Anti-Japanese war archives cover defense of Hengyang

China on Sunday released the 29th installment of anti-Japanese aggression war archives -- the Battle of Hengyang, which took place in 1944 in central China's Hunan Province.

China's State Archives Administration has been releasing the documents on its website since Aug. 25, one per day, a move to raise awareness of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

Dubbed the "Oriental Moscow Battle," the Battle of Hengyang lasted 48 days from June 21 to Aug. 8, making it one of the longest defense of a single city in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

The Hengyang battle was started as part of Japanese forces' continent cross-through operation to open a land route from central China to Vietnam.

The Japanese forces organized more than 110,000 troops to attack Hengyang, held by some 18,000 Chinese troops led by general Fang Xianjue.

The Battle of Hengyang lasted for 48 days with Chinese army blocking the attacks of Japanese troops under the circumstances of shortage of arms, lack of reinforcement and insufficient food and ammunition.

The defense of Hengyang smashed Japanese troops' attempt to take over the city within three days and complete the continent cross-through operation within a week.

The city was lost after Chinese army ran out of ammunition and replacements.

It is estimated that more than 7,600 Chinese soldiers were killed in the battle while the Japanese side suffered more than 60,000 casualties, among them some 19,000 were killed.

The battle caused the direct collapse of the Hideki Tojo cabinet and bought more time for the Chinese forces.