Battle of Toungoo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Battle of Toungoo

Date	(1942-03-24) (1942-03-30)March 24–30, 1942 (6 days)
Location	Toungoo, Burma
Result	Japanese victory

Commanders and leaders

Dai Anlan

Liao Yaoxiang

Takeshi Koga

Yūzō Matsuyama

Yutaka Hiroshi

The Battle of Toungoo was an important fight during World War II. It was part of the larger Burma Campaign and the Second Sino-Japanese War. This battle happened in Burma in 1942. The Chinese army tried to defend the city of Toungoo. But they could not hold it. This allowed the Japanese army to move deeper into Burma. It also threatened the Allied forces from behind.

Why Toungoo Was Important
The Battle of Toungoo Begins
See also

Why Toungoo Was Important

On March 8, 1942, the Chinese 200th Division arrived in Toungoo. This was the same day that Rangoon fell to the Japanese. The Chinese took over defending Toungoo from a small group of British soldiers.

A Key Location

Toungoo was a very important city. It controlled the main road going north towards Mandalay. It also had a bridge over the Sittang River. This bridge led east to the Karenni States and north to Loikaw and the Shan States. From there, the road went to Lashio and into China's Yunnan province. If the Japanese captured Toungoo, they could attack the Allied forces from the side. They could also push further into Central Burma.

Preparing for Battle

Major-General Dai Anlan was the commander of the 200th Division. He decided that Toungoo city would be their main defense. They set up an outpost line to the south at Oktwin. Chinese soldiers went even further south to delay the Japanese. They wanted to buy time to finish their defenses.

The 200th Division started digging trenches and building defenses. They used the old city walls of Toungoo, which were strong. They also built hidden positions using lots of local wood. The land around Toungoo was flat, which made it harder for attackers. The Sittang River was to the east.

First Fights

On March 18, the first small fight happened. Chinese cavalry met the leading Japanese 55th Division at Nyaungchidauk. The Chinese cavalry slowly fell back over the next three days. This gave the main Chinese forces time to finish their defenses at Oktwin and Toungoo. When the Japanese attacked Oktwin, the Chinese held them off for two more days.

The Battle of Toungoo Begins

Japanese Attacks and Chinese Moves

On March 24, the Japanese 112th Regiment attacked the Oktwin positions. Another Japanese regiment, the 143rd, moved around the city. They used the jungle to reach Toungoo airfield and a nearby train station. Only a small group of Chinese engineers defended the airfield. They quickly pulled back. This meant the 200th Division's communication to the north was cut. They were now surrounded on three sides.

General Dai Anlan decided to pull his troops back to the city walls of Toungoo. The 598th Regiment defended the north, the 599th Regiment the south, and the 600th Regiment the west. The main headquarters moved to the east side of the Sittang River. This was to protect it from Japanese attacks and keep their supply route open.

Fighting in the City

At 8:00 AM on March 25, the Japanese launched a full attack on three sides of the city. Their goal was to push the Chinese against the Sittang River and destroy them. The Japanese broke through in the northwest part of the city. A whole Japanese battalion soon followed.

The Chinese fought back hard. They sent more troops to help the 600th Regiment. There was fierce house-to-house fighting. The soldiers were so close that Japanese planes and artillery found it hard to avoid hitting their own men. The Chinese counter-attack failed to get back the lost areas. The Japanese used buildings and stone walls for cover. The 600th Regiment moved back to defend the city center. The bridge over the Sittang River was badly damaged by Japanese fire. Vehicles could no longer cross it.

Japanese attacks continued on March 26. They took the southwest part of Toungoo but could not go further. Other attacks on the north and west also failed. The Chinese launched counter-attacks, but they suffered heavy losses.

By evening, the Japanese held the western part of the city. The Chinese held the main part, east of the railroad. Both sides were very close, less than 100 meters apart. This made it hard for Japanese air support. The Japanese pulled back about 200 meters to allow their planes and guns to fire. The Chinese hid in their positions. They waited until the Japanese were very close (40-50 meters) before opening fire with machine guns and grenades. This happened many times. The 200th Division had many casualties, but the Japanese also suffered heavily. They found it hard to keep attacking directly.

New Attacks and Reinforcements

On March 27, there was a quiet morning. But in the afternoon, Japanese planes bombed and shot at Chinese positions. The Japanese kept attacking with air support. They also fired many tear gas shells. Still, the Chinese held their ground. The Japanese decided to wait for their heavy artillery to arrive for a new attack on March 28.

On March 28, the 3rd Heavy Field Artillery Regiment arrived. With strong support from bombers and more gas attacks, they caused many Chinese casualties. The Japanese destroyed many Chinese strongpoints with artillery. However, the bombers were late due to fog. The Chinese defense was very strong, and the fighting lasted into the evening.

Meanwhile, a Japanese reconnaissance (scouting) group from the 56th Division was moving fast from Rangoon. This group had about 400 men and armored cars. They reached the 55th Division's headquarters by noon on March 28. They decided to move this force east of the Sittang River. Their plan was to attack the Chinese from behind. They crossed the river that evening, leaving their vehicles behind.

If this attack from the east succeeded, the entire 200th Division would be surrounded. General Dai Anlan personally organized the defense. He sent two companies to attack the Japanese from the side. Inside Toungoo city, the fighting was very fierce. Around the Chinese headquarters on the east bank, the Chinese suffered heavy losses but managed to hold their ground.

Chinese Withdrawal

On March 29, the Japanese 55th Division used all its remaining strength to attack. By noon, Japanese troops entered the northwestern part of the city. The Chinese escape route was in danger. While fighting continued in the west, the Japanese 56th Division's scouting group moved north. They attacked the Chinese flank guard east of the river and overran it by midday. This threatened the 200th Division's headquarters and the Sittang River bridge.

In the afternoon of March 29, the 200th Division received orders to withdraw. They were to move east first, then north along the east bank of the Sittang River. Fighting continued in the city, which was now on fire. The Chinese kept fighting hard, and the Japanese made no progress. By 10:00 PM on March 29, the Japanese scouting group was close to the Sittang River bridge. They saw signs that the Chinese forces were weakening.

However, this was part of the Chinese withdrawal plan. General Dai Anlan had each Chinese battalion leave a small group of soldiers behind. These groups launched night attacks to cover the main force's retreat. The 599th Regiment crossed the damaged bridge first. Then the 600th Regiment, and finally the 598th Regiment, which waded across the river. By 4:00 AM, the entire 200th Division had left Toungoo in good order. They even took all their wounded soldiers with them. The Chinese said their rearguards left before dawn.

On the morning of March 30, the Japanese 55th Division attacked along the front. They thought the Chinese were still there, even though most had left. After Japanese engineers blew up Chinese positions, the 55th Division finally broke through at 8:50 AM. They met up with the 56th Division troops, who had taken the important Sittang bridge at 7:00 AM and then attacked Toungoo from the east. This ended the battle. The Japanese now controlled the city and the bridge. The road to the east was open for them to go around the Allied line in Burma.

Meanwhile, the Chinese New 22nd Division had moved south to help the 200th Division. They reached Nangyun railway station and pushed back some Japanese troops there. They also sent patrols towards Toungoo, threatening the Japanese from the side and behind. The retreating 200th Division joined them at Yedashe. They had moved north along the east bank from Toungoo and crossed the Sittang River east of Nangyun. The Chinese then set up new defenses at Yedashe. They continued to block the Japanese advance up the Sittang River Valley.