Archives highlight major battle against Japan during WWII

China on Wednesday released archives of an important battle against Japanese army in 1939, as the country marks the 69th anniversary of the victory against Japan's aggression.

This is the 17th part of the series released daily by the State Archives Administration beginning Aug. 25.

In April 1939, a 113,000-strong Japanese troop launched an offensive in Suixian and Zaoyang of central China's Hubei Province.

The Chinese side assembled a troop of about 220,000 and held the defense line for about a month until the Japanese army retreated to their original base on May 24.

During the battle, the Japanese army repeatedly used toxic gas with strong air support but failed to break the defense.

The Suizao Battle played an important role in the eight-year war by breaking Japan's offensive strategy and containing its main force.

China has officially set Sept. 3 as Victory Day to mark Japan's surrender on Sept. 2, 1945.