilading machine gun fire. The Japanese had also fortified several factories along the riverline, such as the Gong Da Cotton Mill that could withstand Chinese artillery.<ref name=":1" />

While the Chinese had almost succeeded in pushing the Japanese into the Huangpu River, the casualty rate was exceedingly high.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dorn |first=Frank |title=The Sino-Japanese War, 1937-41 |date=1974 |pages=72}}</ref> During the night of August 22 alone, the 36th Division lost more than ninety officers and a thousand troops. By the end of the offensive, the 36th Division had suffered more than 2,000 casualties, many of which were sustained by the relentless shelling from Japanese naval guns.<ref name=":2" /> According to battle reports from the 78th Corps, the 36th Division had suffered 1,344 killed, wounded, or missing from August 19 until August 23, 1937, in the fighting around Yangshupu.<ref name="戰鬥詳報"/>{{rp| pp=10–11}}

The Japanese SNLF had suffered roughly 900 casualties in the fighting including 200 killed, per their own records.<ref name=":0" /> Despite their losses, another wave of reinforcements from Sasebo brought the SNLF garrison's numbers to 6,300 on August 22, 1937<ref name=":1" />[[File:Shanghai1937city_zhabei_fire.jpg|thumb|[[Zhabei]] on fire]]American correspondent [[Edgar Snow]] described the scenes of the battle while observing from the international zone, "It was as though [[Battle of Verdun|Verdun]] had happened on the Seine, in full view of a Right Bank Paris that was neutral; as though a [[Battle of Gettysburg|Gettysburg]] were fought in Harlem, while the rest of Manhattan remained a non-belligerent observer."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Snow |first=Edgar |url=https://www.bannedthought.net/Journalists/Snow-Edgar/TheBattleForAsia-EdgarSnow-1941-OCR-sm.pdf |title=The Battle for Asia |date=1941 |publisher=The World Publishing Company |isbn= |edition= |pages=45 |language=en}}</ref> An eyewitness at the battle stated that it was "no longer a war between armies, but between races. With mounting fury the two giants, like two men who have started a boxing match and who suddenly find themselves convulsed with hate, sprang at each other's throat in a tussle in which the only prize was death."<ref name=":63">{{Cite book |last=Wilson |first=Dick |url=https://archive.org/details/whentigersfights00wils/mode/1up |title=When Tigers Fight: The Story of the Sino-Japanese War, 1937–1945 |publisher=Viking Press |year=1982 |isbn=978-0-670-76003-9 |pages=37 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Air operations ===
[[File:Bombing_outside_the_Palace_Hotel.jpg|thumb|Exterior of Shanghai's [[Cathay Hotel]] after an ROC NRA bombing run on August 14, 1937]]
[[File:AtaqueJaponésAShanghai.ogv|thumb|German newsreel about the attack, September 1937]]
The frontline fighter aircraft of the [[Republic of China Air Force|Chinese Air Force]] at the beginning of full-scale hostilities consisted primarily of [[Curtiss F11C Goshawk|Curtiss Hawk IIs]] and [[Curtiss BF2C Goshawk|Hawk IIIs]] (many license-built at the [[Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company|CAMCO]] plant at the [[Hangzhou Jianqiao Airport|Jianqiao Airbase]]) and the [[Boeing P-26 Peashooter|Boeing P-26 Model 281 Peashooter]]. The Chinese pilots in particular used the Hawk IIIs in various multi-role combat operations against Imperial Japanese positions in and around Shanghai, while the P-26 primarily provided escort cover.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gustavsson |first=Hakans |title=Chinese biplane fighter aces – 'John' Wong Pan-Yang |url=http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/china_wong1.htm |access-date=2020-12-20 |website=Biplane Fighter Aces – China |quote=In 1934 the Chinese Air Force ordered 10 Boeing P-26 Model 281 'Peashooters'. Due to funding problems the Model "248s", as the Chinese knew them, weren't delivered until 1936. The aircraft were delivered to 17th Pursuit Squadron (5th PG), which was commanded by Chinese-American Captain John Wong Pan-Yang, to be used against Japanese aircraft over Nanking in 1937. In August 1937 the 17th PS was based at the Jurong (Chuyung) Airfield at Nanking.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=RoCAF Official |title=Martyr Qin Jia-zhu |url=https://air.mnd.gov.tw/EN/PastCurrent/PastCurrent_Detail.aspx?FID=28&CID=176&ID=1327 |access-date=2020-12-20 |website=air.mnd.gov.tw |language=en |quote=Seven Boeing 281s, led by Cmdr. Huang Pan-yang, 17th SQ, 3rd PG, took off from Jurong to escort airborne Curtiss Hawks. While approaching Wusongkou, these Boeing 281s encountered hostile aircraft, and knocked down 2 of them and damaged one. On the other hand, #1704 was seriously damaged, while Qin Jia-zhu perished along with his #1702, which involved in a tense dogfight over Wusongkou.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hui |first=Samuel |title=Chinese Air Force vs. the Empire of Japan |url=https://www.warbirdforum.com/cafhist.htm |access-date=2020-12-20 |website=www.warbirdforum.com |quote=the air battles between the Chinese and Japanese pilots above the sky of China was considered by Westerners a forgotten war, it was too important for the people to deny. For the Japanese pilots, those were their first chance to earn experiences about fighting other pilots in the air&nbsp;... for the Americans, it was their only chance to observe and learn about the planes and tactics used by their future enemy in the Pacific Theater&nbsp;... the Battle of Shanghai marked the first time Chinese Central Army enjoyed close air support from the Chinese Air Force.}}</ref>

On August 14, 1937, the ROCAF bombed the Japanese Navy flagship ''[[Japanese cruiser Izumo|Izumo]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Idzumo Class |url=http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/idzumo_class.htm |work=Battleships-Cruisers.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=August 23, 1914 |title=Japanese Cruiser Sails.; Idzumo Leaves San Francisco and Will Clear for Action at Sea |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1914/08/23/archives/japanese-cruiser-sails-idzumo-leaves-san-francisco-and-will-clear.html |journal=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=14 August 1937 |title=Missiles Hit in Crowded Streets |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jqkLAAAAIBAJ&pg=2274,2836784&dq=astor-house-hotel+shanghai |work=The Evening Independent |location=[[St. Petersburg, Florida]] |pages=1–2}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> But in what became known as "Black Saturday", bombs from ROCAF aircraft fell in the Shanghai International Settlement.<ref name="times193708162">{{cite news |date=1937-08-16 |title=1,000 Dead In Shanghai/Devastation By Chinese Bombs |url=https://www.thetimes.com/archive/article/1937-08-16/10/1.html |newspaper=[[The Times]] |location=London}}</ref><ref name="Wakeman2802">{{cite book |author=Frederic E. Wakeman |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vT5GrHv4VcMC&q=August%2014%2C%201937%20Shanghai&pg=PA281 |title=Policing Shanghai, 1927–1937 |date=September 1996 |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |isbn=0-520-20761-0 |page=280 |access-date=2010-06-14}}</ref> While the Chinese pilots were instructed not to fly over the Shanghai International Settlement, the Japanese flagship was berthed right in front of it; 700–950 Chinese and foreign civilians were killed outright,<ref name="times193708162" /><ref name="Wakeman2802" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergin |first=Bob |date=2017-08-22 |title=High Aviation Ideals |url=https://www.historynet.com/high-aviation-ideals.htm |access-date=2021-01-14 |website=HistoryNet |language=en-US |quote=Although the pilots were ordered not to fly over Shanghai's international settlement, Idzumo was berthed right in front of it. Two 1,100-pound bombs fell on Nanking Road, in a crowded shopping area. One failed to explode, but the other killed 950 Chinese and foreigners}}</ref> with a total of 3,000 of civilian deaths and injuries resulting from the accidental release of the bombs, with most of the death occurring at the [[Great World]] entertainment centre, where civilian refugees had gathered after fleeing from the fighting.<ref name="Wakeman2812">{{cite book |last=Wakeman |first=Frederic E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vT5GrHv4VcMC&q=August%2014%2C%201937%20Shanghai&pg=PA281 |title=Policing Shanghai, 1927–1937 |date=September 1996 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=0-520-20761-0 |page=281 |access-date=2010-06-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Henriot |first=Christian |date=July 2015 |title=August 1937: War and the death en masse of civilians {{!}} Virtual Shanghai |url=https://www.virtualshanghai.net/texts/articles?ID=130 |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=virtualshanghai}}</ref> 
[[File:Civilian victims of the August 14 bombing near the Great World.jpg|thumb|Civilians killed in the accidental August 14 bombing near the Great World.]]
The bombing was not an intended attack on the International Settlement: the four errant bombs were intended for the Japanese cruiser ''Izumo'', which was moored nearby in the Whangpoo (Huangpu) river, adjacent to the Bund. Two exploded in [[Nanjing Road|Nanking Road]] and two in front of the [[Great World]] Amusement Centre on [[Avenue Edward VII]], killing an estimated 2,000 shoppers and passers-by.<ref name="Wasserstein162">{{cite book |last=Wasserstein |first=Bernard |url=https://archive.org/details/secretwarinshang00bern/page/16 |title=Secret War in Shanghai |publisher=Houghton Mifflin, NY |year=1998 |isbn=0-395-98537-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/secretwarinshang00bern/page/16 16] |access-date=2010-08-29}}</ref>

Japanese planes responded to the attack on ''Izumo'' and the 4th Flying Group of the ROCAF, based in [[Henan]], under the command of Captain [[Gao Zhihang]] (高志航), shot down six Japanese planes, while suffering zero losses. (In 1940 the government announced August 14, 1937, would be ''Air Force Day'' to raise the morale of the Chinese populace.) From August 15 to 18, the Chinese fought the numerically superior Japanese air force in intense air battles that saw two Japanese squadrons destroyed. China was fighting the air war with every airplane in its possession, some of them purchased second-hand from various countries. It was not able to produce any planes of its own to replace those lost in combat and was always running low on replacement parts and supplies.[[File:Shanghai1937IJA_ruins.jpg|right|thumb|Japanese troops in the ruins of Shanghai]]

Japan, in contrast, had a robust aviation industry able to design and manufacture technologically advanced planes and could easily make good their losses. Thus, it was impossible for China to sustain an air war with Japan, however, the Chinese Air Force were given a much-needed lifeline with many new replacement fighter aircraft under the new [[Sino-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact|Sino-Soviet Treaty]] as the initial inventory of American-made aircraft were gradually lost through attrition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Demin |first=Anatolii |title=Soviet Fighters in the Sky of China |url=http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/George_Mellinger/soviet_fighters_in_the_sky_of_ch.htm}}</ref>

=== Other developments ===
==== Combat around Jiangyin (August 16 – October 30) ====
On August 16, 1937, one-hundred kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Shanghai, the battle for [[Jiangyin]] began.<ref name=":32" /> Military preparations for the battle began on August 7, when Chinese Secretary of the Navy [[Chen Shaokuan]] ordered a blockade at Jiangyin with a force of five light cruisers and one training cruiser along with several mines to prevent Japanese warships from entering the Yangtze River.<ref name=":32" /> Admiral [[Kiyoshi Hasegawa (admiral)|Kiyoshi Hasegawa]] of the Japanese 3rd Fleet ordered aerial bombings of the forces at Jiangyin with carrier and ground-based aircraft, which led to the sinking of ten Chinese ships by October. However, despite these losses, the Chinese navy recovered some of the naval guns from the sunken ships and deployed them on land as coastal batteries, thus maintaining a defensive position at Jiangyin.<ref name=":32" /> In early November, Jiangyin was eventually captured after a [[Battle of Nanking#Battle of Jiangyin|brief but bloody battle]] as Chinese forces retreated.
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2018}}

==== Mobilization of the Japanese Army ====
On August 15, the Japanese formed the [[Shanghai Expeditionary Army]] (SEF), composed of the [[IJA 3rd Division|3rd]] and [[IJA 11th Division|11th Divisions]], under the command of General [[Iwane Matsui]]. On August 19, [[Prime Minister of Japan|Japanese Prime Minister]] [[Fumimaro Konoe]] announced that the Sino-Japanese conflict could only be resolved through war, regardless of any attempts at negotiation by third party nations{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}. Konoe said that the initial plan of localized "containment" around the Shanghai region had now escalated to total war, with the ultimate goal of forcing the Chinese government to fully cooperate with the economic and political demands of Japan. On August 23, 1937, the Japanese began the bombing campaign over Nanjing, and various cities in Central China. The Shanghai Expeditionary Army also arrived on the same day.

At the beginning of the battle, Zhang Zhizhong, as the commander of the 5th Army and the Nanjing-Shanghai war zone, was responsible for conducting Chinese operations. The failure of the initial Chinese offensive greatly dismayed Chiang Kai-shek and his staff. Chiang criticized Zhang's failure to make sufficient preparations, especially the procurement of weapons capable of penetrating Japanese bunkers, before sending the troops in massive waves, which resulted in unsustainable casualties in many divisions right from the start. Zhang was also criticized for his overconfidence and his penchant for holding [[press conference]]s for both foreign and Chinese reporters in the cosmopolitan city. Chiang Kai-shek and his staff, the most prominent including Chen Cheng and [[Gu Zhutong]], began taking over command duties from Zhang. Chiang Kai-shek himself would eventually become the commander of the third war zone which covers the entirety of Shanghai. Regardless, the Chinese offensives against the Japanese garrison failed despite outnumbering the Japanese troops, due to the lack of heavy weaponry and artillery support.

