Chou En-Lai's Promise CBI (id:#59877)

Heat of Battle (Recon by Fire! #4 ID: RBF-52)   [next]   [previous]

Tientsin-Peiping Road, China 1945-10-06 (0 others)

Overview:

Within 48 hours of the end of the Pacific war, elements of the USMC III Amphibious Corps were ordered into north China to facilitate the surrender and repatriation of Japanese forces near Peiping. On arrival, the Marines found former Japanese puppet forces in localized combat with Chinese Communist bands. The Marine commander ordered the puppet forces withdrawn and replaced with Marines. The local Chinese Communist leader, Chou En-Lai, disclaimed any designs on the area without American cooperation, but warned that if the US forces were seen as favoring the Nationalist Chinese, the results could be violent. On 5 October, reconnaissance vehicles proceeding from Tientsin to Pieping found 36 roadblocks scattered along the route, blocking all vehicles larger than a Jeep. On the following day, a detail of engineers guarded by a platoon of Marines was sent to clear the road. As the Marine engineers and security platoon drove up to a roadblock about 22 miles from Tientsin, they were fired upon by an estimate 40-50 Red Chinese Communists believed to be part of the 8th Route Army.

Defender: Chinese (Communist Chinese Partisans)  

Errata (source)