In the spring of 1942, an unprecedented military storm was brewing. Japan, the island nation, is secretly planning a grand military operation, codenamed "Operation Plan No. 5." The purpose of his audacious actions was not only to completely destroy the Chinese resistance, but also to force the Chinese government to submit through a series of rapid military raids, repeating the historical scene of the Yuan Dynasty and the destruction of the Song Dynasty.
This plan involves more than just an ordinary military expansion. The Japanese military department intends to mobilize up to 400,000 troops, including 200,000 elite troops transferred from the Kwantung Army, 60,000 warriors from the Southern Army, and 30,000 recruits mobilized from Japan. There were plans to recruit more than 200,000 recruits in 1942, which meant that Japan would throw almost all men who could go to war into this unknown war.
In this planning, it is clear to everyone involved that they are about to participate in a battle that could change history. The target was Henan, Shanxi, Hubei, as far as Guanzhong and Hanzhong in Shaanxi, and then south to Guangyuan, Sichuan. Through this series of military operations, Japan hoped to cooperate with the offensive forces in Hubei and eventually encircle Chongqing and force the Chiang Kai-shek government to submit.
Operational Plan Five: Background and Intent
In early 1942, the air was almost frozen in Japan's War Office, and key military leaders focused on a central issue: how to end the long fighting in China. The discussion attracted not only Hideki Tojo and Motomo Sugiyama, but also senior commanders of the Chinese Dispatch Army and representatives of Japan's Southern Army. They built around a huge map of China's major cities and transportation routes, as well as the current distribution of Japanese forces.
During the discussion, the participants expressed their opinions and repeatedly weighed different strategic options. They were well aware that although the Japanese army quickly occupied large swathes of Chinese territory in the early days, the resistance of the Chinese army became more and more stubborn as time went on, and the changes in the international situation made it difficult for the Japanese army to further offensive. Especially in the central and western regions of China, the terrain was complex and inaccessible, which brought great challenges to the actions of the Japanese army.
In order to completely solve this problem, the Japanese military department decided that a large-scale military operation was necessary with a view to destroying the Chinese resistance in one fell swoop. After detailed planning and discussion, they eventually developed a grand military action plan, which was later named "Operation Plan Five".
The specifics of the plan
In the Japanese Military Planning Office in 1942, Henan, Shanxi, and Hubei were covered by detailed markings and planning lines on the map. The senior officers of the General Staff Headquarters used rulers and compasses to draw out offensive lines one after another, each of which was directed at the Guanzhong and Hanzhong areas of Shaanxi, which was the core objective of their "No. 5 Operational Plan." Their gaze was determined, the pen in their hands quickly and precisely sketched the map, each stroke a thoughtful reflection on the battle ahead.
In the planning, Henan, Shanxi, and Hubei became the main breakthrough points, and the strategic locations of these three regions were crucial to the entire battle plan. Not only are they geographically critical, but they also provide the necessary support points for subsequent in-depth attacks. Through this series of attacks, the Japanese planned to quickly cross Shaanxi and reach Guanzhong and Hanzhong, the occupation of these two areas would open the door to Sichuan for the Japanese army and lay the foundation for the eventual encirclement of Chongqing.
In planning the offensive line, the General Staff Headquarters of the Japanese Army conducted meticulous military drills and terrain analysis to ensure that every step of the offensive could achieve the greatest strategic benefits. Using the existing rail and road network, they planned to quickly advance heavy forces to the front line while ensuring that logistical supply lines remained unimpeded. For areas that are difficult to reach by land, the Japanese army even plans to use airborne forces in order to achieve a rapid occupation of key points.
In addition, in order to ensure the smooth implementation of the battle plan, the Japanese army paid special attention to the offensive forces in Hubei. They plan to use Hubei as an important springboard from the center into China's hinterland. The successful implementation of this strategy will not only effectively divide China's military strength, but also create more favorable conditions for subsequent offensives.
This series of plans of the Japanese army fully demonstrated their attempt to imitate the military strategy of the Yuan Dynasty against the Southern Song Dynasty in history, hoping to force the Chiang Kai-shek government in a desperate situation by quickly crossing the Central Plains directly to Sichuan. In their view, once Sichuan fell to the Japanese, the Chongqing government would lose its most important base of supplies and personnel, and would have to face the difficult choice of surrendering or retreating to the west.
The Japanese army's increase in troops and preparations for war
With the establishment of the "Operation Plan No. 5", the Japanese military department launched an unprecedented plan for the movement of troops to ensure a decisive victory on the Chinese battlefield. The plan called not only for the mobilization of troops already deployed on the front lines, but also for a massive recruitment of new recruits and the redeployment of troops, with the aim of changing the stalemate that had lasted for years in China.
First, the Japanese transferred 200,000 troops from its elite unit, the Kwantung Army. The force was originally deployed in Manchuria to counter the potential Soviet threat and had a notable operational performance on the battlefields of China before. The transfer of such an experienced unit to China was clearly the expectation of the Japanese military department to quickly break through the lines of defense of the Chinese army through its powerful combat effectiveness.
Then, Japan transferred 60,000 troops from the Southern Army. This force came mainly from the Japanese forces in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, who had accumulated extensive experience in jungle warfare in previous battles with the Allies. The Japanese hoped to use this specialty to gain an advantage in operations in southern China.
In addition, Japan was mobilized and mobilized 30,000 troops to join the upcoming large-scale offensive in China. These forces came mainly from the Japanese mainland reserves and some newly trained units, and their addition provided the necessary manpower support for the Japanese army.
