bombing of Chongqing
The bombing of Chongqing (from February 18 1938 to August 23 1943) was a Japanese terror bombing campaign on the Chinese provisional capital of Chongqing.
A conservative estimate places the number of bombing runs at more than 5,000, with more than 11,500 bombs dropped, mainly incendiary bombs. The targets were usually residential areas, business areas, schools, hospitals (non-military targets). These terror bombings were probably aimed at cowing the Chinese government, or as part of the planned Sichuan invasion.
The raids
In the first two days, the raids of May 1939 killed more than five thousand Chinese civilians. Two months later, in retaliation for indiscriminate bombing, the United States embargoed the export of airplane parts, thus imposing its first economic sanction against Japan. [1]
On June 5, 1941, the Japanese flew more than 20 sorties, bombing the city for 3 hours. About four thousands residents, who hid in a tunnel, were asphyxiated. [2]
Trivia
Three thousands tons of bombs were launched on the city between 1939 and 1942. [2]
A total of 268 air raids were conducted against Chongqing.
References
External links
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