Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, interwar and Second World War

Battle of Xinkou

Battle of Xinkou was a battle fought on 13 September 1937 at Niangzi Pass, in what is now People's Republic of China; it lasted 59 days. It was part of Second Sino-Japanese War, which ran from 1937 to 1945. The recorded result: Japanese victory. Recorded strength: 280,000 in 52 divisions against 140,000 in 4 divisions; 350+ artillery guns; 150+ tanks; 300 aircraft.

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Chinese troops marching to defend Xinkou mountain passes
Chinese troops marching to defend Xinkou mountain passes. en:user:DCTT, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought13 September 1937lasted 59 days
WhereNiangzi Pass, People's Republic of China38.000N, 112.000E
OutcomeJapanese victory
BelligerentsChina; Chinese Nationalist Party; Chinese Communist PartyagainstJapan
Part ofSecond Sino-Japanese War1937 to 1945

Where it sits in Second Sino-Japanese War

Defense of Harbin, 1932Battle of Wenzaobang, 1932Battle of Nanking, 1937Siege of Shanghai, 1937Battle of Luodian, 1937Marco Polo Bridge incident, 1937Battle of Beiping–Tianjin, 1937Battle of Zhangjiakou, 1937Battle of Nankou, 1937Battle of Shanghai, 1937Battle of Wusong, 1937Battle of Taiyuan, 1937Battle of Datong, 1937Battle of Jining, 1937Battle of Xinkou, 1937Battle of Pingxingguan, 1937Defense of Sihang Warehouse, 1937Battle of Jinshanwei, 1937Defense of Linyi, 1938Siege of Xuzhou, 1938Battle of Northern and Eastern Henan, 1938Defense of Teng County, 1938Battle of Taierzhuang, 1938Battle of Xuzhou, 1938Battle of Wuhan, 1938Battle of Changsha, 1939Battle of Nanchang, 1939Battle of Suixian–Zaoyang, 1939Battle of South Guangxi, 1939Battle of Baotou, 1939Battle of Kunlun Pass, 1939Battle of West Suiyuan, 1940Battle of Wuyuan, 1940Battle of Zaoyang–Yichang, 1940Hundred Regiments Offensive, 1940Battle of South Henan, 1941Battle of Shanggao, 1941Battle of South Shanxi, 1941Battle of Changsha, 1941Battle of Changsha, 1942Battle of Tachiao, 1942Battle of Oktwin, 1942Battle of Toungoo, 1942Battle of Yenangyaung, 1942Battle of Lashio, 1942Battle of Yunnan-Burma Road, 1942Battle of West Hubei, 1943Battle of Northern Burma and Western Yunnan, 1943Battle of Changde, 1943Battle of Dushan, 1944Battle of Central Henan, 1944Operation Ichi-Go, 1944Battle of Changsha, 1944Defense of Hengyang, 1944Battle of Guilin–Liuzhou, 1944Battle of West Hunan, 194519321945Battle of Xinkou, 1937
58 placed engagements of Second Sino-Japanese War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date13 September 1937
to 11 November 1937
PlaceNiangzi Pass, People's Republic of China
38.000N, 112.000E
KindBattle, interwar and Second World War
Strength280,000 in 52 divisions140,000 in 4 divisions; 350+ artillery guns; 150+ tanks; 300 aircraft
Casualties and lossesWestern Claim: 100,000 dead, injured or missing; Chinese Claim: Battle of Xinkou: According to the 'history of the Anti-Japanese War': 55,094 killed, wounded, or missing; According to the statistical table of the Second Military Front: 33,264 killed, wounded, or missing; Battle of Niangziguan: According to the 'history of the Anti-Japanese War': 28,516 killed, wounded, or missing; According to the statistical table of the Second Military Front: approximately 27,043 casualtiesWestern Claim: 20,000 killed; Tens of thousands more wounded; Dozens of tanks and 24+ planes; Battle of Xinkou: Chinese Claim: 21,000 casualties; Japanese Claim: 6,245 casualties; Battle of Niangziguan: Chinese Claim: 3,520 casualties; Japanese Claim: approximately 2,400 casualties
Commanders
Battle of XinkouBattle of XinkouBattle of South ShanxiSiege of Yen-Men FortressBattle of TaiyuanSiege of Yen-Men FortressXinzhouJiexiu100 km38.000N, 112.000E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1937

Battle of Xinkou is one of 2,997 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 339 in present-day People's Republic of China.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q717505, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Xinkou, revision 1370594909, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.