In order to make up for the attrition of troops on the battlefield, the Japanese army also planned to recruit more than 200,000 recruits in 1942. This move means that almost all men of working age in Japan will be mobilized to participate in the war against China. From Hokkaido to Kyushu, youth from all over Japan began to be called up and trained in military camps in preparation for being sent to the front. This large-scale conscription campaign made every corner of Japanese society feel the weight of war.
The Japanese military department showed great determination to advance the "No. 5 Operation Plan." Not only have they mobilized a large number of troops, but they have also strengthened the construction of logistical supply lines to ensure that front-line troops can receive adequate ammunition, food and medical support. At the same time, the Japanese army also strengthened the training of troops, especially for the rapid training of new recruits, to ensure that they could adapt to the needs of the battlefield as soon as possible.
This large-scale troop mobilization and preparation activity not only shows the importance that Japan attaches to this battle plan, but also demonstrates the tremendous efforts made by Japan to end the war in China. However, this also exacerbated the resource shortage and social burden in Japan, and laid a hidden danger for the development of the war in the future. Every movement of the Japanese was closely watched during this massive military campaign, and they had great hopes that they would eventually be able to force the Chinese government to surrender. However, the course of history is often fraught with uncertainties.
Shelving of plans
In the summer of 1942, when Japan was actively preparing for the "Operation Plan Five" in the hope of forcing the Chinese government into submission through a series of carefully planned military operations, the Battle of Midway in the Pacific Ocean became a sudden and major turning point in Japan's strategic plan. This battle was not only one of the key battles in the Pacific War, but also directly affected Japan's position in the global strategic layout and the future trend of the war.
The defeat in the Battle of Midway, for Japan, was not only the loss of an important strategic stronghold, but more importantly, the elite part of the Japanese naval power suffered a fatal blow, including the sinking of four aircraft carriers and the loss of hundreds of experienced pilots. The training of these pilots required a lot of time and resources, and their losses were difficult to replenish in a short time, which directly weakened the aviation of the Japanese army in the Pacific Ocean.
At the same time, the military power of the United States has not been hit as hard as Japan expected, but has been rapidly strengthened by the full mobilization of domestic industry. The gradual increase in the counteroffensive capability of the United States in the Pacific theater has put unprecedented pressure on Japan. Japan's strategic resources began to be seriously challenged, and a difficult choice had to be made between the Pacific defense line and the Chinese theater.
In this context, Japan's top leadership began to reassess its global strategy. They realized that the continuation of large-scale military operations in China after the loss of Midway would not only be unsustainable in terms of resources, but would also be highly likely to fail due to the intervention of the United States and its allies. Therefore, although the "Operation Plan No. 5" had high hopes that it would be able to change the situation on the Chinese battlefield in one fell swoop, under the pressure of reality, Japan had to make a difficult decision to shelve this plan.
This decision was undoubtedly a heavy blow to the Japanese military department. Their hopes for a quick end to China's war have been dashed, and their strategic goals in Asia have been thwarted. For China, this transformation undoubtedly bought valuable time and opportunity for the continued struggle of the War of Resistance Against Japan. The Chinese army and government were able to continue to resist the vast expanse of China, taking advantage of its geographical and human resources to continue to drain Japan's military power.
The collapse of Japan's plans to force China to surrender not only marked an important turning point in Japan's strategy, but also heralded a major change in the situation of the Pacific War and the Second World War as a whole. The defeat at the Battle of Midway became an obvious marker of Japan's military expansion, and then Japan's war in the Pacific entered the stage of defense and retreat, and the shelving of the "Operation Plan No. 5" also became the beginning of this series of changes.
Impact & Evaluation
Against the backdrop of intensive discussions and final decisions on the implementation of the "Operation Plan No. 5" at the top of the Japanese military department, the Chinese side was not unprepared. The military and political leadership of the Kuomintang was highly alert to the potential build-up of Japanese military power and strategic intentions. The mention in General Bai Chongxi's memoirs shows that the Chinese side is paying close attention to Japan's military dynamics and the serious assessment of the War Bureau.
Bai Chongxi pointed out that if Japan could really mobilize 50 divisions to launch a general attack on China in 1942, then the Chinese army would likely fall into an extremely difficult defensive situation in the face of an offensive of this scale. This not only reflected the strength of Japan's military power, but also highlighted the inferiority of the Chinese army in equipment and training at that time. In particular, Chongqing, as the temporary capital of the Nationalist Government at the time, was geographically secluded and defensive, but if the Japanese army could penetrate deep into the hinterland and successfully cut off external connections and supplies, Chongqing's continued resistance would face great challenges.
Chiang Kai-shek's government had foreseen this and had already begun to prepare for the worst-case scenario – a westward move. Such preparations involve not only the relocation of government agencies, but also how to ensure the safe transfer of vital military and civilian goods, archival materials and key personnel. There is detailed planning within the government to try to maintain the functioning of the government and the unity of the country in the worst-case scenario.
Chiang Kai-shek and his advisers knew that moving westward would be an arduous journey, and that the control of the Nationalist government, the maintenance of the anti-Japanese base areas, and the impact on the people would be unprecedented tests. In addition, moving westward meant establishing new supply lines in western China, while also ensuring that these areas could withstand further Japanese incursions, which undoubtedly increased the material, financial, and military pressures on the Nationalist government.
Despite this, the Nationalist Government and the Chinese army still did not give up their determination to resist the war. Throughout the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Chinese army and people showed great resilience and sacrifice. Even in the face of the all-out offensive of the Japanese army, the anti-Japanese forces in various parts of China still insisted on guerrilla warfare and protracted warfare, taking advantage of the vast territory and complex terrain conditions to wage a war of attrition with the Japanese army.
"The Japanese Army's "No. 5 Operation Plan" during the Anti-Japanese War