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Last time we spoke about the fall of Shanghai. In October 1937 a small battalion led by Colonel Xie Jinyuan transformed the Sihang Warehouse into a fortress against the advancing Japanese army. These men, known as the "800 Heroes," became symbols of hope, rallying local citizens who provided vital support. Despite heavy casualties, they held out against overwhelming odds until a strategic retreat was ordered on November 1. As Japanese forces intensified their assaults, they breached the Chinese defenses and captured strategic positions along Suzhou Creek. The fighting was fierce, marked by desperate counterattacks from the besieged Chinese soldiers, who faced an unyielding enemy. By November 9, the Chinese faced a full retreat, their organized defenses collapsing into chaos as they fled the city. Desperate civilians sought refuge in the International Settlement but were met with hostility, exacerbating the terror of the moment. Amidst the turmoil, remaining forces continued to resist in pockets, holding out as long as possible. By November 11, Japanese troops raised their flag in the last stronghold, marking a grim victory.   #163 Crossing Nanjing's Rubicon Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. As the Japanese were mopping up Shanghai, Chiang Kai-Shek wrote in his diary on November 11th “I fear that they could threaten Nanjing”. Over In Shanghai, General Matsui Iwane was dealing with foreign correspondents, eager to learn what Japan's next move would be and to this he simply stated “For future developments, you had better ask Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek”. The correspondents were surprised by this response and pressed him further. He replied . “Chiang Kai-shek was reported to have predicted a five-year war, well, it might be that long. We don't know whether we will go to Nanjing or not. It all depends on Chiang.” At this point Shanghai was falling under Japanese control and now Matsui and his fellow field commanders were thinking, what's next? Nanjing was certainly the next objective. It was a common understanding amongst the Japanese leadership, that if the four main eastern cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing were lost, Chiang Kai-Shek's government would collapse. Three of these cities had been taken, Nanjing was dangling like fresh fruit. Matsui's staff believed the Chinese units departing Shanghai would mount a stand immediately west of the city, probably a defensive line running from Jiading to Huangduzhen. On the night of November 11th, Matsui issued a command to all units in the Shanghai area to advance west along the railway towards Nanjing. Their first objective would be a line extending from Taicang to Kunshan. Chiang Kai-Shek was not only reeling from military defeats, but also the gradual loss of his German allies. The Germans were increasingly aligning with the Japanese. Chiang Kai-Shek was looking for new external help, so he turned to the Soviets. It was a marriage of convenience, Chiang Kai-Shek signed a non-aggression pact with the USSR that year and wasted no time pleading for aircraft and pilots. Moscow began sending them before the ink touched the paper. 200 aircraft and pilots in return for some essential minerals, wolfram and tungsten. The Sino-Soviet friendship even drew in an unlikely source of support, Sir Winston Churchill. The Soviet envoy to the UK described how during a meeting with Churchill “he greatly praised our tactics in the Far East: maintenance of neutrality and simultaneous aid to China in weaponry.” Soviet pilots found themselves dispatched to Nanjing where they were briefed by Yakov Vladimirovich Smushkevich, the deputy commander of the Soviet Air Force. “The Japanese armed forces are technically superior to the Chinese. The Chinese Air Force is a particular concern. Soviet pilots who have rushed to China's aid are currently in Nanjing. They are fighting valiantly.” Meanwhile back at Shanghai discipline and order that had characterized previous Chinese withdrawal had collapsed. Simply put, there were hundreds of thousands of men trying to retreat across the lower Yangtze region, it was a shitstorm. Many units had to disengage during combat with the enemy and scramble to pull out. Huang Qixiang, the deputy commander of the Chinese right flank in Shanghai, executed a strategic withdrawal moments before his command post succumbed to the advancing enemy forces. Just fifteen minutes after his departure, the area was overrun by Japanese troops. In a desperate bid to avoid capture, another general had to cross a creek, nearly drowning in the process. Rescued while barely clinging to life and drenched in icy water, he was welcomed by a peasant family who aided in his recovery before he resumed his arduous journey westward. The scale of this withdrawal, occurring both day and night, could hardly escape the enemy's notice, and its complexity made the operation increasingly difficult. The execution of the withdrawal exacerbated the situation significantly. Orders to abandon their positions started to trickle down immediately after the upper command made the decision. However, these orders reached the units in a disorganized manner. Many telephone lines had been sabotaged, and when soldiers were sent to relay the orders in person, they faced severe disruptions in the transportation network. Consequently, many units only became aware of the withdrawal