Ruins of the Wanjiuling Battle

Ruins of the Wanjiuling Battle

The ruins of the Wanjiuling Battle are a cultural heritage site protected by Jiangxi Province.

The ruins of the "Wanjiuling Victory" in the War of Resistance against Japan are located within De'an County. From September to October 1938, the Xue Yue Corps of the Chinese army encircled and attacked the Japanese 106th Division at Wanjiuling, annihilating more than 10,000 enemy troops and permanently crippling the 106th Division, which had been one of the main forces of the invading Japanese army. The "Wanjiuling Victory" created a glorious achievement in China’s war of resistance and greatly boosted the morale of the Chinese people. General Ye Ting praised it as: “The Wanjiuling Victory saved Hongdu from peril, secured the Jianghan region, and stood alongside Pingxingguan and Taierzhuang as one of three great victories, whose fame shall endure forever.” Remnants such as trenches and fortifications still remain today.

"Operation to Capture Wuhan": Starting in August, the Japanese High Command mobilized superior forces to launch a full-scale offensive on Wuhan. On July 27, Lieutenant General Yasuji Okamura, commander of the Japanese 11th Army, ordered the 106th and 101st Divisions—comprising six regiments—to advance along the Nanxun Railway toward De'an.

Under the command of Xue Yue, commander of the First Army Corps, and Wu Qiwu, commander of the Ninth Army Group and overall commander of the Nanxun Front, the Chinese army fought valiantly and engaged in the three-month-long Battle of De'an. The Chinese forces involved were over 100,000 troops under the command of acting commander of the Ninth War Zone, Xue Yue, including the 4th Army, 74th Army, 66th Army, 187th Division, 91st Division, newly formed 13th Division, 142nd Division, 60th Division, Provisional 6th Division, 19th Division, one brigade of the 139th Division, and one brigade of the newly formed 15th Division. The front-line commander was Wu Qiwu of the Ninth Army Group. The Japanese side comprised the 106th Division of the China Expeditionary Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Matsuura Shigeyoshi. The 106th Division included the 111th Infantry Brigade (113th and 147th Infantry Regiments) and the 136th Infantry Brigade (123rd and 145th Infantry Regiments), as well as one regiment each of cavalry, artillery, engineers, and logistics. Under orders from Yasuji Okamura, the Japanese 106th Division attempted to penetrate through the Wanjiuling area but was discovered by Xue Yue, who organized forces to surround them. Later, Okamura ordered the 27th Division to support the 106th Division, but they were repelled by the Chinese army. The National Revolutionary Army successfully encircled and annihilated most of the 106th Division, with only about 1,700 soldiers escaping. On October 13, 1938, the Chinese army withdrew from the battlefield. This battle marked the first time in the war of resistance that an entire Japanese division was completely destroyed.

General Ye Ting once commented on the Wanjiuling Battle: “The Wanjiuling Victory saved Hongdu from peril, secured the Jianghan region, and stood alongside Pingxingguan and Taierzhuang as one of three great victories, whose fame shall endure forever.”

Source: Official website of the De'an County Party Committee and County Government

Moxi Township: [Geographical Location] Moxi Township is located in the southwestern part of De'an County, 27 kilometers from the county seat, covering an area of 104 square kilometers. It has an agricultural population of 12,000, accounting for one-ninth of the county's total, and administers 9 administrative villages and 107 villager groups. The famous "Wanjiuling Victory" took place here. The people of Moxi are hardworking, kind, simple, and generous. The area enjoys convenient transportation, beautiful mountains and rivers, a pleasant climate, abundant resources, and good information access.

[Economic Development] Moxi Township firmly grasps the strategy of "promoting major development through greater openness," with the adjustment of the agricultural industrial structure at its core... More details about Moxi Township ++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Heritage Sites Protected by Jiangxi Province