Cantonese operation

The capture of Canton meant damage to England , which owned most of the city’s enterprises. In addition, Canton was close to Shanghai , an important British outpost in East Asia . All of these factors hit the economic situation of Britain and its prestige. The operation was directed not so much against China as against the British.

On October 10, 1938 , an airborne group left Takao . The operation was led by Japanese General Furuso. Two days later, at dawn, transports with troops entered Bias Bay and, under the cover of aviation and naval artillery, began landing. The landing was a complete surprise for the Chinese command.

8 divisions, 2 brigades and 4 separate infantry regiments were deployed along the coast, reinforced by 3 artillery divisions, having shown little resistance, and began to withdraw in front of the advancing two columns of the 21st Japanese Army. After the capture of Huzhou, Polo, and Shilun, the northern column took possession of Zenzhen on October 19, from where it moved along the railway line to Canton. The western column, after the capture of Taimshui and Mystery, reached the mouth of the Pearl River near Taiping. Guarding the mouth of the fortification of Humen on October 22, captured the Japanese landing.

The canton was taken on October 22. The troops of the Chinese 12th Army located there left a half-destroyed city. The enemy got, as trophies, artillery, numerous stores of weapons, food and equipment.

• Nanjing massacre

• CHAPTER 24. ACTIONS OF THE FLEETS ON THE FIRST STAGE OF WAR (AUGUST 1937 - OCTOBER 1938) (unavailable link)
• Sino-Japanese War 1937 - 1945