Introduction to the "July 7th Incident" at Marco Polo Bridge:

1. The time was the night of July 7, 1937.

2. The location was Marco Polo Bridge and Wanping City. < /p>

3. Cause: During an exercise near the Marco Polo Bridge in the southwest of Peiping, the Japanese army requested to enter Wanping County for search on the pretext that a soldier was "missing", but the Chinese garrison's 29th Army sternly refused.

4. Passage: On the afternoon of July 7, 1937, the 8th Squadron of the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Regiment of the Japanese North China Garrison Army, led by Captain Shimizu Setsuro, headed towards the Chinese defenders close to the Marco Polo Bridge with live ammunition. The area between Huilong Temple and Dawayao. At 7:30 p.m., the Japanese army began exercises. At 22:40, the Japanese army claimed that gunshots were heard from the exercise area and that a soldier (Shimura Kikujiro) was "missing".

They immediately forcibly requested to enter Wanping City, where the Chinese defenders were stationed, for search. The 37th of the Chinese 29th Army The 219th Regiment of the 110th Brigade of the Division sternly refused. While deploying for battle, the Japanese army pretended to negotiate with the Chinese side on the pretext of "gunshots" and "missing" soldiers. Around 24:00, the Hebei-Cha authorities received a call from Matsui Tataro, the head of the Japanese secret service in Peiping.

Matsui said: The Japanese army was conducting an exercise outside Marco Polo Bridge yesterday. When they suddenly heard the sound of gunshots, they immediately called the troops and found that one soldier was missing. We have entered the city and require immediate search. The Chinese refused because the entry of Japanese soldiers into the city late at night might cause local unrest, the Chinese officers and soldiers were sleeping soundly, and the gunfire was not from the Chinese.

Soon, Matsui called the Hebei-Cha authorities and said that if China did not allow it, the Japanese army would forcefully enter the city and search. At the same time, the Hebei-Cha authorities received a report from the Chinese defenders of Marco Polo Bridge, saying that the Japanese army had formed an encirclement and offensive posture against Wanping City. In order to prevent the situation from escalating, the Jicha authorities discussed with the Japanese side and both parties agreed to jointly send personnel to Marco Polo Bridge to investigate. At this time, the "missing" soldier claimed by the Japanese side had returned to the team, but failed to report it.

At about 5 a.m. on July 8, the Japanese army suddenly launched an artillery attack. The Chinese 29th Army headquarters immediately ordered the frontline officers and soldiers: "Secure the Marco Polo Bridge and Wanping City", "The Marco Polo Bridge is your grave, and it should be The bridge must survive and must not retreat." The 3rd Battalion of the 219th Regiment, which guarded Marco Polo Bridge and Wanping City, rose up to fight under the command of regiment commander Ji Xingwen and battalion commander Jin Zhenzhong.

5. Result: After the July 7th Incident broke out, the Japanese army’s attack encountered stubborn resistance from the Chinese army. Seeing that their attempt to occupy Marco Polo Bridge could not be realized, the Japanese army began to play the conspiracy of "negotiation on the spot". On the one hand, they wanted to use negotiations to pressure China into submission, and on the other hand, they used negotiations to gain time to dispatch troops and generals.

6. The historical significance of the incident: The July 7th Incident was the beginning of Japanese imperialism’s all-out war of aggression against China and the starting point for the Chinese nation’s all-out war of resistance.

Extended information:

Historical background of the "July 7th Incident":

On September 18, 1931, the Japanese army provoked the September 18th Incident and occupied China Northeast China, and single-handedly created the pseudo-Manchukuo. After the Japanese army occupied Northeast China, they extended their claws to North China and plotted to launch "North China Autonomy." In June 1936, the Emperor of Japan approved the new "Imperial Defense Policy" and "Principles for the Use of Troops," openly declaring his ambition to control the East Asian continent and the Western Pacific, and ultimately dominate the world.

On August 7, Japan's five-phase meeting adopted the "National Policy Baseline", which specifically stipulated the strategic plan to invade China, invade the Soviet Union, and wait to advance southward. At the same time, based on the 1936 annual invasion of China plan, the 1937 invasion of China plan was formulated. Since May 1936, Japan has successively increased its troops in North China, constantly causing troubles and conducting frequent military exercises. The situation in North China has become increasingly serious.

At that time, the Chinese garrison guarding the Pingjin area was the 29th Army. Its commander Song Zheyuan was also the chairman of the Hebei-Cha Government Affairs Committee.

Baidu Encyclopedia-July 7th Incident (the starting point of the Chinese nation’s all-out war of resistance)