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BATTLE // May 9, 1939

Battle of Nanchang

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Overview

The Battle of Nanchang was a military campaign fought around Nanchang, Jiangxi between the Chinese National Revolutionary Army and the Japanese Imperial Japanese Army in the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was the first major conflict to occur following the Battle of Wuhan.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Nanchang was the first major military engagement of the Second Sino-Japanese War to follow the Battle of Wuhan, marking a continuation of large-scale Japanese operations into interior China. Fought around Nanchang in Jiangxi province, the battle pitted a Chinese force of roughly 16,000 against a Japanese force of approximately 120,000. Chinese casualties exceeded the total size of the recorded Chinese force engaged, indicating the severity of the fighting. Japanese casualties of around 24,000 suggest the defense imposed a meaningful cost despite the disparity in numbers. The engagement underscored Japan's strategic push to consolidate control over key provincial centers following its earlier capture of Wuhan.

Forces & casualties

Troop strength

  • China16,338
    medium
  • Empire of Japan120,000
    medium

Empire of Japan fielded a 7.3 : 1 numerical advantage

Casualties

  • China22,536
    medium138% loss rate
  • Empire of Japan24,000
    medium20% loss rate

Commanders (2)

China

Empire of Japan

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Last verified May 2026
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