== Second phase (August 23 – October 26) ==
As the Chinese forces began to withdraw from the Shanghai area, more Japanese troops began to land near Shanghai, inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese side. The fighting spread across from Shanghai metropolis all the way to the township of Liuhe, near the coast where the majority of the Japanese landings occurred. A manoeuvre Japan had also performed in the [[January 28 incident|1932 battle]] and therefore should have been expected.<ref name=":03">{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=War in the Far East. Volume 1: Storm clouds over the Pacific, 1931–1941 |date=2018 |publisher=Casemate |isbn=978-1-61200-480-8 |location=Philadelphia Oxford |pages=111–113}}</ref>

The perceived strength of the Chinese response resulted in major reinforcement for Japanese units. The [[9th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|9th]], [[13th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|13th]], and [[101st Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|101st Divisions]], the 5th Heavy Artillery Brigade, and a brigade-strength mixture of smaller units were ordered from Japan to [[Shanghai]] by [[Imperial General Headquarters]] on 11 September 1937.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110216002907/http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/937JIAF.PDF Reinforcements Sent to Japanese Expeditionary Army, 11 September 1937]</ref>

=== Japanese landings (August 23 – September 10) ===
On August 23, 1937, the Japanese [[3rd Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|3rd]] and [[11th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|11th Divisions]] made an amphibious assault under the cover of naval bombardment and proceeded to land in Chuanshakou (川沙口), Shizilin (獅子林), and Baoshan (寶山), towns on the [[Baoshan District, Shanghai|northeast coast]] some {{convert|50|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us|spell=in}} away from downtown Shanghai. Japanese landings in northeast Shanghai suburban areas meant that many Chinese troops, who were deployed in Shanghai's urban center, had to be redeployed to the coastal regions to counter the landings. Thus, the front line was lengthened from metropolitan Shanghai along the Huangpu River to the northeast coastal districts. The Chinese offensive in the urban center had ground to a halt, and the fighting in downtown Shanghai essentially became a stalemate with both sides suffering heavy losses and making minimal changes in the front line. The Chinese divisions would hold on to Zhabei, Jiangwan, and other downtown positions for three months, until situations in other areas made it strategically impossible to continue defending them.[[File:Shanghai1937IJA_landing.jpg|thumb|Japanese amphibious landings]]
[[File:Bloody_Saturday,_Shanghai.jpg|right|thumb|A famous photo entitled [[Bloody Saturday (photograph)|"Bloody Saturday"]], showing a burned and terrified baby in Shanghai's South Station following an IJN aerial attack, August 28, 1937]]
On August 23, the SEF, led by [[Iwane Matsui]], landed in Liuhe, Wusong (吳淞), and Chuanshakou. Chiang Kai-shek had expected these coastal towns to be vulnerable to Japanese landings and ordered Chen Cheng to reinforce the area with the 18th Army. However, the Chinese were unable to match Japanese firepower. The Japanese almost always began their amphibious assaults with heavy naval and air bombardment of the Chinese coastal defense works and [[trench]]es. It was not unheard of for the Chinese to lose an entire garrison to such [[bombardment]]s. However, the Chinese would reinforce almost immediately to counter the Japanese troops who had just made their landing after the bombardment.<ref name=":03" /> 

The Japanese, for their part, also suffered heavy casualties in the fighting. In one occasion, a hidden Chinese artillery position on Wusong killed several hundred Japanese troops before it was neutralized. Emperor Hirohito's cousin-in-law was among those killed by Chinese soldiers during the landings. On August 28, 1937, alone, two hundred Japanese soldiers were killed while attempting to secure a beachhead near the coastal town of [[Baoshan, Shanghai|Baoshan]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Whitney |first=Matthew |date=May 2000 |title=A MILITARY ANALYSIS OF THE BATTLE OF SHANGHAI, 13 AUGUST - 8 NOVEMBER 1937 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA378228.pdf |journal=Cornell University |pages=52-53}}</ref> 

=== Fighting for the Coast (August 23 – September 10) ===
[[File:Japanesesoldiersshanghai.jpg|thumb|Japanese soldiers mass in a town outside of Shanghai]]
In the two weeks that followed, the Chinese and Japanese troops fought bitter battles in the numerous towns and villages along the coast. The Chinese troops fending off the amphibious assaults had only their small-caliber weapons to depend on, and were not sufficiently supported by the ROCAF and the almost nonexistent Chinese navy. They paid heavily for the defense. An entire regiment could be reduced to just a few men in action. In addition, Chinese coastal defense works were hastily constructed and did not offer much protection against enemy attacks, as many trenches were newly constructed during lulls in fighting. Moreover, the sandy soil of the coastal region meant that it was difficult to construct sturdy fortifications. Many trenches would collapse due to rain. The Chinese raced against time to construct and repair these defense works despite constant Japanese bombardment. [[Logistics]] difficulty also meant it was hard to transport the necessary construction materials to the front line. The Chinese often had to turn to bombed-out houses to obtain bricks, beams, and other such materials. 

However, the Chinese fought against great odds and tried to hold on to the coastal villages as long as they could. It was commonplace for the Japanese to successfully occupy the towns in the day under heavy naval support, only to lose them during the night to Chinese counterattacks. On September 4, Chinese soldiers killed 200 Japanese soldiers attempting to land near Shanghai.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Whitney |first=Matthew |date=May 2000 |title=A MILITARY ANALYSIS OF THE BATTLE OF SHANGHAI, 13 AUGUST - 8 NOVEMBER 1937 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA378228.pdf |journal=Cornell University |pages=55}}</ref>
[[File:日军进攻宝山城.jpg|thumb|Japanese soldiers scaling Baoshan's walls]]
Such attacks and counterattacks continued well into late August, when the fall of Baoshan, a vital coastal town, seemed imminent. Chiang Kai-shek ordered the remaining troops of the 98th Division to defend the walled town. One battalion, under lieutenant colonel Yao Ziqing (姚子青), was assigned to the task. The situation in Baoshan was grim, as the Japanese had surrounded the town by September 5. However, Yao ordered his men to defend to the death, pledging to die at his post. Several Japanese assaults on September 4 were repulsed with heavy casualties, but a Japanese tank assault with air support broke through the gate the next day. The Chinese defenders were gradually pushed into a shrinking perimeter, and only had 100 troops by sunset. Yao ordered a single soldier to escape the city and deliver news of the unit's impeding fate. The soldier succeeded in delivering his message, which was simply: "We are determined to continue fighting the enemy until each and every one of us is killed."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |publisher=Casemate |year=2013 |pages=120–121}}</ref>

On the next day, September 6, 1937, Baoshan fell. By that point, Japanese artillery strikes had reduced the town to rubble, and Yao had been killed in house-to-house fighting. The entire battalion, except for the single soldier sent outside, was killed in action. The Chinese would continue to sustain this level of casualties throughout the Shanghai campaign.

=== Combat around Luodian (September 11–30) ===
On September 11, with the fall of Baoshan, the Chinese Army moved into defensive positions around the small town of [[Luodian, Shanghai|Luodian]] (羅店), the transportation center connecting Baoshan, downtown Shanghai, [[Jiading District|Jiading]], [[Songjiang Town|Songjiang]] and several other towns with highways. The successful defense of Luodian was strategically paramount to the security of [[Suzhou, Jiangsu|Suzhou]] and Shanghai; as early as August 29, German adviser [[Alexander von Falkenhausen]] had advised Chiang Kai-shek that the town must be held at all costs, as it was "the most crucial strategic point".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=99}}</ref>

The Japanese had also recognized Luodian's importance, and had sent troops to attack the town on August 23. Two large assaults were repelled by the Chinese 11th Division, who overcame Japanese advantages in armor and artillery by harassing Japanese columns with small scale ambushes and engaging in close-quarters [[Urban warfare|street fighting]] within Luodian.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=98–99}}</ref>

To defend Luodian, the Chinese concentrated some 300,000 soldiers there, while the Japanese amassed more than 100,000 troops, supported by naval gunfire, tanks, and aircraft.
[[File:Shanghai1937KMT_luodian.jpg|thumb|Chinese troops making a charge in Luodian]]
The carnage and intensity of the resulting battle earned the fight for Luodian the nickname "grinding mill of flesh and blood" (血肉磨坊). Japanese assaults typically began at daybreak with concentrated aerial bombing, followed by the release of [[observation balloon]]s to pinpoint the exact location of remaining Chinese positions for [[artillery]] and naval strikes. Japanese infantry would then advance under [[smoke screens]], with [[armor]]ed support. Japanese planes would also accompany the infantry and [[strafe]] Chinese reinforcements. The battle for Luodian was marked by bloody street fighting, with the close combat making the Chinese the equals of the Japanese.<ref>{{cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |publisher=Casemate |year=2013 |isbn=978-1612001678 |edition=1st |page=99 |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:A_Chinese_squad_deployed_outside_Shanghai.jpg|thumb|Chinese soldiers near Luodian, equipped with gas masks]]
Chinese defense was stubborn even in the face of overwhelming firepower. During the night, Chinese soldiers [[Land mine|mined]] the roads connecting the coastal towns to Luodian and engaged in night combat to cut off Japanese advance troops. At daybreak, the Chinese would garrison the foremost defensive lines with comparatively few troops in order to reduce casualties resulting from intense Japanese bombardments. The Chinese would then emerge from rear positions to engage the enemy when the Japanese land offensive started after naval and artillery strikes had ceased. 

The 44th infantry regiment of the Japanese 11th division had been in a stand-off with the 1st battalion of the 65th regiment of the Chinese 11th division at the "white house" since Luodian was occupied. On September 19, engineers dug a tunnel towards the "white house". On September 23, the 44th infantry regiment utilized the tunnel to plant explosives on the walls and stormed the fortification through the gaps in the walls. The defenders were forced to retreat after suffering more than 50% casualties and the position was occupied.<ref>{{cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |publisher=Casemate |year=2013 |isbn=978-1612001678 |edition=1st |pages=151–153 |language=en}}</ref> Despite the loss of the "white house", Lin Yindong (林映東), the commander of the 1st battalion, was awarded the A-2 grade for the "Medal of the Armed Forces" and promoted to lieutenant colonel and regimental attaché of the 66th regiment for holding onto the "white house" for nearly a month against a numerically-superior foe.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，行政院長孔祥熙呈國民政府為准軍事委員會電為奉准給予葉佩高等各種獎章轉呈分別核給備案，典藏號：001-035120-00010-001 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/56737863RUqtc4#dFV9]</ref>

Despite their numerical superiority, the defense of Luodian would prove impossible for the Chinese. The Japanese superiority of firepower forced the Chinese into a passive position, from which they could not mount counter-attacks until the Japanese were practically on top of them. Because of this, the decision was made to defend the entire town to the death, a tactic which greatly accelerated the attrition rate within the Chinese ranks. The casualty rate of General Chen Cheng's army group was more than fifty percent, with more than 15,000 losses.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，陳誠電蔣中正何應欽據羅卓英報稱十一師十四師等缺額概數已計入迭次補充及補撥贛保安團老兵二千，典藏號：002-090200-00034-243 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5552486=5a9mRR#c6F]</ref><ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，王耀武電錢大鈞新編兩旅四團就緒派任李天霞兼旅長選任原三團幹部升任及羅店戰役奪得武器惟新編三○五團無槍遂派往前線構築工事，典藏號：002-090200-00034-148 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/55553681H=0Bmc#91F]</ref> Units of [[Xue Yue]]'s 19th army group also took part in combat southwest of Luodian and suffered heavy losses. The 59th and 90th divisions of the 4th corps suffered seventy to eighty percent casualties in just five days.<ref>{{cite book |title=浴血淞沪 "八·一三"大上海保卫战 |last=Zhigeng |first=Xu |publisher=北京市：解放军文艺出版社 |date=1995 |page=336}}</ref> The training brigade of the 66th corps suffered 3,003 casualties after several days of fighting.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，葉肇電蔣中正六十六軍一五九與一六○兩師自九月十五日至十月一日參加劉行戰役官兵傷亡武器耗損等詳細數量並請設法分別補充，典藏號：002-090200-00034-151 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5667422aXkGEN=#c2G]</ref> By the end of September, the Chinese had been almost bled dry and were forced to give up Luodian.

