Death and Glory in Changde

In October 1943, the Imperial Japanese Army advances toward Changde, crossing the Yangtze and Xiang rivers to isolate the city from the surrounding landscape. The move establishes the siege by surrounding forces and sets up the stakes for a stubborn defense by Chinese troops. The city starts to become a fortress as Japanese encirclement tightens.

Yu Chengwan, a division commander in the National Revolutionary Army, receives the stark order to defend Changde to the death. His troops prepare to stand firm against a larger Japanese force and the looming siege. The command crystallizes the city’s fate as a fortress under pressure.

With civilians largely evacuated, Changde’s streets clear for combat. The defenders consolidate their lines and fortifications, turning the city into a hardened frontline. The absence of a civilian crowd changes the dynamics of defense and siege warfare.

Japanese forces close the encirclement, pressing to seal off any potential relief and to breach the gates. Chinese defenders brace for a prolonged fight, leveraging fortified positions and terrain to slow the advance. The city becomes a focal point of escalating violence.

The Japanese launch initial assaults on Changde’s gates, supported by artillery and infantry. Despite targeted breaching efforts, the Chinese defenders repulse the assaults and maintain control of key entry points. The siege remains unresolved, with a stubborn stalemate prevailing.

Yu Chengwan and his troops adjust their tactics to the siege, using the city’s layout and fortifications to slow the attackers. The defense remains resilient as supplies grow strained and the siege wears on. Morale stays relatively steady amid grind of continuous fighting.

The siege escalates with heavy bombardment and frequent street-level combat inside Changde. Buildings are damaged, and the fighting spills into the urban heart of the city, inflicting heavy casualties on both sides. The defenders press their advantage where possible, turning ruins into defensive positions.

Rations and ammunition dwindle, forcing improvised tactics and strict discipline among the NRA troops. Yu Chengwan leads through dwindling resources, keeping units coherent under siege conditions. The defenders’ endurance becomes a critical factor in sustaining the defense.

Chinese relief attempts to break the siege face delays and obstruction from well-positioned Japanese forces. The city remains cut off, forcing the defenders to rely on internal logistics and resilience. The prolonged isolation tests the limits of the garrison.

Facing a protracted stalemate, the Japanese intensify efforts to breach the gates in a last push to collapse the defense. Yu Chengwan and his troops repulse renewed assaults, sustaining the line despite mounting casualties. Winter approaches as the siege nears a critical moment.

The battle produces heavy casualties on both sides and exacts a toll on the city’s infrastructure. The defenders’ stubborn stand becomes a defining chapter of the Changde siege and the broader campaign. The outcome remains intensely contested as the siege continues.

The defense of Changde leaves a lasting legacy in Chinese military history, illustrating endurance and strategic resolve under siege. Yu Chengwan’s leadership is remembered as a symbol of steadfast resistance in the Second Sino-Japanese War. The campaign influences subsequent battles and the cultural memory of the war.