In the spring of 1945, a decisive campaign in the mountainous terrain of West Hunan in central China became the final major battlefield victory that compelled Imperial Japan's surrender, ending its 14-year aggression against China and marking a pivotal turning point in the World Anti-Fascist War.
Veteran Zhou Guangyuan, now 98 years old, clearly recalls August 21, 1945, when China received Japan's surrender document, ending the 14-year Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. It was the first instrument of surrender signed by Japan during World War II.
The turning point began months earlier. On April 9, 1945, Japan launched an offensive with 100,000 troops into West Hunan, aiming to capture the Zhijiang Airport used by Allied forces and control key railroads in an attempt to threaten Chongqing -- China's wartime capital.
China, however, was well-prepared. Under General He Yingqin's command, a 200,000-strong defensive force had been assembled and stood ready to engage the invaders in what was later known as the Battle of West Hunan.
From the skies, the Japanese advance was relentlessly pounded by Sino-American air sorties based at Zhijiang. This air power was a key deterrent against Japanese expansion after the attack on the Pearl Harbor in December 1941.
Amid the crossfire in West Hunan, Zhou had one critical mission.
"Our combat mission was to protect a three-member U.S. military [advisory] team stationed in the Xuefeng Mountains. The American team directed precision Allied airstrikes against Japanese forces using field radios and signal panels," he said.
"At that time, American and Chinese air forces fought side by side. During the campaign, they jointly conducted 3,100 sorties, dealing a devastating blow to the Japanese invaders," said Wu Jianhong, curator of Zhijiang Flying Tigers Museum.
On the ground, Chinese troops offered fierce resistance. One of the most intense battles took place in Jiangkou Town. On May 1, 1945, Japan's 133rd Division faced a strong Chinese counterattack.
"The fiercest fighting occurred on May 5. That night, the Japanese launched eight assaults but failed. By dawn on May 8, the Japanese forces had fully retreated," said Xiao Xiangsheng, witness of the Battle of Jiangkou Town.
This battle resulted in the elimination of over 3,500 Japanese soldiers, Xiao added.
From May 8 onward, Chinese forces launched a full counteroffensive. By June 7, they achieved decisive victory in the Battle of West Hunan.
"This battle along the Xuefeng Mountains successfully defended the Zhijiang Airport, safeguarded Chongqing, inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese invaders and ultimately accelerated Japan's unconditional surrender," said Liu Baisheng, author of The Xuefeng Assault.
On August 15, 1945, Japan announced its unconditional surrender. Six days later, envoy Takeo Imai flew to Zhijiang, where he submitted military maps and signed the terms of surrender. The formal surrender ceremony of the Japanese forces in the China Theater was held on September 9, 1945, in Nanjing City of east China's Jiangsu Province.
During 14 years of relentless anti-fascist struggle, China accounted for more than 1.5 million Japanese soldiers killed, wounded, or captured --representing 70 percent of Japan's total military casualties in the World War II. After Japan's defeat, more than 1.28 million Japanese troops surrendered in China.
China's military and civilians suffered more than 35 million casualties in their struggle against the bulk of Japanese militarist forces, making China a major contributor to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War.
Battle of West Hunan: China's last major offensive forcing Japan's surrender