=== Battles for Liujiahang and Gujiazhai (September 12 – October 2) ===
By September 12, 1937, Luodian, Wusong, Baoshan, Yuepu, and Yanghang had fallen. The Japanese 11th division pursued Chen Cheng's 15th army group southwest of Luodian and the Japanese 3rd division attempted to capture the Liujiahang (劉家行) and Gujiazhai (顧家宅) positions on the right wing of the 15th army group. The 3rd division first made contact with the 78th division of the 1st corps near Gushifang (顧十房) on September 12. On September 13, the 18th and 34th infantry regiments launched a direct assault at the outer positions of the Chinese defenses supported by artillery, breaching the positions of the 32nd division of the Northwestern Army. The positions of the 464th regiment of the 78th division at Qinjiatang (秦家塘) were all destroyed and were soon occupied by the 18th infantry regiment. The 3rd regiment of the 1st division was ordered to occupy the positions at Chenzhai (陳宅) and Wangzhai (王宅) to block further Japanese advance. The 86th regiment of the 15th division of the Hunan Army cooperated with the 464th regiment to attack the 18th infantry regiment from three sides, forcing the Japanese regiment to withdraw towards Qinjiatang. That night, the 1st, 15th, and 32nd divisions took advantage of heavy rain to launch an all-out attack, recapturing Qinjiatang and the positions of the 32nd division which had been lost that day. In the early morning of September 14, the 3rd regiment repelled an attack by the 18th infantry regiment at Yangjiufang (楊九房) and the 78th division fought fiercely all day long. The 34th infantry regiment encountered fierce resistance from the 32nd division and made little progress.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|pp=70–72}} On September 15, the 32nd division's positions at Xiaozhuzhai (小朱宅) and Huoshachang (火燒場) were captured by the 34th infantry regiment and the Chinese division suffered very heavy casualties. The 78th division repelled several Japanese attacks at Douzhai (竇宅) and Zitenghai (紫藤海).<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=74}}<ref>{{cite web|title=(其1) 火焼場、小朱宅、董陸宅附近の戦闘 自昭和12年9月13日至昭和12年9月15日 |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915493909926&ID=M2011112915493909931&REFCODE=C11111772700 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-28}}</ref>

On September 16, 1937, the positions of the 709th regiment of the 37th independent brigade and the 86th regiment at the Yangjiayan (楊家沿) line were breached. The 2nd battalion of the 2nd regiment of the 1st division and the 95th regiment of the 16th division counterattacked the 18th infantry regiment and stabilized the line. The 86th regiment then withdrew due to heavy casualties and was replaced by the 2nd regiment. At the same time, the 34th infantry regiment launched a fierce assault under the cover of artillery and aircraft. The 1st battalion attacked the 85th regiment of the 15th division at Yangmu Bridge (楊木橋), causing very heavy casualties on the Chinese regiment. The 89th regiment reinforced the 85th regiment and halted the attack. In the evening, the 12th company of the 3rd battalion captured the Jinjiawan (金家灣) position. The 96th regiment of the 16th division was quickly sent in and launched an offensive at Jinjiawan at dawn the next day.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|pp=75–76}}

On September 17, 1937, the 18th infantry regiment attacked the positions of the 1st division at the Xisheng Bridge (西盛橋) and Chenzhai line, capturing the position of the 2nd battalion of the 2nd regiment and inflicting heavy casualties. The Japanese regiment then attacked Zhangzhai (張宅) and captured Wangzhai (王宅). The 337th regiment of the 57th division counterattacked and regained Wangzhai. The 18th infantry regiment launched a fierce attack at Wangzhai under the cover of artillery and occupied the position again, which was recaptured again after a counterattack from the 4th regiment of the 1st division. As the 96th regiment was attacking Jinjiawan, the newly-arrived 475th brigade of the 159th division of the 66th corps of the Guangdong Army also launched an offensive against the 34th infantry regiment supported by the 85th and 89th regiments of the 15th division. At the same time, the 34th infantry regiment sent the 2nd and 3rd battalions supported by artillery to rescue the 12th company. As the fierce fighting continued, the 16th division sent a battalion to attack the enemy through the 85th and 89th regiments. The two battalions of the 34th infantry regiment were unable to reach Jinjiawan to rescue the besieged company and retreated. The Chinese units cleared the position and the 12th company was wiped out.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|pp=76–77}}

On September 18, 1937, the 18th infantry regiment continued attacking Zhangzhai and Wangzhai, capturing Wangzhai and causing heavy casualties on the 3rd company of the 1st battalion of the 2nd regiment. Li Youmei (李友梅), the commander of the 4th regiment, led his troops to counterattack the Japanese regiment. Throughout the day, Wangzhai changed hands multiple times and regimental commander Li Youmei was killed in the fierce fighting. The 95th regiment was ordered to take over the position of the 4th regiment.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=76}} At midnight, the 66th corps (except for the training brigade) and the 77th division took over the positions of the 15th and 32nd divisions. The 15th division was responsible for guarding the positions near Liujiahang and the 32nd division was withdrawn for replenishment, reduced to only more than 900 combat soldiers after nearly a week of fighting.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，王修身電蔣中正三十二師於李店陣地抗戰經過及傷亡統計，典藏號：002-090200-00033-194 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5667448we71p1x#8bl]</ref><ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=78}} The training brigade of the 66th corps had earlier been ordered to replace the 14th division at positions southwest of Luodian.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=82}}

On September 19, 1937, the 18th infantry regiment broke into Wangzhai again, wiping out the 2nd company of the 4th regiment. The 468th regiment of the 78th division quickly sent a company to counterattack alongside the 4th regiment and fought fiercely until the next day to regain the position.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|pp=78–79}} On the 20th, the 169th brigade of the 57th division took over the position of the 1st division at Zhangzhai, Wangzhai, and Wangjiufang (王九房). On the same day, the 3rd battalion of the 339th regiment of the brigade was attacked by the 18th infantry regiment at Wangzhai and held its ground despite losing more than half of its troops.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=79}} On September 21, the 78th division, which had defended Douzhai (竇宅) since the 16th, was replaced by the newly-arrived Hunanese 8th division. At the Jinjiawan area, the 159th division and the 34th infantry regiment were stuck in several days of tug-of-war, with heavy casualties on both sides. By dawn on September 23, the 952nd regiment, which was the main defending force, had only 1 regimental commander, 1 company commander, and just over 100 soldiers left. On September 23, the 3rd division bombarded the positions of the 66th corps with fierce artillery fire. Seven companies of the 159th division and two companies of the 160th division were completely annihilated under intensive bombardment and all positions were destroyed with no survivors.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|pp=87–89}} The 34th infantry regiment finally occupied Jinjiawan and Seli (啬里).<ref>{{cite web|title=(其2) 金家湾、楊家宅、嗇里附近の戦闘 自昭和12年9月16日至昭和12年9月23日 |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915493909926&ID=M2011112915493909932&REFCODE=C11111772800 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-28}}</ref> In just a week of fighting, the 159th division had lost combat effectiveness and three of its four regiments had a total of just over 1,000 soldiers left.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，葉肇電蔣中正譚師彭旅葉肇等各師旅傷亡及協防戰況，典藏號：002-090200-00033-115 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5673083=wSrJeQ#1aF]</ref> 

On September 22, 1937, the 68th infantry regiment joined the battle.<ref>{{cite web|title=第4 各時期に於ける戦闘経過の概要（1） |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915495510214&ID=M2011112915495610221&REFCODE=C11111801700 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-28}}</ref> From the 21st until the 24th of September, the 18th infantry regiment launched a series of fierce attacks at Chenzhai, Zhangzhai, Wangzhai, and Wangjiufang positions and was resisted by the 57th division. By the 24th, due to heavy casualties, the 66th corps and the 77th division had to shrink their defense lines and the 159th division withdrew from the battlefield after handing over its positions to the 160th division.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|pp=87–90}} On September 25, the 8th, 16th, and 57th divisions of the 69th corps were also ordered to retreat to the second-line positions.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|pp=93–95}}  On the Japanese side, the 34th infantry regiment had also suffered heavy casualties and took several days of rest.

As most of the Chinese units retreated to their designated locations, some Chinese units remained to provide cover. On September 25, 1937, the 461st regiment of the 77th division was attacked as it held onto its original position and suffered heavy casualties, forcing the regiment to retreat. As the Chinese units withdraw, the 18th, 34th, and 68th infantry regiments pursued them, occupying the abandoned positions while engaging with Chinese rear-guard units. On September 28, the 6th infantry regiment of the 3rd division and the 101st division joined the battle.<ref>{{cite web|title=歩兵第6連隊第2大隊戦闘詳報 劉家行及顧家宅附近の戦闘 第4号 昭和12年9月28日～10月2日 |url= https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915493709890&ID=M2011112915493809899&REFCODE=C11111769500 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-28}}</ref> The next day, the 9th division also participated in the attack on Liujiahang.<ref>{{cite web|title=第2章 作戦経過 |url= https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915492609710&ID=M2011112915492709717&REFCODE=C11111751300 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-22}}</ref> On September 30, the 6th and 68th infantry regiments launched a massive assault against the 15th and 77th division at the Taipingqiao (太平橋) and Wanqiao (萬橋) positions, causing heavy casualties on the 77th division.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)">{{cite book |title=抗日戰史: 淞滬會戰 (二) | publisher=國防部史政編譯局| date=1966}}</ref>{{rp|p=97}} The 19th infantry regiment of the 9th division also attacked at the same time as the 3rd division. In the evening of the same day, the Third Military Front ordered the troops at Liujiahang and surrounding locations to retreat to Chenjiahang (陳家行) and Guangfu (廣福) at the west bank of Wenzaobin (蘊藻濱). On October 1, Liujiahang was occupied by the 34th infantry regiment. The next day, the 8th and 16th divisions also retreated, and the Japanese army occupied Gujiazhai.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=101-102}}<ref>{{cite web|title=(其3)荻徑「クリーク」附近の戦闘 自昭和12年9月24日至昭和12年10月2日 |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915493909926&ID=M2011112915493909934&REFCODE=C11111773000 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-28}}</ref>

The bloody battle had costed the Chinese army dearly in terms of manpower. The 159th and 160th divisions of the 66th corps alone suffered 7,113 casualties.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，葉肇電蔣中正六十六軍一五九與一六○兩師自九月十五日至十月一日參加劉行戰役官兵傷亡武器耗損等詳細數量並請設法分別補充，典藏號：002-090200-00034-151 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5667422aXkGEN=#c2G]</ref> The 15th division suffered more than three-fourths casualties and was reduced to nine companies.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，王東原電陳誠該師移至張浦橋至楊樹院之線整理師部位於楊樹院該師於秦家塘等各役傷亡達四分之三現存戰兵九連正積極整編等，典藏號：008-010701-00085-054 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5673130856vD-N#180]</ref> The 8th, 16th, and 57th divisions of the 69th corps and the 1st and 78th divisions of the 1st corps all suffered heavy casualties. Luo Lin (羅霖), the commander of the 77th division, was put under investigation for the retreat from Taipingqiao. Chen Cheng pointed out that the division had suffered more than 3,000 casualties defending the bridges and requested that the divisional commander be given a lighter punishment.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，蔣中正電唐生智等羅霖擅自撤退解軍法執行部處置並通令軍師旅團長，典藏號：002-010300-00006-018 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5667538BIh=tud#42l]</ref><ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，陳誠電唐生智第三戰區左翼軍傷亡十萬以上查羅霖部傷亡三千餘並遭日軍精銳主攻而失守太平橋萬橋情有可原且歷戰有微勞請從輕議處，典藏號：002-090200-00034-352 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5407881NbZ=Qhr#68J]</ref> On the other side, the Japanese 3rd division also suffered heavy casualties. It's 34th infantry regiment alone suffered approximately 1,300 casualties in the battle.<ref>{{cite web|title=附表 4件 |url= https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915493909926&ID=M2011112915494009936&REFCODE=C11111773200 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-22}}</ref>

Throughout the course of the battle, the 1st, 78th, 32nd, and 159th divisions were temporarily withdrawn for rest or reorganization after suffering heavy casualties. The rest of the 66th corps, 15th division, and 77th division were also temporarily withdrawn for rest after the fall of Liujiahang. The 8th and 16th divisions were transferred to the Tangqiao-Lujiaqiao-Chenjiahang line and cooperated with a part of the Tax Police Corps to form a strong defensive barrier and resisted the Japanese 9th division for the next week.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|pp=106–107}} The 57th division was transferred to the Mengjiazhai (孟家宅) area.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=102}}

=== Battle for Wusong Creek and Dachang (October 1–26) ===
[[File:Japans-Chinese oorlog, SFA022804737.jpg|thumb|A Japanese truck transports troops through the ruins of Shanghai. September 24, 1937.]]
By October 1, the Japanese had increased troop strength in the Shanghai region to more than two hundred thousand. Japanese troops also invaded the town of Liuhang (劉行), south of Luodian. Thus, the frontline moved further south onto the banks of the Wusong River. The Japanese aim was to cross the Creek and take the walled town of Dachang (大場), which was the communications link between Chinese troops in downtown Shanghai and the northwest outlying towns. If Dachang fell, Chinese troops would have to forfeit their positions in downtown Shanghai and regions east of the Huangpu River to avoid [[encirclement]] by the Japanese. The defense of Dachang was vital to how long the Chinese army could continue fighting in the Shanghai war zone; for this, Chiang Kai-shek mobilized whatever remaining troops he could find.

