World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseAfter the Chinese-American-Kachin Allied force captured Myitkyina, Burma, Chiang Kaishek finally gave his approval for launching an offensive in Yunnan Province, China. 72,000 Chinese soldiers organized in 12 divisions under the command of General Wei Lihuang attacked the under-strength Japanese 56th Infantry Division, which had little more than 11,000 men, north and east of the Salween River. In late May, the Japanese garrison at Tengchung was wiped out. On 10 Jun, Chinese troops captured Lungling, which was in a strategic location for the eventual re-opening of the Burma Road, but a Japanese counterattack recaptured the the town a week later. The 56th Division held on against the 300-kilometer front until late Jun 1944 before withdrawing forward positions. Lungling was again captured by the Chinese by end of Aug 1944. The Japanese were then reinforced by a division and mounted a counterattack to halt the Chinese advance. In Nov 1944, the Chinese renewed their attacks, taking Mangshih on 20 Nov, Mengka on 24 Nov, Chefang on 1 Dec, and Wanting on 20 Jan 1945. The Chinese pushed across the Burmese border on 22 Jan. On 27 Jan, Chinese troops from China and Chinese troops of the Chinese-American-Kachin Allied force linked up at Muse, Burma, thus marking the successful conclusion of the campaign.

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Salween Offensive Timeline

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