February 18, 1938 · Southwest China — Chongqing Theater
February 18, 1938
Japan bombed China's wartime capital Chongqing continuously from 1938 to 1943 in the world's first sustained strategic terror-bombing campaign against a civilian population. Japanese aircraft flew 218 separate raids over five years, killing an estimated 10,000–25,000 civilians and destroying much of the city. The bombings were designed to break Chinese morale and force Chiang Kai-shek to negotiate. They failed completely — and hardened Chinese resolve.
Commanders