To compensate for artillery shortages, Matsui massed four Japanese divisions, some 60,000 men, in a 6-mile front to break through the Chinese lines via brute frontal assaults.<ref name=":82">{{Cite book |last=Frank |first=Richard |title=Tower of Skulls: A History of the Asia-Pacific War: July 1937-May 1942 |date=2020 |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |pages=33}}</ref>
[[File:Japanesecrossbridge1937shanghai.jpg|thumb|Japanese soldiers cross a pontoon bridge in the river country north of Shanghai]]
The Chinese focused their defensive line on the Wusong Creek, a natural defensive position with a six-foot tall embankment and a width of up to three hundred feet across. The Chinese, learning from [[Battle of Verdun|the]] [[Battle of the Somme|lessons]] of their German advisors, had fortified the southern bank with a dense network of defenses, including barbed wire, machine gun nests, artillery emplacements, pillboxes and trenches. The local buildings and farmhouses were reinforced with sandbags and barbed wire, and trees had been cut down to ensure open [[Kill zone|fields of fire]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=161–162}}</ref>

On October 5, 1937, the Japanese forces smashed into the Chinese defenses across the Wusong Creek, but were immediately met by heavy resistance. The Chinese fought back against the assault fiercely, pummeling the Japanese bridgeheads with concentrated and coordinated artillery fire from six artillery battalions, which were reinforced with 2&nbsp;cm and 3.7&nbsp;cm [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft guns]] to protect against Japanese aircraft.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937, Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=160–165}}</ref>
[[File:Shanghai1937KMT_ruins.jpg|right|thumb|Chinese soldiers near a bombed-out building]]
The two armies would engage in seesaw battles, with little changes in the frontline. House to house fighting was common, and in the most intense moments these positions would change hands up to five times a day. In this brutal combat, Chinese soldiers regularly fought to the death even when surrounded, a result of the Japanese Army's habit of [[No quarter|taking no prisoners]]. In overrun positions, Japanese soldiers frequently found dead Chinese soldiers, some with [[Children in the military|childlike features]], clutching weapons as though "their ghosts had returned to continue resistance".<ref name=":82" /> In one case, the village of Tangbeizhai was defended against a Japanese column by a single Chinese soldier, as the rest of his battalion had already been destroyed.<ref name=":92">{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937, Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=163}}</ref> In another case on October 18th, the Japanese had surrounded a force of 1,400 Chinese soldiers near Dachang; every soldier in the Chinese unit died, as did some 3,000 attacking Japanese.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Whitney |first=Matthew |date=May 2000 |title=A MILITARY ANALYSIS OF THE BATTLE OF SHANGHAI, 13 AUGUST - 8 NOVEMBER 1937 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA378228.pdf |journal=Cornell University |pages=68-69}}</ref>  

From September 11 to October 20, the Japanese army was able to advance only five kilometers. It was in this fighting where the Japanese suffered their heaviest losses of the entire campaign, estimated at 25,000 casualties with some 8,000 killed in action over a 20-day period between October 5 and October 25.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Battle for China: Essays on the Military History of the Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945 |date=2010 |publisher=Stanford University Press |edition=1st |pages=174–175}}</ref> The 101st Division alone suffered 3,000 casualties in four days of combat around Wusong Creek, and the 9th Division suffered some 9,556 casualties for an advance of 2.5 miles.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Frank |first=Richard |title=Tower of Skulls: A History of the Asia-Pacific War: July 1937-May 1942 |date=2020 |publisher=W.W. Norton & Company |pages=34}}</ref> 
[[File:Shanghai1937KMT_trench.jpg|thumb|Chinese soldiers engaged in trench warfare]]
Despite heavy casualties, the Japanese would eventually breach the Wusong Creek line, seizing the Tangqiaozhan bridge from the Chinese Tax Police Division after two days of intense fighting.<ref name=":92" /> However, even though the Japanese penetrated the Wusong Creek line, they were confronted with further belts of similar defenses built around a series of creeks anchored by Zoumatang Creek. The two armies became bogged down in [[trench warfare]] around a mostly stagnant frontline, with heavy rains transforming the terrain into a muddy landscape.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937, Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=180}}</ref>

On October 14, 1937, the [[Guangxi Army]] under [[Li Zongren]] and [[Bai Chongxi]] finally arrived to join Chiang Kai-shek's Central Army in the battle for Shanghai. These Guangxi units, four divisions in total, then staged a final [[counteroffensive]] on October 21 in an attempt to fully consolidate Chinese positions around Dachang and retake the banks of the Wusong Creek. However, the counteroffensive was poorly coordinated with little [[reconnaissance]], and quickly bogged down despite some initial success. The Japanese would counterattack with artillery, tanks and poison gas on October 23, with Japanese aircraft wreaking havoc on Chinese divisions throughout daytime. The operation was halted, and had cost the Guangxi divisions over 2,000 casualties including dozens of officers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937, Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=182–185}}</ref> In just eight days, the 21st Group Army of the Guangxi Army had lost two-thirds of its soldiers,<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，廖磊電蔣中正等自十五日至二十三日二十一集團軍第四十八軍第七軍在陳家行談家頭至張家樓一帶抗日因犧牲過大後由三十三師等繼續抗日等，典藏號：002-090200-00032-258 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5407352BPgRxTf#e0l]</ref> with the 48th Corps suffering 9,731 killed, wounded, or missing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=以中日双方史料解读抗日战争：淞沪会战藴藻浜反击战 |url=https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/511788570 |access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref>
[[File:IJA-18th_Infantry_Regt-1937.jpg|thumb|Japanese troops attacking near Dachang, October 26th]]
Following the failed counteroffensive, Matsui ordered his divisions to push to Zoumatang Creek. The Chinese, having been exhausted by the combat through October, had begun withdrawing their troops to a defensive line behind [[Suzhou Creek]]. The Japanese, aided by their tanks and aircraft, seized two bridges across the Zoumatang Creek and pushed the remaining Chinese forces back to Dachang. The remnants of the 3rd division, 87th division, and the 106th brigade of the 36th division and the recently arrived 18th division were tasked with defending Dachang and its surrounding areas after retreating from Wenzaobin. The Japanese then utilized some 700 artillery pieces and 400 aircraft including 150 bombers for the assault on Dachang and reduced the town to rubble. They then followed up with an armored spearhead of some 40 tanks. The Chinese defenders, having withdrawn their artillery to safer positions beforehand, were outgunned and overwhelmed. The fighting continued until October 26, when Dachang finally fell. Feeling responsible for its loss, Zhu Yaohua (朱耀華), the commander of the 18th division, attempted to commit suicide but survived the shot.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，何應欽電陳誠上海我軍右翼陣地撤至蘇州河南岸後扼守北站任掩護之謝團受敵包圍激戰目前情況不明津浦正面敵我仍在陡駭河對峙等，典藏號：008-010701-00087-108 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5552707HJ8==1P#dfC]</ref><ref>[https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5552749wAj=Wxm#54F 國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，蔣中正電錢大鈞請楊虎代送朱耀華醫費三千元並代慰病情，典藏號：002-010300-00007-007]</ref> By then, Chinese troops had no option but to withdraw from downtown Shanghai, which they had held for almost three months.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937, Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=192–193}}</ref><ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=142-145}}

=== Combat near Guangfu (October 2 – November 1) ===
On October 1, 1937, the freshly-arrived Hunanese 13th division occupied the forward positions of Guangfu (廣福) and Zhubeizhai (朱北宅). On October 3, the Japanese 9th division, based on intelligence reports from the China Expeditionary Army and aerial reconnaissance, judged that a large number of Chinese soldiers were gathering near Guangfu after retreating from Liujiahang. On October 2 and October 3, the 18th infantry brigade of the Japanese division launched attacks on the positions of the 73rd and 77th regiments of the Chinese 13th division with the support from aircraft and artillery. Both regiments suffered heavy casualties but halted the offensive of the Japanese brigade. At the same time, the Chinese 9th division was ordered to advance to the Yujiazhai (虞家宅), Beiying (北營), and Zhangpuqiao (張浦橋) areas to support the 13th division. On October 4, the Japanese army bombarded the Wuzhai (吳宅) and Zhangjiazhai (張家宅) positions. The 18th infantry brigade launched a fierce assault at the position north of Guangfu but was hit by a counterattack from the Chinese 13th division. The Japanese division also crossed the Yangjing River (楊涇河) but faced stubborn resistance and was unable to move further. The 13th division sacrificed the bulk of one battalion and two-thirds of another battalion that day.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|pp=105–106}} The Japanese division also suffered considerable casualties, with its 1st battalion of the 19th infantry regiment suffering 40 killed and 82 wounded in the three-day battle.<ref>{{cite web|title=陣中日誌 自昭和12年10月1日至昭和12年10月31日 歩兵第19連隊第1大隊〔1〕|url= https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915513011854&ID=M2011112915513011856&REFCODE=C11111965200 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-22}}</ref> On October 5, the Japanese 9th division turned to Chenjiahang and the responsibility of capturing Guangfu was handed over to the Japanese 13th division.<ref>{{cite web|title=第2章 作戦経過 |url= https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915492609710&ID=M2011112915492709717&REFCODE=C11111751300 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-22}}</ref>

After completing its offensive preparation, the Japanese 13th division began its attack on October 12, 1937 with the 65th and 104th infantry regiments with support from artillery, aircraft, and engineers. However, it encountered fierce resistance from the Chinese 13th division at Laoluzhai (老陸宅) and did not make lasting progress until the 17th. Similarly, its attacks on the position of the 958th regiment of the 160th division of the 66th corps at Sanjiacun (三家村) were constantly repelled. Any gains made would be lost on the same day from Chinese counterattacks and both sides suffered heavy casualties.<ref>{{cite web|title=第5章 各時期に於ける戦闘経過及之に関連せる隣接兵団の行動（2）|url= https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915493209793&ID=M2011112915493209802&REFCODE=C11111759800 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-22}}</ref><ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=119}}{{rp|p=131}}

On October 18, 1937, after a day of hard fighting, the 65th infantry regiment occupied the northern part of Laoluzhai, and the 104th infantry regiment occupied the corner of Sanjiacun. At the same time, the 958th regiment was replaced by the 959th regiment due to heavy casualties. The next day, the 65th infantry regiment, with the support of 39 howitzers and the main force of the 13th division's artillery regiment, repeatedly attacked the Laoluzhai position, at one point breaking through the Chinese defense but was immediately driven back by the Chinese 13th division's counterattack. As a result of heavy casualties in many days of fighting, the Chinese division had to deploy the engineer battalion and special forces company to the first defense line. The 104th infantry regiment bombarded the Sanjiacun position all day long, causing more than 50% casualties for the 1st battalion of the 959th regiment. On October 20, the 104th infantry regiment, with close air and artillery support, finally broke through the first defense line at Sanjiacun, killing all the defenders.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=131}}{{rp|p=155}} On October 21, the 58th infantry regiment launched a massive attack under the cover of aircraft and artillery at the Chinese 13th division's position at Xinmuqiao (新木橋). The Chinese division resisted with all their strength, but the unit had been exhausted after two weeks of fighting. Xinmuqiao fell, and the 58th infantry regiment tried to use the momentum to capture Guangfu in one fell swoop, but was blocked by the remnants of the Chinese 13th division supported by a battalion of the 160th division.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=119}}{{rp|p=131}}<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，葉肇電蔣中正一三○師陣地受日軍攻擊多處通訊中斷稍後日敵轉移砲擊新三宅廣福之線另已奉編突擊隊等，典藏號：002-090200-00032-094 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5668028NH=TlQT#deF]</ref> The 116th infantry regiment attacked and occupied Daijiazhai (戴家宅) south of Xinmuqiao to support the 58th infantry regiment.<ref>{{cite web|title=第5章 各時期に於ける戦闘経過及之に関連せる隣接兵団の行動（3）|url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915493209793&ID=M2011112915493209803&REFCODE=C11111759900 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=第5章 各時期に於ける戦闘経過及之に関連せる隣接兵団の行動（4） |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915493209793&ID=M2011112915493209804&REFCODE=C11111760000 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-22}}</ref> At dawn on October 22, the Chinese 13th division completed its handover of the forward positions of Guangfu to the 98th division, and withdrew to Taicang (太倉) for reorganization.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=158}} 

Since mid-September, the 98th division had been recovering from its losses it had suffered in the battles of Yuepu and Baoshan. After reaching Guangfu, it immediately sent the 292nd brigade to launch a counterattack against the 58th infantry regiment on the night of October 21. At the same time, the 66th corps formed its own assault team consisting of one regiment from the 159th division and three regiments from the 160th division and participated in the counterattack. The 9th division and 57th division of the Central Army in the peripherals each sent one battalion for the attack. The Japanese 13th division struggled under the assault of more than six regiments, and both sides suffered heavy casualties. On the morning of October 22, 1937, the counterattack was called off and each Chinese unit returned to their defensive positions.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=156-158}} In these two days, the 13th division recorded 727 of its soldiers being wounded in action.<ref>{{cite web|title=第5章 各時期に於ける戦闘経過及之に関連せる隣接兵団の行動（4） |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915493209793&ID=M2011112915493209804&REFCODE=C11111760000 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-22}}</ref>

On October 23, 1937, the 13th division continued its attack towards Guangfu. The 65th and 104th infantry regiments advanced towards Laoluzhai and Sanjiacun. The 104th infantry regiment encircled and captured Sanjiacun with three infantry battalions, nearly wiping out the two defending companies of the 160th division.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，葉肇電蔣中正突擊旅為九五六團二營等部抽編形成而黃團與唐橋頭日軍激戰有多員傷亡已奉命撤回原陣地等，典藏號：002-090200-00032-099 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5673631eI26xNQ#f2F]</ref> The Japanese army accused the Chinese army of using poison gas near Sanjiacun. At the same time, the 65th infantry regiment attempted to capture Laoluzhai but was repelled by the 57th division. At 17:00 p.m., the 159th division, which after the battles for Liujiahang and Gujiazhai had a total of only 347 officers and 3,020 soldiers left, sent the 953rd regiment under Hong Shiyang (洪世揚) to take over the positions of the 160th division at Sanjiacun and Laoluzhai.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|pp=156–157}}<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，葉肇電陳誠一五九師附教導旅一部及工兵營即以一團接替新三宅老陸宅間防禦陣地主力任石崗門第二塘第二層陣地工事之增強等，典藏號：008-010701-00087-034 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5694272VcSQBD6#54x]</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=第5章 各時期に於ける戦闘経過及之に関連せる隣接兵団の行動（4） |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915493209793&ID=M2011112915493209804&REFCODE=C11111760000 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-22}}</ref>

