June 11, 1938 · Central China — Wuhan Theater
June 11, 1938
The Battle of Wuhan was the longest and largest battle of the entire war — a four-month struggle for China's temporary wartime capital fought across land, river, and air over hundreds of miles. Japan committed over 350,000 troops; China fielded more than a million defenders. Though Japan ultimately captured Wuhan in October 1938, it came at a cost that convinced Tokyo the war in China could not be won by conventional military means. The fall of Wuhan ended the mobile phase of the war.
Commanders