Hello, and thank you for listening to the history of World War II podcast.

Episode 207 Shang Hai becomes Shang Kai Shek's stalling grad.

Last time, by the end of August 1937, the Japanese expeditionary force had managed to connect

most of its holdings on the Shang Hai coast to make room for the massive reinforcements

already en route.

Yet, Lodi Ann was still its most western possession that had not changed for weeks.

The reason for this was that Shang Kai Shek was ordering his generals to throw everything

they had at the invaders.

And this had worked, but at the cost of thousands of lives.

The result of this massive loss of life was a growing despondency among the Chinese

officer corps.

As such, it was decided to begin a defensive policy of trading land for time, hoping that

Russia's help could make the difference.

But even better, that the western powers would step in to assist eventually.

So on September 11th, the troops of Jiangxi-Hung's 9th Army Group and those of Chen-Chang's

15th Army Group pulled back during the night, several miles away from the determined Japanese.

These retreating troops were joined by the nationalist reserve forces to form a new front.

By the morning of September 12th, the new defensive line went from the North Rail Station

located just above the international settlements, where the Huangpu River bends sharply at

Pudong, south of the fighting so far, north to the eastern side of Jhe Wang, a mile away.

But then it turned to the northwest, which put the new boundary west of Yanghang and

Lodian until it ended at the Yangxi River further to the north.

...