Hello, and thank you for listening to the History of World War II podcast, Episode

2-11, The End of the Battle of Shanghai.

Last time General Matsui, commander of the Japanese Expeditionary Force, had driven the Chinese

defenders south to Suzhou Creek on November 3rd.

Indeed, the Creek's south bank had been breached that very afternoon.

Now Shanghai's Shek and his nationalist army was out of natural barriers to their south.

Hence the Japanese would be able to drive a bit further and then enter Shanghai proper

from the west.

The battle for Shanghai, it seemed, was over.

As the Japanese seemed poised to enter Shanghai, they had lost many men to get to this point.

What's more, Chang still had numerous divisions in the area.

This was unacceptable to the army general staff back in Tokyo, who feared a Soviet attack

before the years end in Manchuria.

Something had to give one of these theaters had to be brought under control.

When the military leaders back in the capital decided it would be Shanghai.

The area was to be subdued, the Chinese armies destroyed.

Only then could Manchukuo to the north be sent enough troops to hold out against the Russians.

On October 9th, the army general staff, to assist Matsui, created the 10th army.

This would consist of the forces of the 6th Infantry Division, currently stationed to the

north, the 5th Infantry Division, aka the Kanutsaki Detachment, and from the home islands,

the 18th and 114th Infantry Divisions.

As for the 10th leadership, General Hanagawa Haisuki, a veteran of the Russo-Japanese

...