Hello, and thank you for listening to a History World War II podcast, Episode 8, The Wheel

of Cosality.

I wanted to let you know that this episode will land our story in Asia for a while.

Next time we'll get back to Europe and watch Hitler's bluffing expand the Third Reich's

borders until England calls his bluff over Poland.

But there will be a small delay in getting Episode 9 out.

I'm heading to the beach for a week for my birthday, but I'll try to fit in some research

and writing, but it won't be able to record.

The wife is hidden the microphone.

But I should be ready to record when I get back.

Thank you.

Last time, the Chinese Communist and Chinese Nationalist agreed to an unlikely and shaky alliance

to expel the Japanese out of China.

The Japanese military continued fighting within its own ranks, as well with the equally

unstable civilian government.

As mentioned previously, the imperial way was desperately trying to keep Japanese troops

away from Chang's Nationalist or Mouse Communist soldiers.

For the moment, Tokyo was thinking defensively until they could be sure of their next move.

But control of events was about to be taken out of their hands.

At the ancient bridge named after Marco Polo, just south of Peking, a Japanese company

was stationed there in early July, 1937.

They learned that a Chinese unit was nearby, but they did not know their purpose or whether

...