On October 24 and October 25, 1937, the 58th and 65th infantry regiments failed to make any progress against the 953rd regiment at Majiazhai and the 98th division in front of Xinmuqiao. The 116th infantry regiment launched a massive assault at the Mengjiazhai position, destroying all fortifications of the 57th division and causing heavy casualties on the Chinese division. Divisional commander Ruan Zhaochang (阮肇昌) requested the 90th division of the 4th corps sent a battalion as support. With the help of reinforcements, the 57th division was able to halt the attack, causing more than 500 casualties on the 116th infantry regiment.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|pp=156–157}}<ref>{{cite web|title=第5章 各時期に於ける戦闘経過及之に関連せる隣接兵団の行動（5） |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915493209793&ID=M2011112915493209805&REFCODE=C11111760100 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-22}}</ref> The next day, aircraft and artillery repeatedly bombed the positions of the 57th division, destroying all the repaired fortifications. The 116th infantry regiment quickly broke through and occupied Mengjiazhai and Gejiatou (葛家頭). On October 26, the 13th division continued attacking but made little progress under tenacious Chinese resistance. On October 27, the 58th infantry regiment broke into the first-line positions south of Guangfu using trench warfare. On the same day, the 3rd battalion of the 65th infantry regiment attempted to cross the Yangjing River. A part of the 10th company was fired upon while crossing the river and all of them were killed. More than 20 troops of the 12th company successfully crossed the river and broke into the southern corner of Majiazhai, but were similarly wiped out by the 953rd regiment. By then, the 3rd battalion had only more than 100 soldiers left.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|pp=155–157}}<ref>{{cite web|title=第5章 各時期に於ける戦闘経過及之に関連せる隣接兵団の行動（6） |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915493209793&ID=M2011112915493209806&REFCODE=C11111760200 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-22}}</ref> The 953rd regiment suffered dozens of casualties in the engagement.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，薛岳電陳誠十一師與敵激戰兩日於二十八日撤至鐘家橋趙家柵之線五十三師依預定計畫調整戰線轉移於張仙廟謝家宅等，典藏號：008-010701-00087-089 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5672106xtHUoQG#c7C]</ref> On that night, 3,234 soldiers and laborers from six supplementary battalions were received by the 66th corps, one-third of whom went to the 159th division and the remaining two-thirds went to the 160th division.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，葉肇電陳誠一五九師九五三團防守老陸宅新洪宅陣地移守新陸宅馬家宅與友軍聯繫敵以砲火及催淚彈轟擊掩護步兵向馬家宅右側衝進我團受毒氣不能射擊等，典藏號：008-010701-00087-091 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5670839wifge5E#43x]</ref>

On October 28, 1937, the 116th infantry regiment launched an offensive supported by howitzers at Xinluzhai (新陸宅), part of the 57th division's defense line,<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=157}} but was unable to break through the position and suffered heavy casualties. Captain Yazaki, the 2nd battalion commander of the regiment, was killed in action leading his men at the front-line. Brigade commander Guan Huimin (官惠民) of the 90th division was killed in action fighting the 116th infantry regiment at Gejiatou.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，薛岳電蔣中正等二十八日十一師與日軍交戰兩日成功阻止日軍另日軍進攻五十七師孟家宅該線未動及譚邃洪團受日機砲轟等，典藏號：002-090200-00032-260 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5673665aNzSJfn#3fl]</ref> On the same day, the 953rd regiment accused the Japanese army of using poison gas.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，葉肇電陳誠一五九師九五三團防守老陸宅新洪宅陣地移守新陸宅馬家宅與友軍聯繫敵以砲火及催淚彈轟擊掩護步兵向馬家宅右側衝進我團受毒氣不能射擊等，典藏號：008-010701-00087-091 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5670839wifge5E#b5J]</ref> From October 23 until October 28, the Japanese 13th division recorded their losses as 2,604 killed or wounded and claimed their enemy's losses since the 22nd as 5,000–6,000 killed or wounded. The next day, two battalions of the 65th infantry regiment attempted to cross the Yangjing River again with the cooperation of artillery and engineers, each battalion having only more than 200 troops left. As they were crossing the river, they were suddenly hit by intensive gunfire and mortar shells. Major Kobata, adjutant of the 65th infantry regiment, was killed in action. Major Yamaguchi, the commander of the 1st battalion, was wounded in action and the attacking troops suffered heavy casualties. The defending 953rd regiment also lost dozens of troops including 1 battalion commander wounded and 1 battalion adjutant killed.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，葉肇電陳誠敵以空砲向我一五九師洪團防守之馬家宅陣地猛烈轟擊陣地全毀隨即以步兵突入後經該團預備隊猛烈反攻遂將該敵擊退雙方傷亡甚重，典藏號：008-010701-00087-077 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5672267heoexFv#08F]</ref> 

The 65th infantry regiment had suffered too many casualties after four failed crossing attempts in nine days. In what was described as 'a thousand years of regret', the 65th infantry regiment was ordered to stop its attack at Majiazhai and withdrew for rest. That night, the Shanghai Expeditionary Army ordered the 13th division to take over the position of the Shigeto Task Force, thus giving up their mission of breaking through Guangfu. On October 30, the 13th division found that the enemy's position had been quiet since last night and judged that they were retreating, and ordered all units to carry out searches and attack the enemy as a final attempt before they were transferred. They discovered that, except for a few positions that had been destroyed after several days of artillery bombardment, the fortifications and defensive positions were still very strong. Moreover, the 104th infantry regiment encountered fierce resistance and was unable to defeat the enemy at the east bank of the Yangjing river. The Chinese army was evidently not in a state of retreat. On that day, the 13th division was ordered to send a task force consisting mostly of the 58th infantry regiment to Chenzhai (陳宅) to assist the 11th division. The remaining units of the 13th division began the process of transferring location on October 31. The 159th division sent a night assault but failed and returned to its original position.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=176}} The next day, except for an artillery battalion and an engineer platoon, the main force of the 13th division left their hard-fought positions and marched north. The 58th infantry regiment attacked Chenzhai with support from artillery and howitzer, but was stubbornly blocked by the 53rd division and the attack failed.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=176}} The infantry regiment was ordered to hand over its position to the 11th division and rejoined the main force. Since then, except for small skirmishes, the Guangfu battlefield had turned into a stalemate until November 12, 1937, when the Chinese withdrew from their positions.<ref>{{cite web|title=第5章 各時期に於ける戦闘経過及之に関連せる隣接兵団の行動（7） |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915493209793&ID=M2011112915493209807&REFCODE=C11111760300 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-22}}</ref>

In the battles near Guangfu, the China Expeditionary Army invested a part of the 9th division and the main force of the 13th division. The 19th army group invested the main force of the 13th and 98th divisions, approximately one division or four regiments from the 66th corps, and a part of the 9th, 57th, and 90th divisions. The Japanese 9th division failed to destroy the Chinese troops in Guangfu and the Japanese 13th division failed to break through Guangfu, though it tied down 4–5 Chinese divisions. Except for a few forward positions such as Xinmuqiao, Sanjiaqiao, and Laoluzhai, the main positions around Guangfu remained standing until the Chinese withdrawal from Shanghai. From October 2 until October 22, the Chinese 13th division suffered 1,983 killed and 2,155 wounded, with only 1,260 combat soldiers left including 802 veterans, 188 hospitalized from sickness, and 270 who had recovered from light wounds or sickness.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，陸軍十三師淞滬抗日十月份現有人員及傷亡並擬請補充統計表，典藏號：008-010701-00056-001 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5668036yZ28xSA#02F]</ref> The specific casualties of other Chinese units are unknown.

According to the statistical table of the Japanese 13th division, the unit suffered 1,782 killed, 3,217 wounded, and 4 missing from October 7 until November 1 and claimed 78 Chinese soldiers captured.<ref>{{cite web|title=附表其1～其4 第13師団死傷表他 |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915493209793&ID=M2011112915493309812&REFCODE=C11111760800 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-22}}</ref> According to the battle summary of the division, the unit suffered approximately 1,900 combat and non-combat deaths and approximately 3,900 wounded and claimed its enemy suffering approximately 20,000 casualties including approximately 4,130 abandoned corpses and approximately 40 captured.<ref>{{cite web|title=第6章 戦闘の成績 |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915493209793&ID=M2011112915493209808&REFCODE=C11111760400 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-04-22}}</ref>

== Third Phase (October 27 – November 26) ==
=== Chinese withdrawal from Shanghai city ===
[[File:Shanghai1937IJA_north_station.jpg|right|thumb|Japanese troops reaching the destroyed North Station in downtown Shanghai]]
Starting the night of October 26, 1937, the Chinese began withdrawing from Shanghai's urban center. Because Dachang and other vital suburban towns had been lost already, Chiang Kai-shek ordered the Chinese troops to retreat from Zhabei, Jiangwan (江灣), and other positions that the troops had held for seventy-five days without faltering. However, Chiang ordered one battalion of the 88th Division remain in Zhabei to defend the [[Sihang Warehouse]] on the northern bank of the [[Suzhou Creek]].

=== Battle of the Sihang Warehouse ===
{{See also|Defense of Sihang Warehouse}}
[[File:Japaneseattacksihang.jpg|thumb|Japanese infantry scale the damaged west wall of the Sihang Warehouse. ]]
Under the leadership of Whampoa Colonel [[Xie Jinyuan]], the 1st battalion of the 524th regiment rallied some 411 men and officers to make a stand in the five-story "Four Banks" Warehouse (Sihang Warehouse). The building was situated on the Suzhou Creek across from the International Settlement, and was reinforced with rifle slots, machine gun nests and sandbags.<ref name=":72">{{Cite web |last=Niderost |first=Eric |date=2007 |title=Chinese Alamo: Last Stand at Sihang Warehouse |url=https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/chinese-alamo-last-stand-at-sihang-warehouse/ |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=Warfare History Network}}</ref>
Between October 27 and November 1, 1937, the 1st Battalion defended Sihang Warehouse against multiple attacks from the Japanese.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Robinson |first=Stephen |title=Eight Hundred Heroes: China's Lost Battalion and the Fall of Shanghai |date=2022 |publisher=Exisle Publishing |pages=66}}</ref><ref name=":72" /> The warehouse's ten-foot thick walls and proximity to the International Settlement nullified Japanese advantages in firepower, as the Japanese feared accidentally hitting the foreign concessions. As a result, the Chinese managed to beat back several Japanese attacks, which were witnessed by crowds of tens of thousands Westerners and Chinese across the creek. At one point, girl guide [[Yang Huimin]] smuggled a Chinese Nationalist flag into the warehouse, which the defenders then raised as a symbol of defiance.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |publisher=Casemate |year=2013 |pages=187–206}}</ref>[[File:Sihang_1937.jpg|thumb|The Chinese flag flying over Sihang Warehouse]]Eventually, Chiang ordered the battalion to retreat. Under Japanese artillery and machine gun fire, the Chinese defenders were able to escape into the nearby International Settlement, where they were interned by British authorities. Most of the 1st Battalion survived intact: just over 30 Chinese defenders had been killed in action.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Clodfelter |first=Micheal |title=Warfare and Armed Conflicts: A Statistical Encyclopedia of Casualty and Other Figures, 1492–2015 |date=2017 |publisher=McFarland & Company |edition=4th |pages=392}}</ref> According to relevant Japanese materials, the attacking Japanese SNLF forces recorded suffering three fatal casualties among the forty-two wounded during the takeover of Zhabei, including one fatal casualty near Sihang Warehouse.<ref name="C141206196002">{{cite web |title=11．閘北進撃戦（10月27日） |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2015010515341261457&ID=M2015010515341261474&REFCODE=C14120619600 |access-date=24 March 2023 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records}}</ref><ref name="支那事変尽忠録 第三卷2">{{cite book |url=https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/1906225/1/ |title=支那事変尽忠録 第三卷 |publisher=海軍省教育局 |pages=227–235 |access-date=24 March 2023}}</ref><ref group="Note">"閘北進撃戦" - "Assault on Zhabei" covers the Japanese capture of Zhabei on October 27 and the occupation of Sihang Warehouse completed on October 31. The second page lists the following casualties for the entire operation from Oct 27–31: "3 heavily wounded, 24 lightly wounded, and 14 barely wounded." "支那事変尽忠録 第三卷" – "China Incident Loyalty Record: Volume 3," a catalog of all Imperial Japanese Navy personnel killed in action or fatally wounded from the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War until December 11, 1937 has only a single entry relating to fatal casualties around Sihang Warehouse. Page 231 titled "同年十月三十日上海閘北四行倉庫附近ニ於ケル戰傷後死者" – "Same Year [1937] October 30: Those who died of their battle wounds while fighting around the Shanghai Sihang Warehouse" lists Naval Special Duty Ensign [posthumous rank] Tanaka Shiroku (田中士陸). pp. 231–232 further states "Warrant Officer Tanaka was a platoon leader in the Haji Corps, Sunouchi Company, landing at Shanghai on the evening of August 19 and being placed under the Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force Commander's authority." Page 233 continues "Tanaka was heavily wounded by an enemy machine gun round passing through his lower left leg at 6:25 PM [on Oct 30]. He was bandaged at his position and immediately transferred to the hospital for treatment. He temporarily improved in health but by November 2 his condition suddenly worsened and on the same day at 3:30 p.m. he honorably died of his battle wounds."</ref> Colonel Xie initially reported to the newspaper Zhongyang Ribao that his men had killed over 100 Japanese troops before retreating.<ref name="Zhongyang Ribao2">{{cite news |date=November 1, 1937 |title=Standing firm in isolation and hardship for four days, the 800 heroes followed orders and made their retreat (CN:堅守孤壘苦鬥四日八百壮士遵命撤退) |url=https://archive.org/details/zhongyang-ribao-1937.11.01/page/n1/mode/2up |access-date=23 August 2023 |publisher=Zhongyang Ribao}}</ref><ref group="Note">The original Zhongyang Ribao (Central Daily) newspaper article quotes Xie Jinyuan as stating "殲敵百餘" – "an excess of 100 of the enemy destroyed."</ref> Military historian Stephen Robinson has claimed the Japanese lost some 200 men in their effort to take the warehouse.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Robinson |first=Stephen |title=Eight Hundred Heroes: China's lost battalion and the fall of Shanghai. |date=2022 |publisher=Exisle Publishing |page=117}}</ref>

Chiang wanted the Chinese military presence to remain in Shanghai as long as possible to have a positive reflection on the ongoing [[Nine-Power Treaty Conference]] that was in session in [[Brussels]], with the hopes for possible intervention from Western powers. The rest of the Chinese troops crossed the Suzhou Creek and regrouped to engage the Japanese troops.

