Operation Alpha
Encyclopedia
Operation Alpha was the US inspired plan, in late 1944, to protect the capital of Yunnan
province, Kunming
, against a further Japanese offensive.
At this time, the Japanese were successfully executing their own operation, Ichigo
, to secure overland routes to Vietnam
.
The Allied strategy in China was to support Chinese resistance and maintain them in the war, thus adding pressure on Japanese resources. Resistance to Japanese occupation, however, had been reduced by the hostility between Nationalist
and Communist Chinese. Often, the priority for the Nationalists was to maintain or improve their position vis-a-vis the Communists. American advisors urged the factions to unite against the common foe, but their influence was undermined by the Allied inability to provide supplies to the promised level.
Alpha sought to reinforce Chinese units in southeastern China with two Chinese divisions from Burma and the Chinese 53rd Army, already in Yunnan, all retrained and re-equipped for specific campaigns under American direction. The Chinese Generalissimo, Chiang Kai-Shek
neither accepted nor rejected the plan. The commander of the US China theatre, Major General Albert C. Wedemeyer nevertheless shifted available supplies (delivered via the airlift from Burma and India
, called the "Hump
") to forces intended for Alpha. At the same time, Wedermeyer merged advisory and training staffs into a single unit, the Chinese Training and Combat Command, under Brigadier General Frank Dorn.
Allied offensives in Burma and China in 1944 had been aimed at lifting the Japanese land blockade and reopening the road supply route from Burma
: the first road convoy reached Kunming
on 4 February 1945. The easing of the supply problem allowed Wedermeyer to push ahead with building the "Alpha Force" into a proposed 36 division Chinese army by September 1945.
The Japanese had their own plans and attacked on 8 April towards the US air base at Chihchiang. At first, they forced back the Chinese forces but, reinforced by "new" units from the "Alpha Force", the Chinese halted the Japanese by early May. By June they had driven the Japanese back to their start line.
The Chihchiang attack was the last Japanese offensive in China. Thereafter they began to withdraw troops to defend the Japanese homeland (Operation Ketsu-go) and consolidate along the coast. The Chinese moved to the offensive.
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
province, Kunming
Kunming
' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government...
, against a further Japanese offensive.
At this time, the Japanese were successfully executing their own operation, Ichigo
Ichigo
Ichigo may refer to:*Kamen Raidā Ichigō or Kamen Rider 1, the main character in Kamen Rider media*Ichigo Kurosaki, the main character in Bleach media*Ichigo Momomiya, the main character in Tokyo Mew Mew media...
, to secure overland routes to Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
.
The Allied strategy in China was to support Chinese resistance and maintain them in the war, thus adding pressure on Japanese resources. Resistance to Japanese occupation, however, had been reduced by the hostility between Nationalist
Chinese nationalist
Chinese nationalist can refer to:* Chinese nationalism* Kuomintang - Chinese Nationalist Party in Taiwan....
and Communist Chinese. Often, the priority for the Nationalists was to maintain or improve their position vis-a-vis the Communists. American advisors urged the factions to unite against the common foe, but their influence was undermined by the Allied inability to provide supplies to the promised level.
Alpha sought to reinforce Chinese units in southeastern China with two Chinese divisions from Burma and the Chinese 53rd Army, already in Yunnan, all retrained and re-equipped for specific campaigns under American direction. The Chinese Generalissimo, Chiang Kai-Shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
neither accepted nor rejected the plan. The commander of the US China theatre, Major General Albert C. Wedemeyer nevertheless shifted available supplies (delivered via the airlift from Burma and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, called the "Hump
The Hump
The Hump was the name given by Allied pilots in the Second World War to the eastern end of the Himalayan Mountains over which they flew military transport aircraft from India to China to resupply the Chinese war effort of Chiang Kai-shek and the units of the United States Army Air Forces based in...
") to forces intended for Alpha. At the same time, Wedermeyer merged advisory and training staffs into a single unit, the Chinese Training and Combat Command, under Brigadier General Frank Dorn.
Allied offensives in Burma and China in 1944 had been aimed at lifting the Japanese land blockade and reopening the road supply route from Burma
Ledo Road
The Ledo Road was built during World War II so that the Western Allies could supply the Chinese as an alternative to the Burma Road which had been cut by the Japanese in 1942. It was renamed the Stilwell Road in early 1945 at the suggestion of Chiang Kai-shek...
: the first road convoy reached Kunming
Kunming
' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government...
on 4 February 1945. The easing of the supply problem allowed Wedermeyer to push ahead with building the "Alpha Force" into a proposed 36 division Chinese army by September 1945.
The Japanese had their own plans and attacked on 8 April towards the US air base at Chihchiang. At first, they forced back the Chinese forces but, reinforced by "new" units from the "Alpha Force", the Chinese halted the Japanese by early May. By June they had driven the Japanese back to their start line.
The Chihchiang attack was the last Japanese offensive in China. Thereafter they began to withdraw troops to defend the Japanese homeland (Operation Ketsu-go) and consolidate along the coast. The Chinese moved to the offensive.