when they witnessed the mass movements of their comrades heading westward. Upon realizing what was happening, many soldiers fled in a state of panic. There were no comprehensive plans outlining the retreat, no designated routes for the various units, nor any established timetables. The outcome was a chaotic scramble for survival. Soldiers who had fought side by side for three months suddenly found themselves competing against one another in a desperate race to escape. At bridges and other chokepoints, weary soldiers exhausted their last reserves of strength, brawling with their fellow troops to be the first to cross. Meanwhile, officers traveling in chauffeur-driven cars attempted to assert their rank to gain priority access to the roads, adding to the growing disorder that ensued. The massive army was hindered by its sheer size, resulting in miles of congested roads filled with men unable to move in any direction. This made them easy targets for Japanese aircraft, leading to a bloody cycle of repeated attacks. Planes adorned with the red Rising Sun insignia would emerge from the horizon, swooping down to strike at these vulnerable formations. As commander Chen Yiding recalled “The lack of organization and the gridlocked roads resulted in far more casualties than could have been avoided,”.  On November 12th, the newspaper Zhaongyang Ribao, published an editorial addressing the citizens of Nanjing, to remind them that tough times lay ahead now that Shanghai had fallen. The article stipulated they needed to prepare the city for the upcoming battle,  “Now, all the citizenry of the capital must fulfill their duty in a way that can serve as a model for the entire nation.” Nanjing in 1937 was a city touched by the war, but not enough to change the social fabric just yet. Cinema's remained open, the shopping arcade was crowded as usual, traffic was heavy along Zhongshan Road, order remained. Telephones remained on, except during air raids. Connections to the outside world functioned as they should, given this was the capital. The region had seen a good harvest in 1937, no one was going hungry. However as the front 200 miles away drew closer, bombing raids more frequent, fear of the enemy increased. Contact with the outside world gradually declined. By mid November the train link from Nanjing to Shanghai was severed.  While the fear amongst the populace increased, so did a newfound sense of common purpose against a common enemy. Poster calling for the Chinese to unite against the Japanese invaders were found throughout Nanjing. Residents were conscripted for various fortification efforts, with some receiving basic military training to help defend the city. Those who refused to cooperate faced severe penalties as “traitors,” while the majority willingly participated. Both military and civilian police were deployed throughout the city, diligently checking identities in an ongoing effort to root out spies and traitors. The authorities enforced a strict prohibition against discussing military matters in restaurants and other public venues. Then all the high ranking military officials and politicians families gradually began departing the city in secrecy. This was followed by said politicians and military officials. Twas not a good look. Nanjing soon saw its population decline from 1 million to half a million. Those who stayed behind were mainly the poor, or those anchored, like shopkeepers. Every day saw a steady stream of Nanjing citizens leaving the city over her main roads, fleeing into the countryside with carts full of belongings. On November 12th at 10am orders were issued for the Japanese to advance west. What had been a war of attrition, where inches of land were claimed with blood, suddenly it was a war of movement. As one Japanese soldier recalled “In the course of 50 days, I had moved only two miles. Now suddenly we were experiencing rapid advance”. As the Japanese came across small towns, they found large posters plastered on all the walls. These were all anti-japanese with some nationalist propaganda. The Japanese soldiers would tear them down and paint up their own messages “down with Chiang Kai-Shek!”.  Towns and cities west of Shanghai fell rapidly one after another, each succumbing to a grim pattern: swift conquest followed by widespread devastation. Jiading, a county seat with a population of approximately 30,000, succumbed to a prolonged siege. When the 10st division captured Jiading on November 13, after relentless shelling had leveled a third of the city, they began a massacre, indiscriminately killing nearly everyone in their path, men, women, and children alike. The battle and its aftermath resulted in over 8,000 casualties among the city's residents and surrounding countryside. One Japanese soldier referred to Jiading as “A city of death, in a mysteriously silent world in which the only sound was the tap of our own footsteps”.  On November 14, soldiers from the 9th Division reached Taicang, an ancient walled city designed to withstand lengthy sieges. As they crossed the 70-foot moat amid heavy fire, the Japanese troops confronted the formidable 20-foot-high city wall. After breaching the wall, their infantry swiftly entered the city and seized control. The destruction persisted long after the fighting ceased, with half of the city being devastated, including significant cultural institutions like the library, and salt and grain reserves were looted. It was as if the Japanese aimed to obliterate not just the material existence of the people but their spiritual foundation as well.  