=== Fighting around Suzhou Creek ===
[[File:Chinese soldiers guarding Shanghai International Settlement - Battle of Shanghai (1937).png|thumb|Chinese fortifications near the Shanghai International Settlement, October 1937.]]
Chiang's original plan was to fight in areas south of the [[Suzhou Creek]] and inflict as many Japanese casualties as possible. However, through three months of intense fighting, Chinese troop strength had been greatly reduced. Most units had their strength halved, and as a result a division had the fighting capability of less than two [[regiment]]s. By now, the Chinese army needed between eight and twelve divisions to match the fighting strength of just one Japanese division. Thus, Chinese commanders were pessimistic about the outcome of the Suzhou Creek combat.

[[Li Zongren]], [[Bai Chongxi]], [[Zhang Fakui]] and other commanders insisted that the Chinese troops should enter the Wufu and Xicheng defense lines to protect Nanjing, but Chiang wanted the Chinese troops to continue fighting on the southern bank of Suzhou Creek. On October 28, 1937, Chiang arrived in the battlefield to boost the morale of his troops. However, the situation was bleak. On October 30, the Japanese crossed Suzhou River and the Chinese troops were in danger of encirclement. The Chinese army was at its limit of endurance.[[File:Japanese_naval_infantry_near_Sanyili,_Shanghai.jpg|right|thumb|Japanese troops crawling through the ruins]]

On October 31, the Japanese 3rd division began landing at the east side of the Suzhou Creek and was blocked by the Chinese 88th division, Tax Police Corps, and a part of the 36th division. The next day, the 61st division and a part of the 87th division resisted the landing of the Japanese 9th division at the west side of the creek. On November 2, the 67th division and the recently arrived 46th division were ordered to move towards the western defense line of the Suzhou Creek. On November 3 and November 4, 1937, the Chinese and Japanese troops at the eastern defense line of the Suzhou Creek were engaged in tug-of-war battles with few gains, during which General [[Sun Li-jen]] of the 2nd task force of the Tax Police Corps was badly wounded. On the west, the Chinese defenders was unable to block the advance of the 9th division. The 61st division quickly suffered more than 3,000 casualties in just several days of fighting and regimental commander Ji Keipei (季苇佩) was killed in action. The 46th division also suffered heavy casualties, with the losses of two of its regiments exceeding 50% and 3 battalion commanders were killed, wounded, or went mising. On November 5, the 46th division was replaced by the 154th division.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|pp=169–172}} The 67th division also suffered heavy casualties and handed over the Qujiaqiao (屈家橋) line to a part of the Training Division while it withdrew.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=182}} 

On the eastern side, the 36th division faced a massive assault from the Japanese 3rd division on November 5. One infantry company and one machine gun platoon were completely wiped out under artillery bombardment. The division repeatedly launched counterattacks as the soldiers desperately held their ground. The 612th regiment of the Guizhou 102nd division was put under the command of the 36th division. Casualties were extremely heavy, with the 212th regiment reduced to no more than 80 troops. The 36th division suffered more than 1,200 killed or wounded on that day alone. On November 6, 1937, the 348th regiment of the 58th division was also put under the command of the 36th division. By the end of the day, the 36th division had suffered an additional more than 600 casualties. Its 211th regiment had only 60 combat soldiers left and its 216th regiment had only more than 50 combat soldiers left. On November 7, the Japanese 3rd division attacked Qujiazhai (趣家宅). The 36th division and the two attached regiments fought hard but were unable to stop the 3rd division from occupying the location. On November 8, the Japanese 3rd division blasted the positions of the 36th division with artillery. The 215th regiment was reduced to just over 20 combat soldiers. The 88th division sent two companies to stabilize the front alongside a part of the 102nd division. By the end of the day, the defense lines of the 36th division had been almost completely broken through. During the battle, the 36th division was supposed to be supplemented with two regiments from the 34th division. However, more than half of the soldiers took the opportunity to desert after they were bombed by Japanese aircraft while on route to the 36th division.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，宋希濂電蔣中正錢宗澤撥補之三十四師兩團經日機砲轟後官長已逃亡淨盡另請補充三十六師兵員，典藏號：002-090200-00033-250 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5694239wG9YHBV#15F]</ref> In the battles along the Suzhou Creek from 27 October until 8 November, 1937, the 36th division suffered 2,511 killed, wounded, or missing and its four regiments had a total of only 860 combat soldiers left even with the additional 1,400 soldiers from the 34th division.<ref name="戰鬥詳報"/>{{rp|p=127–144}}{{rp|p=151}}<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=184}}

On the western side, the Japanese 9th division continued expanding its results. The 105th division of the Northeastern Army and the Training Division of the Central Army were deployed to block the Japanese division. Gu Huiquan (顧惠全), the commander of the 626th regiment of the 105th division, was killed in action while supervising the front-line. The Training Division defended Qujia Bridge and Bazi Bridge against repeated Japanese attacks, and the casualties of the unit quickly reached more than 3,000 after just several days of fighting.<ref>{{cite book |title=抗日战争正面战场（上）|publisher=凤凰出版社 |date=2005 |page=449}}</ref> Due to the retreat of the Right Wing Force after the Japanese landing at Jinshanwei, the soldiers of the Left Wing Force also began its withdrawal to the Wufu Line.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|pp=185–186}}

=== Japanese landings at Jinshanwei ===
[[File:Hangzhoubay.jpg|thumb|Japanese soldiers land in the Jinshanwei Harbor near Hangzhou]]
[[File:Shanghai1937IJA_hangzhou_bay.jpg|right|thumb|Japanese rear guard units landing supplies in Jinshanwei]]
As early as October 12, 1937, the Japanese chiefs of staff had already formulated plans to force a landing in Jinshanwei (金山衛), a town located on the northern bank of [[Hangzhou Bay]], south of the Shanghai region. The Jinshanwei landings would facilitate a northward push into Shanghai, to complement the landings in northeastern towns, such as the ones around Baoshan between late August and mid-September, which brought about a southward push.

Chiang Kai-shek was aware of the Japanese plan to encircle his army in Shanghai from the north and the south, and had already ordered his commanders to take precautions of the possible Japanese landings at Jinshanwei. However, the impending fall of Dachang in late October forced Chiang to redeploy the Chinese divisions originally stationed along the northern coast of Hangzhou Bay.

As a result, the lack of Chinese defenses allowed the Japanese 10th Army Corps, composed of units diverted from the [[Battle of Taiyuan]] in the North China Theater, to land easily in Jinshanwei on November 5, 1937, as the position was defended by only two companies of the 63rd division.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=179}} Jinshanwei was only forty kilometers away from the banks of Suzhou River where the Chinese troops had just retreated from the fall of Dachang.

== Road to Nanjing ==
=== Decision to take Nanjing ===
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2018}}
In October, the SEF was reinforced by the [[Tenth Army (Japan)|Japanese 10th Army]] commanded by Lieutenant General [[Heisuke Yanagawa]]. On 7 November, [[Japanese Central China Area Army]] (CCAA) was organized by combining the SEF and the 10th Army, with Matsui appointed as its commander-in-chief concurrently with that of the SEF. After winning the battles around Shanghai, the SEF suggested the [[Imperial General Headquarters]] in Tokyo to attack Nanking.

The CCAA was rearranged and Lieutenant General [[Prince Asaka (Yasuhiko)]], an uncle of Emperor [[Hirohito]], was appointed as the commander of the SEF, while Matsui stayed as the commander of CCAA overseeing both the SEF and the 10th Army. The real nature of Matsui's authority is however difficult to establish as he was confronted with a member of the [[Imperial Family of Japan|imperial family]] directly appointed by the Emperor. In anticipation of the attack on Nanking, Matsui issued orders to his armies that read:<blockquote>Nanjing is the capital of China and the capture thereof is an international affair; therefore, careful study should be made so as to exhibit the honor and glory of Japan and augment the trust of the Chinese people, and that the battle in the vicinity of Shanghai is aimed at the subjugation of the Chinese Army, therefore protect and patronize Chinese officials and people, as far as possible; the Army should always bear in mind not to involve foreign residents and armies in trouble and maintain close liaison with foreign authorities in order to avoid misunderstandings.</blockquote>On December 2, [[Emperor Showa]] nominated one of his uncles, [[Prince Asaka]], as commander of the invasion. It is difficult to establish if, as a member of the imperial family, Asaka had a superior status to general [[Iwane Matsui]], who was officially the commander in chief, but it is clear that, as the top-ranking officer, he had authority over division commanders, lieutenant-generals [[Kesago Nakajima]] and [[Heisuke Yanagawa]].

=== Japanese advance toward Nanjing ===
After securing control of Shanghai, the Japanese army began its advance towards Nanjing on November 11, 1937, approaching the city from different directions.
[[File:Iwane_Matui_and_Asakanomiya_on_Parade_of_Nanking.jpg|right|thumb|[[Iwane Matsui]] riding into [[Nanjing]] on December 17, 1937]]
The Japanese advance to Nanjing can be characterized as a "forced march". Almost all units covered the distance of almost 400 kilometers in about a month. Assuming that capture of the Chinese capital would be the decisive turning point in the war, there was an eagerness to be among the first to claim the honor of victory.<ref name="Higashinakano Shudo, Kobayashi Susumu & Fukunaga Shainjiro 2005 author=Higashinakano Shudo, Kobayashi Susumu & Fukunaga Shainjiro2">{{cite web |author=Higashinakano Shudo, Kobayashi Susumu & Fukunaga Shainjiro |year=2005 |title=Analyzing the 'Photographic Evidence' of the Nanking Massacre (originally published as Nankin Jiken: "Shokoshashin" wo Kenshosuru) |url=http://www.sdh-fact.com/CL02_1/26_S4.pdf |publisher=Soshisha |location=Tokyo, Japan}}</ref>

The Japanese army was engaged by Chinese soldiers on a number of occasions on the way to Nanjing. As a general rule, they were heavily outnumbered. As the Japanese came closer to Nanjing, the fighting grew in both frequency and severity.<ref name="Higashinakano Shudo, Kobayashi Susumu & Fukunaga Shainjiro 2005 author=Higashinakano Shudo, Kobayashi Susumu & Fukunaga Shainjiro2" />

=== Chinese retreat from Shanghai ===
Japanese landings at Jinshanwei meant that the Chinese army had to retire from the Shanghai front and attempt a breakout. However, Chiang Kai-shek still placed some hope that the Nine-Power Treaty would result in a [[International sanctions|sanction]] against Japan by Western powers. It was not until November 8 that the Chinese central command issued a general retreat to withdraw from the entire Shanghai front. A regiment of the 55th division alongside the Shanghai police force and security regiment were ordered to defend Nanshi. After three days of fighting, the remaining more than 3,000 policemen, soldiers, and security members retreated to the French Concession on November 11 and were interned.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (三)"/>{{rp|p=188}}<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，蔡勁軍電錢大鈞查張旅長奉命入租界撤退後住址未明並已請俞鴻鈞辦理收容軍警團隊另請示可否俟市府統籌職局事務後再入京報告，典藏號：002-090105-00003-487 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5551393I7mEDU1#63J]</ref> The 67th Corps and 43rd Corps were ordered to hold Songjiang for 3 days to cover the retreat of the army.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=181}} All other Chinese units were ordered to move toward western towns such as [[Kunshan]], and then from there enter the final defense lines to stop the Japanese from reaching Nanjing.

By then, the Chinese army was utterly exhausted, and with a severe shortage of ammunition and supplies, the defense was faltering. In Songjiang, the 67th Corps and 43rd Corps had already been exhausted from previous battles and had not fully recovered their losses. The 67th Corps of the Northeastern Army was originally deployed in the North China front to fight in the [[Beiping–Hankou Railway Operation]] and the [[Tianjin–Pukou Railway Operation]] from September 10 until October 10, 1937, The corps had suffered casualties exceeding 6,000 and the two divisions under the corps had just over 5,000 combat soldiers left.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，吳克仁電蔣中正六十七軍姚馬渡大城等戰役傷亡官兵數量並計戰鬥兵餘五千幹部傷亡三分之二輕重機槍遭破壞現在臨漳附近收容等情，典藏號：002-090200-00034-342 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5555216B4AvcZ7#16F]</ref> Due to deteriorating situation in the Shanghai battlefield, the 67th Corps was ordered to move south and only reached Songjiang at the night of November 6.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (二)"/>{{rp|p=180}} The 20th Corps and 43rd Corps of the Sichuan Army arrived in the Shanghai battlefield alongside the 21st Army Group of the Guangxi Army on October 14. The 43rd Corps, consisting of only the 26th division, fought north of Dachang from October 17 until October 23. By the time the unit handed over its defense position to the 18th division and withdrew to Qingpu for rest, there were only just over a hundred combat soldiers left.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，顧祝同電蔣中正據報二十六師接替大場北沿滬太公路黃家宅等一帶陣地及抗日與損失情況等並請速撥補該師及該軍長自請處分請予免議，典藏號：002-090200-00032-087 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5555303dAKhp=C#6cC]</ref> 

In early November the 43rd Corps was ordered to defend Songjiang with the 67th Corps. Seven companies under battalion commander Liu Zhangnan (劉長柟) was put under the command of the 107th division. On November 8, 1937, the Japanese 6th division left behind the Kunizaki Task Force attached to the division to attack Songjiang while the division rushed towards Qingpu. By the 10th, Songjiang had fallen, with the casualties of the 67th Corps reaching seventy to eighty percent.<ref>國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，陸軍十八師出征滬西攜帶械彈器材等項及大場戰役損失與現有數量比較表，陸軍十六師人馬械彈傷亡損耗俘獲簡報表，各部傷亡登記表等，典藏號：008-010701-00107-003 [https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5398278NcgH-i0#839d]</ref> 

