January 28 incident

January 28 incident
Part of the interwar period

The Chinese 19th Route Army in a defensive position
Date (1932-01-28) (1932-03-03)January 28 – March 3, 1932
(1 month and 4 days)
Location
In and around Shanghai city in the Republic of China
Result Ceasefire;
Shanghai demilitarized
Belligerents
China Japan
Commanders and leaders

19th Route Army:

5th Army:

Commander:

Chief of staff:

Units involved
19th Route Army
5th Army
Shanghai Expeditionary Army
 Imperial Japanese Navy
Strength
50,000 30,000
80 ships
300 aeroplanes
Casualties and losses
Western Claim:
4,000 KIA
10,000 civilians killed

Chinese Claim:
216 officers and 3,999 soldiers killed
677 officers and 9,153 soldiers wounded
26 officers and 730 soldiers missing
Total: 14,801 killed, wounded, or missing (including 919 officers and 13,882 soldiers)

Western Estimate:
3,000 KIA

Japanese Claim:
738 killed
2,257 wounded

The January 28 incident or Shanghai incident (January 28 – March 3, 1932) was a conflict between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. In apparent response to a mob attack on Japanese Buddhist monks, the Japanese in Shanghai rioted and burned down a factory, killing two Chinese. Heavy fighting broke out, and China appealed to the League of Nations. A truce was finally reached on May 5, calling for Chinese military withdrawal, and an end to Chinese boycotts of Japanese products. It is seen as the first example of a modern war waged in a large city between two heavily equipped armies and as a preview of what was to come during the Second World War.

The episode helped undermine civilian rule in Tokyo; Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi was assassinated on May 15, 1932.