Casual cruelty marked the nature of warfare along the entire front, with few prisoners being taken. Ishii Seitaro, a soldier in the 13th Division's 26th Brigade, encountered a mass execution while marching alongside the Yangtze River. Several headless corpses floated nearby, yet three Chinese prisoners remained alive. A Japanese officer, personally overseeing the execution, wore a simple uniform, but the two ornate swords at his belt indicated his wealthy background. Approaching one prisoner, the officer dramatically drew one of the swords and brandished it through the air with exaggerated flair. In an almost theatrical display, he held it aloft, the blade trembling as if he were nervous. The prisoner, in stark contrast, exhibited an unnerving calmness as he knelt, awaiting his inevitable fate. The officer swung the sword down but failed to deliver a clean strike. Although he inflicted a deep gash to the prisoner's skull, it was not fatal. The prisoner collapsed, thrashing and emitting a prolonged scream that sent chills through those present. The officer, seemingly exhilarated by the anguish he caused, began wildly slashing at the figure until the screams subsided. Ishii turned away in horror, his mind swirling with confusion. Why were the Chinese being executed? Had they not surrendered?  Three months into the war's expansion to the Yangtze region, air raids had become an all too frequent menace in Nanjing. The first major raid came on August 15th and increased each week. On the night of August 27, approximately 30 bombs were dropped on Purple Mountain, specifically targeting the Memorial Park for Sun Yat-sen, aiming to hurt the morale of Nanjing's residents. As days melted into weeks and weeks stretched into months, the landscape of Nanjing transformed under the weight of war. Residents began constructing dugouts in courtyards, gardens, public squares, and even on streets. Foreigners painted their national flags on top of buildings and vehicles, attempting to avoid the risk of being machine-gunned by strafing aircraft. Each raid followed a predictable routine: sirens wailed loudly 20 to 30 minutes before the attack, signaling pedestrians to seek shelter and drivers to stop their engines. By the time a shorter warning sounded, the streets had to be cleared, leaving nothing to do but await the arrival of Japanese planes. Initially, the part-US-trained Chinese Air Force posed a considerable threat to Japanese bombers. The 4th and 5th Chinese Squadrons, stationed near Nanjing to defend the capital, achieved early success, reportedly downing six bombers during the first air raid on Nanjing. Much of the credit for these aerial victories belonged to Claire Chennault, a retired American Army Air Corps captain who had become an advisor to the Chinese Air Force, overseeing Nanjing's air defense. Chennault taught his pilots tactics he had developed in the US but had never fully implemented. His strategy was straightforward: three fighters would focus on one enemy bomber at a time. One would attack from above, another from below, while a third would hover in reserve to deliver the final blow if necessary. He instructed the Chinese pilots to target the engines rather than the fuselage, reasoning that any missed shots could hit the gas tanks located in the wing roots. This approach proved successful, leading to the loss of 54 Japanese planes within three days. For Chennault, it validated his belief that air superiority required a diverse range of aircraft, not just bombers. Nighttime raids, however, posed a greater challenge. Chennault, along with other commanders, sought solutions. Chinese General C.C. Wong, a German-trained artillery officer overseeing the country's anti-aircraft defenses, ensured that dozens of large Sperry searchlights were positioned throughout Nanjing in a grid pattern. This setup had a dual purpose: it would dazzle the Japanese bomber crews and highlight their planes in silhouette for Chinese fighters above to target. The bravery of the most skilled Chinese pilots occasionally gained media attention, making them local celebrities amidst an otherwise grim war environment. However, this bright moment faded quickly when the Japanese command decided to provide escorts for their bombers. Consequently, the elite of China's air force, its finest pilots and aircraft, were lost within weeks that fall. All air raids were brutal, but the worst assaults occurred at the end of September. As a radio broadcaster reported on September 25th “Gallons of civilian blood flowed today as Nanking endured three ferocious air raids”. In total, 96 Japanese sorties were launched on that day. Witnesses observed around a dozen Chinese aircraft retreating north across the Yangtze, initially believing they were fleeing, but some returned to confront the enemy. When Chinese fighters managed to down a Japanese bomber, the streets erupted in cheers as civilians momentarily forgot their fear. The primary aim of the September 25 attack appeared to be spreading terror among the civilian population. Chiang Kai-Shek wrote in his diary that day  “The repeated Japanese air raids over the past several days have had no impact on our military installations. Instead, civilian property has sustained significant damage.” Around 20 bombs struck the Central Hospital, one of Nanjing's largest medical facilities, causing extensive destruction and prompting the evacuation of its staff. Two 1,000-pound bombs exploded nearby, leaving large craters. Had these bombs landed slightly closer, they could have resulted in mass casualties among the hospital's 100 patients, including a Japanese pilot who had been shot down earlier that month. The air raids at the end of September prompted protests from the Americans, British, and French governments to Japan. In response, Tokyo issued a statement on September 30, asserting that while they were not intentionally targeting non-combatants, it was “unavoidable” for achieving military objectives that military airfields and installations in and around Nanjing be bombed.   