Corps commander Wu Keren (吳克仁), chief of staff of the corps Wu Tonggang (吳桐崗), chief of staff of the 107th division Deng Yuzhou (鄧玉琢), brigade commanders Zhu Zhirong (朱之榮) and Liu Qiwen (劉啟文), and 3 regimental commanders were killed in action.<ref>{{cite book |title=民国军事史略稿 |date=1987| publisher=中华书局|last=Kefu |first=Jiang |page=79}}</ref> Most of the seven companies of the 43rd Corps were lost in Songjiang, as the corps commander reported the corps taking in only more than 300 survivors by December 17.<ref>[https://ahonline.drnh.gov.tw/index.php?act=Display/image/5555348britNR4#abl 國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統，郭汝棟電蔣中正第四十三軍此次松江戰役擔任防務暨偵察情形，典藏號：002-090105-00003-556]</ref> The Kunizaki Task Force claimed to have killed about 2,000 soldiers of the 107th and 108th divisions in Songjiang and captured 5,286 while suffering 24 killed and 103 wounded. The task force marched east and attacked Beiqiao Town (北橋鎮), claiming to have killed at least 2,000 soldiers and captured 733 from the 45th independent brigade and possibly remnants of the 67th and 43rd Corps that managed to break out of Songjiang<ref group="Note">The task force claimed that the enemies in Beiqiao Town were the 132nd division of the 29th Corps and the 45th independent brigade, but the 132nd division was still in North China at the time.</ref> while suffering only 6 killed and 11 wounded.<ref>{{cite web|title=松江附近戦闘詳報 （第7号） 自昭和12年11月8日至昭和12年11月13日 國崎支隊 |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915390303625&ID=M2011112915390303627&REFCODE=C11111142300 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-03-15}}</ref> Ikuhiko Hata believed that since what happened to the POWs after their capture is unknown, many of the prisoners might have been killed.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ikuhiko |first=Hata |title=Nankyō Jihen |publisher=Chūō kōronsha |year=1986 |pages=73}}</ref> 

On November 9, 1937, Japanese planes bombed the retreating Right Wing Force all day long, causing heavy casualties. The bombings cause damages on the bridges over the Suzhou River and divisions compete to cross the river first. On November 11, the 6th division engaged in fierce fighting with the 51st and 58th divisions of the 74th Corps at Qingpu. The commander of the 147th brigade of the 58th division, Wu Jiguang (吳繼光), was killed in action. On November 12, the 74th Corps retreated to Kunshan, the 51st division having suffered more than 2,800 casualties.<ref name="淞滬會戰 (三)" />{{rp|p=191–192}} In the battles of Songjiang and Qingpu, the 6th division and the Kunizaki Task Force suffered 121 killed and 377 wounded.<ref>{{cite web|title=戦時旬報（第11号） 自昭和12年11月11日至昭和12年11月18日 第6師団司令部 |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=default&BID=F2011112915380002457&ID=M2011112915380002459&REFCODE=C11111025500 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-03-15}}</ref> Kunshan was lost in only two days, and the remaining troops began moving toward the Wufu Line fortifications on November 13. The Chinese army was fighting with the last of its strength and the frontline was on the verge of collapse.

In the chaos that ensued many Chinese units were broken up and lost contact with their communications officers who had the maps and layouts to the fortifications. In addition, once they arrived at Wufu Line, the Chinese troops discovered that some of the civilian officials were not there to receive them as they had already fled and had taken the keys with them. The battered Chinese troops, who had just emerged from the bloodbath in Shanghai and were hoping to enter the defense lines, found that they were not able to utilize these fortifications.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

The Wufu Line was penetrated on November 19, 1937, and the Chinese troops then moved toward Xicheng Line, which they were forced to give up on November 26 in the midst of the onslaught. The "Chinese Hindenburg Line", which the government had spent millions to construct and was the final line of defense between Shanghai and Nanjing, collapsed in only two weeks. The Battle of Shanghai was over. However, fighting continued without a pause on the road to China's capital and the ensuing combat immediately led into the [[Battle of Nanjing]].

By early December, Japanese troops had reached the outskirts of Nanking.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nanking |url=https://web.stanford.edu/~kcook/history.html |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=web.stanford.edu}}</ref>

After its success in the Battle of Shanghai, Japan did not immediately occupy the [[Shanghai International Settlement]] or the [[Shanghai French Concession]], areas which were outside of China's control due to the [[Treaty ports|treaty port]] system.<ref name=":022">{{Cite book |last=Coble |first=Parks M. |author-link=Parks M. Coble |title=The Collapse of Nationalist China: How Chiang Kai-shek Lost China's Civil War |date=2023 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-1-009-29761-5 |location=Cambridge; New York, NY}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=11–12}} Japan moved into these areas after its 1941 declaration of war against the United States and the United Kingdom.<ref name=":022" />{{Rp|page=12}} It seized most of the banks in these areas of Shanghai and declared that the Nationalist currency [[History of Chinese currency#Fabi|fabi]] had to be exchanged for bank notes of the [[Wang Jingwei regime]].<ref name=":022" />{{Rp|page=15}}

== Casualties ==
The battle saw both sides suffer an enormous amount of casualties, especially the Chinese forces, who had inferior armaments as compared to the Japanese. A Chinese historian at the time stated that it was "the bloodiest battle... since [[Battle of Verdun|Verdun]]."<ref name=":63" /> There are differing estimates and reports of the number of casualties each side suffered.
[[File:Chinese_armed_force_rescues_the_wounded_in_WWII.jpg|right|thumb|Chinese treating casualties from Japanese gas attacks]]
[[File:Chinesedeadshanghai.jpg|thumb|Chinese soldiers killed in downtown Shanghai]]
According to historians Peter Harmsen, [[Rana Mitter]] and [[Richard B. Frank|Richard Frank]], China suffered 187,200 killed and wounded defending the city per an official Chinese report on November 5.<ref name=":42">{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |publisher=Casemate |year=2013 |pages=247}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mitter |first=Rana |title=Forgotten Ally: China's World War II, 1937–1945 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |year=2013 |pages=106}}</ref><ref name=":102">{{Cite book |last=Frank |first=Richard |title=Tower of Skulls: A History of the Asia-Pacific War |date=2020 |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |pages=35}}</ref> Contemporary Japanese estimates for Chinese military casualties were roughly 250,000 including some 67,000 killed.<ref name=":42" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 3, 1937 |title=A Quarter Million Casualties: Chinese Losses Estimated at High Figure |url=https://archive.org/details/north-china-herald-1937.11.03/page/174/mode/2up?view=theater |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=The North China Herald |pages=175}}</ref> Frank Dorn, an American military officer stationed in China at the time, put total Chinese casualties for the entire Shanghai campaign (including the retreat) at 240,000 casualties, of which 130,000 were suffered before October 20.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dorn |first=Frank |title=The Sino-Japanese War, 1937–41;: From Marco Polo Bridge to Pearl Harbor |date=1974 |publisher=Macmillan |pages=78}}</ref> Hsi-Sheng Chi stated that China suffered some 300,000 casualties during the battle.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chi |first=Hsi-sheng |url=https://archive.org/details/nationalistchina0000chih/mode/1up |title=Nationalist China at War: Military Defeats and Political Collapse, 1937–45 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |year=1982 |isbn=9780472100187 |pages=43 |language=en}}</ref> The Ministry of Military Affairs counted 229,382 casualties from August 13 until November 15. As many units of the Sichuan and Guangxi armies had not yet reported their losses, total casualties were estimated at 300,000.<ref name="軍政部" /> The high Chinese casualties were due to a combination of factors, including tactical reliance on costly frontal assaults, Japanese superiorities in airpower and naval artillery, poor medical services, and the near-fanatical resistance of Chinese defenders who were willing to fight to the death on numerous occasions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |page=248}}</ref>

The Japanese claimed their casualties in the Shanghai campaign amounted to 9,115 killed and 31,257 injured.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937, Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |page=251}}</ref> Historian Peter Harmsen notes that this figure is possibly understated, as [[Iwane Matsui]] had recorded in his diary that his forces had sustained over 18,000 deaths to combat and disease in the Shanghai-Nanjing Campaign.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937, Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |page=292}}</ref> Historian [[Richard B. Frank|Richard Frank]] agrees, and states the official Japanese figures fail to convey the extent of their losses sustained during the campaign, especially the four most heavily engaged divisions such as the [[9th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|9th division]], which suffered a 94% casualty rate.<ref name=":102" /> According to official Japanese military records compiled by [[Ikuhiko Hata]], the five divisions most involved in combat (3rd, 9th, 11th, 13th, 101st) suffered 42,202 casualties including 11,072 killed in action, although this number doesn't include losses from the [[Special Naval Landing Forces]] or any of the divisions deployed in October.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ikuhiko |first=Hata |title=Nankyō Jihen |publisher=Chūō kōronsha |year=1986 |page=93}}</ref> The army ministry recorded the casualties of the 9th division in the battle of Shanghai and battle of Nanjing at 4,357 killed (including deaths from wounds) and 9,690 wounded, of which 12,000 casualties or 3,833 killed and 8,527 wounded occurred in the Battle of Shanghai near Guangfu and the Suzhou River from October 2 until November 7.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chapter 1 General remarks| url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=eng&BID=F2011112915492609710&ID=M2011112915492709716&REFCODE=C11111751200 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-05-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Chapter 2 Operation progress |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=eng&BID=F2011112915492609710&ID=M2011112915492709717&REFCODE=C11111751300 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-05-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Chapter 6 Conclusion |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=eng&BID=F2011112915492609710&ID=M2011112915492709721&REFCODE=C11111751700 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-05-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=[appended table 1, appended chart 1-11, appendix 1-3] |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/listPhoto?LANG=eng&BID=F2011112915492609710&ID=M2011112915492709722&REFCODE=C11111751800 |website=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records| access-date=2025-05-12}}</ref> According to the Japanese Official Gazette documenting wartime casualties, the Japanese forces had suffered nearly 20,000 fatalities in the fighting for Shanghai, of which nearly 18,800 were combat deaths.<ref>{{Cite web |title=淞沪会战是抗战中打的最惨烈的战役吗? |url=https://www.zhihu.com/question/268004133/answer/1046352624 |access-date=February 28, 2025}}</ref>[[File:Shanghai1937IJA_suzhou_river_casualty.jpg|right|thumb|A Japanese casualty is evacuated during fighting at the Suzhou Creek.]]Chinese wartime records indicate that the Japanese suffered over 60,000 casualties in the three months of combat around Shanghai.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wu |first=Ha-Hsiung |title=History of the Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) |date=1972 |publisher=Chung Wu |page=176}}</ref> [[Jonathan Fenby]] provides a similar number, claiming the Japanese suffered some 70,000 casualties in the battle.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fenby |first=Jonathan |title=Chiang Kai Shek: China's Generalissimo and the Nation He Lost |date=2005 |publisher=Da Capo Press |pages=301}}</ref> Benjamin Lai provides higher figures, estimating the Japanese suffered a total of 93,000 to 99,000 casualties, including 17,000 combat deaths plus about 1,800 illness-induced deaths, making a total of almost 19,000 deaths, with another 35,000–40,000 wounded and 40,000 sick, for a combined total of 363,700 to 369,700 casualties.{{sfn|Lai|2017|pp=87–88}} According to research done by James Paulose, the Japanese suffered 92,640 casualties and the Chinese suffered over 333,500 casualties based on the memoir of He Yingqin,<ref>{{cite book |title=傳記文學 |date=1981 |publisher=傳記文學雜誌社 |volume=39 |page=108}}</ref> for a combined total of at least 426,140 casualties.<ref name=":32" />

== Atrocities ==
Numerous atrocities were committed during the Shanghai Campaign, especially by the Japanese forces.
[[File:Chinese_prisoners_of_war_at_Shanghai,_August_1937.jpg|thumb|Captured Chinese soldiers on August 23, 1937. The seal on the left, placed by the Japanese Censorship Bureau, reads "not permitted". There is a dead prisoner in the lower right hand corner.]]
Japanese troops rarely took prisoners, if ever. Captives, including civilians accused of spying, were interrogated and disposed of once they had no more information to offer. According to Iwane Matsui's diary, every single one of the 500 Chinese POWs captured around Wusong was shot.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Nanjing Datusha Shiliaoji |date=2005 |edition=8th |page=46}}</ref> Executions were typically conducted by decapitation with swords, but it was not uncommon for more gruesome methods to be used: injured Chinese prisoners were often tied together face-down, doused in gasoline, and then burned alive.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=166–167}}</ref>
[[File:BattleofShanghaiwarcrime.png|thumb|A Japanese soldier executes a Chinese prisoner by cutting his throat. Several more bodies are visible. Late October, 1937. ]]
Civilians and non-combatants were also targeted. For example, the Japanese machine gunned crowds of refugees by the Jessfield Railway Bridge, and deliberately strafed refugee columns near Brenan road.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=200–201}}</ref> To compensate for supply shortages, Japanese troops often looted from local towns and villages, frequently massacring their civilian inhabitants in the process.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Katsuichi |first=Honda |title=The Nanjing Massacre: A Japanese Journalist Confronts Japan's National Shame |date=1999 |publisher=M. E. Sharpe |location=Armonk, NY |pages=32–36}}</ref> Japanese aircraft deliberately targeted anything that bore the Red Cross, frequently strafing or bombing ambulances transporting wounded Chinese soldiers, civilians and medical personnel.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |pages=206–207}}</ref>

On the other hand, the Chinese implemented [[Scorched earth|scorched earth tactics]] to deny Japanese forces local resources. This meant burning buildings and fields, destroying harvests, killing animals and poisoning wells, causing massive property damage to Shanghai.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harmsen |first=Peter |title=Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze |date=2013 |publisher=Casemate |page=229}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
[[File:日軍拆下孫中山銅像.jpg|thumb|Japanese soldiers pose next to a toppled bronze statue of [[Sun Yat-sen]] after capturing Shanghai.]]

=== Loss of Central Army military strength ===
[[File:Shanghai1937KMT_officers.jpg|right|thumb|250x250px|China's officer corps took a particularly strong hit in the battle.]]
Even though the Battle of Shanghai was only the first of the twenty-two major battles fought between China and Japan, Chiang Kai-shek's decision to send his best troops into the battle had significant repercussions. At the outbreak of the war, the Chinese NRA boasted a standing army of some 1.75&nbsp;million troops, but the combat strength was significantly lower as the majority of the Chinese troops were poorly trained and poorly equipped.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Niderost |first1=Eric |date=17 August 2015 |title=The Fall Of Shanghai: Prelude To The Rape Of Nanking & WWII |url=https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/the-fall-of-shanghai-prelude-to-the-rape-of-nanking-wwii/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007061645/http://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/the-fall-of-shanghai-prelude-to-the-rape-of-nanking-wwii/ |archive-date=7 October 2018 |access-date=4 November 2018 |website=Warfare History Archive}}</ref> Only about 300,000 were comparatively better trained. These troops were reorganized into some 20 newly formed divisions. Of these, around 80,000 had belonged to the [[German-trained division]]s that composed the elite units of Chiang Kai-shek's Central Army. However, even these divisions were not sufficiently supported by combined arms or modern logistics. Thus, out of a grand total of almost two million men-in-arms, less than one hundred thousand Chinese troops were able to fight Japan on more or less equal terms.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

Chiang Kai-shek's decision to commit his elite divisions to fight in Shanghai caused his elite units to suffer some sixty percent disproportionate casualties.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peck |first1=Michael |date=30 May 2016 |title=Shanghai 1937: This Is China's Forgotten Stalingrad |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/shanghai-1937-chinas-forgotten-stalingrad-16396 |website=The National Interest}}</ref> In one single blow, Chiang also lost some 10,000 of the 25,000 junior officers trained by the [[Whampoa Military Academy]] between 1929 and 1937, in addition to some tens of thousands of potential military officers. Chiang Kai-shek's Central Army was never to recover from these devastating losses. By the time the 88th Division, arguably the best of these elite divisions, began its defense of Nanjing, it had been reduced to seven thousand men, of whom three thousand were new recruits to replace the losses.

Losses to the Nationalist army's very small stock of armor were also significant. The Chinese deployed three tank battalions in the battle and its immediate aftermath. The 1st Battalion had 32 [[Vickers-Carden-Loyd Light Amphibious Tank|VCL Amphibious Tanks]] and some 6-ton [[Vickers Mark E]] tanks. The 2nd Battalion also in Shanghai had 20 Vickers Mark E tanks, 4 VCL Tanks and [[Carden Loyd tankette]]s. The 3rd Battalion had 10 [[Panzer I]] light tanks, 20 [[L3/35|CV35]] tankettes, and some [[Leichter Panzerspähwagen]] armored cars. Almost all of these were lost during the battles in Shanghai and later on in Nanjing.<ref name="Klemen2">{{cite web |last=Takizawa |first=Akira |date=1999–2000 |title=Chinese Nationalist Armour in World War II |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/china_armour.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321233313/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/china_armour.html |archive-date=2011-03-21 |work=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942}}</ref>

The heavy casualties inflicted on Chiang's own military strength forced him to rely more on non-Whampoa generals, who commanded the provincial armies and many of whom had questionable loyalty to Chiang. Because of the reduction in his military power, Chiang lost some of his political leverage over local warlords. In effect, Chiang Kai-shek was effectively only the head of a loose coalition, rather than the commander-in-chief of a united fighting force. The sapping of China's best fighting men also made the planning and execution of subsequent military operations difficult. In essence, Chiang Kai-shek's concerted pre-war effort to build a truly effective, modernized, national army was greatly devastated by the sacrifices made in the Battle of Shanghai.<ref name=":622">{{Cite book |last=Wilson |first=Dick |url=https://archive.org/details/whentigersfights00wils/mode/1up |title=When Tigers Fight: The Story of the Sino-Japanese War, 1937–1945 |publisher=Viking Press |year=1982 |isbn=978-0-670-76003-9 |pages=46–47 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":32" />

=== International response ===
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2018}}
A major reason that the Chinese army held onto the city as long as it did, even though it was on the brink of collapse, was that China was hoping for Western intervention in the Sino-Japanese War. Western nations had been paying little attention to China's plight since they were preoccupied with the situation in Europe. In addition, most Western nations had little prospect that their intervention would help China in the long run because they believed that China would eventually lose. If China was deemed militarily weak, economically backward, and politically disunited by Western powers, it would not make sense for them to help China when it seemed bound for defeat by Japan.

Thus, Chiang Kai-shek had to devote everything China had to offer to make sure the Western powers knew that the present conflict between China and Japan was a major war, not a collection of inconsequential "incidents" as had been the case previously. Based on this political strategy, Chiang Kai-shek had to order his troops to fight to the death in an attempt to arouse international sympathy and cause the international community to adopt measures that would help China and sanction Japan.

On September 12, 1937, one month after the Battle of Shanghai began, China formally brought the case against Japan to the [[League of Nations]]. Again, the League was not able to formulate any effective sanctions against Japan other than an October 4 statement that gave China "spiritual support". The United States was not a member of the League and Great Britain and France were reluctant to challenge Japan. Of all the major Western powers, only the United States seemed able to act more since it was not embroiled in the volatile European affairs.

In addition, on October 5, [[President of the United States|President]] [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] gave the [[Quarantine Speech]], calling for the United States to help nations fight against aggressor nations. This speech had a tremendous effect on raising China's morale. Because America seemed willing to confront Japan, the British representative suggested to close the League case and convene the [[Nine Power Treaty Conference]]. Since the [[Nine-Power Treaty]] was signed as a result of the [[Washington Naval Conference]] of 1922, the opening of the Conference automatically brought the United States into the effort to rein in Japanese aggression.
[[File:Shanghai1937KMT_chiang_kai_shek.jpg|right|thumb|Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek on the frontline]]
American entry into the international response brought new hope to the Chinese, and Chiang Kai-shek again reiterated the need for his troops to hold on to Shanghai to prove that China was indeed worth fighting for. By mid-October, the Chinese situation in Shanghai had become increasingly dire and the Japanese had made significant gains. The vital town of Dachang fell on October 26 and the Chinese withdrew from metropolitan Shanghai.

However, because the Nine Power Treaty Conference was to begin in early November, Chiang Kai-shek ordered his troops to stay in the Shanghai battlefield, instead of retreating to the Wufu and Xicheng Lines to protect Nanjing. He also left one lone [[battalion]] to defend the [[Sihang Warehouse]] in metropolitan Shanghai. Chiang also visited the frontlines to encourage his troops.

Because Shanghai was the most important Chinese city in Western eyes, the troops had to fight and hold on to the city as long as possible, rather than moving toward the defense lines along nameless towns en route to Nanjing. On November 3, the Conference finally convened in [[Brussels]]. While the Western powers were in session to mediate the situation, the Chinese troops were making their final stand in Shanghai and had all hopes for a Western intervention that would save China from collapse.

==== Nine-Power Treaty Conference ====
{{Main|Nine Power Treaty Conference}}

=== Effects ===
In terms of its long-term effects on the war of attrition, the Battle of Shanghai bought enough time for the Chinese government to move some of its vital industries to [[Wuhan]] and [[Xi'an]], and from there to [[Chongqing]], China's wartime capital after the [[Battle of Nanking|fall of Nanjing]] and [[Battle of Wuhan|Wuhan]]. The difficulty in dismantling and relocating thousands of tons of machinery and factory equipment, especially in the heat of Japanese bombing campaigns, meant that the Chinese government fell short of its goal of moving the entire industrial base from the Shanghai region.

Many factories were destroyed during the fighting and ceased to be functional. Of the nearly twelve hundred factories and workshops of all sizes, only slightly more than ten percent were moved out of Shanghai. However, as insignificant as they were, these factories formed the core of China's wartime industry, especially in the bleak days of the blockade of the entire Chinese coast, the closure of the [[Burma Road]], and the low tonnage of supplies flown over [[the Hump]].

Chiang Kai-shek's strategy of bringing the fight to Shanghai to force Japan to adopt an east-to-west direction of attack also prevented Japan from cutting right into Central China. As a result, the [[Battle of Wuhan]] was delayed for almost a year, and the time bought gave the Chinese government breathing space to recuperate and relocate more resources to Chongqing. Overall, even though Chinese losses were irreparable, the strategy of trading "space for time" proved its worth.

The Battle of Shanghai was a military defeat but a high point for Chinese nationalism. The beginning of full-scale war meant that China would no longer stand idly and allow Japan to conquer its territories piece by piece as it had done in the past. It also demonstrated China's resolve not to surrender even in the face of overwhelming firepower. However, Chiang Kai-shek's order to have his troops make one death stand after another greatly sapped his strength and directly caused his army's inability to defend Nanjing for even two weeks.

In his memoir, General [[Li Zongren]] pointed out that Chiang's staff had proposed that the Chinese army reserve around ten divisions along the Wufu Line to protect Nanjing and felt it made no difference if Shanghai could be held for a few months longer at the expense of huge casualties. However, as China was not able to defeat Japan single-handedly, Chiang believed the best option was to bring the western powers into the war by eliciting international sympathy being committed to the resistance in Shanghai.

In his correspondence with [[Hu Shih]], Chiang wrote that China was capable of withstanding six months of combat before changes in the international situation would have to end the war. This may have also caused Chiang to devote all of his best troops in the first battle of what would eventually become a prolonged war. However, while Chiang's initial assessment was overly optimistic, China continued to fight for eight more years until Japan finally surrendered after the [[Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki|atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki]] and the [[Soviet invasion of Manchuria]].

== See also ==
{{Portal|Japan|China
}}

* [[Events preceding World War II in Asia]]
** [[Jinan incident]] (May 1928)
** [[Huanggutun incident]] (Japanese assassination of the Chinese head of state Generalissimo [[Zhang Zuolin]] on June 4, 1928)
* [[Second Sino-Japanese War]]
** [[Japanese invasion of Manchuria]]
*** [[Mukden Incident]] (September 18, 1931)
** [[January 28 Incident]] (Shanghai, 1932)
** [[Defense of the Great Wall]] (1933)
** [[Marco Polo Bridge Incident]] (July 7, 1937)
* [[Assassination of Tomomitsu Taminato]] (1936)
* [[Great Way Government]] (Shanghai, 1937–1938)
* [[Shanghai Ghetto]]
* [[Defense of Sihang Warehouse]]

==Footnotes==
<references group="Note" responsive="0"></references>

== References ==
=== Citations ===
<references responsive="1"></references>

=== Sources ===

* {{cite book |last=Lai |first=Benjamin |title=Shanghai and Nanjing 1937: Massacre on the Yangtze |publisher=Osprey Publishing |year=2017 |isbn=9781472817495}}
* {{cite book |last=Eastman |first=Lloyd E. |title=The Nationalist Era in China, 1927–1949 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |year=1986 |isbn=0521385911 |location=[[Cambridge]], England}}
* {{cite book |last=Garver |first=John W. |title=Chinese-Soviet Relations, 1937-1945: The Diplomacy of Chinese Nationalism |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=1988 |isbn=0195363744 |location=New York, NY}}
* {{cite book |last=MacKinnon |first=Stephen R. |title=China at War: Regions of China, 1937–1945 |publisher=[[Stanford University Press]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-0804755092 |location=Stanford, CA}}
* {{cite book |last=Paine |first=S. C. M. |title=The Japanese Empire: Grand Strategy from the Meiji Restoration to the Pacific War |publisher=Camrbridge University Press |year=2017 |isbn=978-1107011953 |location=Cambridge, England}}
* {{cite book |last=Paine |first=S. C. M. |url=https://archive.org/details/generalissimochi00tayl |title=The Wars for Asia, 1911–1949 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2012 |isbn=978-0674033382 |location=Cambridge, England |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book |last=Taylor |first=Jay |url=https://archive.org/details/generalissimochi00tayl |title=The Generalissimo |publisher=[[Harvard University Press]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-0674054714 |location=[[Cambridge, MA]] |url-access=registration}}
* Van de Ven, Hans, "The Battle of Shanghai". Chapter five in {{cite book |last=Van de Ven |first=Hans |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a9PMmgEACAAJ |title=China at War: Triumph and Tragedy in the Emergence of the New China, 1937–1952 |publisher=Profile Books |year=2017 |isbn=9781781251942 |location=London, England; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press |pages=75–01}}

== External links ==
{{Commons|Battle of Shanghai}}

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111103184901/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,930944-1,00.html "Japan-China: Sailors Ashore"]. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''. August 30, 1937.
* {{in lang|fr}} {{URL|1=http://www.croiseur-lamotte-picquet.fr/index.php?page=guerre|2=Pictures of the fighting}} taken from the [[French cruiser Lamotte-Picquet|French cruiser ''Lamotte-Picquet'']], anchored in the harbor
* {{in lang|it}} {{URL|1=http://www.cinaoggi.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8865:40-immagini-rare-della-battaglia-di-shanghai&catid=25:storia-della-cina&Itemid=84|2=40 rare pictures of the Battle of Shanghai}}
* [[nara:24672|National Archives (USA) film, "On the Japanese bombing and occupation of Shanghai". total run time = 10:20]] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914164834/https://catalog.archives.gov/id/24672|date=2020-09-14}}
{{Second Sino-Japanese War}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shanghai 1937}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1937]]
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