The battle for Jiashan was among the fiercest in the southern Yangtze delta campaign in November 1937. Although Jiashan was a moderately sized town straddling a crucial railway connecting Shanghai to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province. For the Japanese, seizing Jiashan was imperative for their westward advance; without it, their military progress would be severely hampered. Jiashan had endured three days of relentless bombing by the Japanese Air Force, driving most residents to flee into the surrounding countryside. Only about 100 remained, those who were too old or too sick to escape, abandoned by family or friends who lacked the means to assist them. The Japanese troops brutally bayoneted nearly all of these individuals and buried them in a mass grave just outside the town's northern gate. Jiashan was captured by the 10th Army, a division fresh from victories and eager to engage in combat, unlike the weary forces of the Shanghai Expeditionary Force further north. With less than a week of combat experience, the 10th Army's soldiers were hungry for a fight. The martial spirit of the 10th Army was exemplified by its commander, Yanagawa Heisuke. Born near Nagasaki in 1879, he was among a group of retired officers called back to active service as the war in China escalated unexpectedly. Having served in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 and taught at the Beijing Army College in 1918, Yanagawa had considerable experience in military affairs. However, his past exposure to China did not cultivate any empathy for the enemy. He was determined to push all the way to Nanjing, and once there, he intended to blanket the city in mustard gas and incendiaries until it capitulated. While Japanese commanders debated the value of capturing Nanjing, the Chinese were equally preoccupied with whether it was worth defending. Most military professionals viewed the situation as a lost cause from the start. After the fall of Shanghai, Chiang Kai-shek summoned one of his top commanders, Chen Cheng, to Nanjing for discussions. “How can Nanjing be held?” Chen Cheng shot back “Are you ordering me to hold Nanjing?” Chiang replied “I am not”. Chen Cheng stated frankly, “I believe Nanjing should not be held at all.” By mid-November, Bai Chongxi, one of China's most respected generals, advocated for declaring Nanjing an open city. He argued that defending it was not only unnecessary but also impossible. All available forces had been deployed to Shanghai and were now exhausted. Furthermore, no reinforcements would be forthcoming if they made a stand in Nanjing. Instead of stubbornly clinging to fixed positions, he preferred a more flexible defensive strategy. Zhang Qun, Chiang's secretary, supported Bai's stance, believing that while Nanjing should ultimately be abandoned, political considerations were paramount. If the Chinese simply withdrew and allowed the Japanese to occupy the city, it would undermine China's position in any future negotiations. The Japanese would not be able to present themselves as victors who had triumphed in battle. Similarly, Chiang's chief military advisor, General Alexander von Falkenhausen, was against attempting to hold Nanjing. He deemed it “useless from a military perspective, suggesting it would be madness.” He warned that if Chiang forced his army into a decisive battle with their backs to the Yangtze River, “a disaster would probably be unavoidable.” Chiang's head of the operations bureau Liu Fei argued Nanjing could not be abandoned without a fight as it would crush the NRA's morale. He believed that defending the city could be managed with as few as 12 regiments, although 18 would be feasible. Most at the meeting agreed and Chiang understood Nanjing's international recognition necessitated some form of defense, doomed or not. A second meeting was formed whereupon, Tang Shengzhi, a general staff officer whose loyalties were, lets be honest very flip floppy. During the warlord era, he routinely switched sides, especially against Chiang Kai-Shek. At the meeting Tang stated in regards to Nanjing's international prominence and being the final resting place of Dr Sun Yat-Sen “How can we face the spirit of the former president in heaven? We have no choice but to defend the capital to the death.” Chiang's commanders were all well aware of his intentions. The generalissimo was eager for a dramatic last stand in Nanjing to serve propaganda purposes, aiming to rally the nation and convey to the world that China was resolute in its fight against Japan. His commanders also recognized the rationale behind fighting for Nanjing; however, very few were inclined to embark on what seemed a likely suicide mission. The third meeting occurred the day after the second. Chiang opened by asking, as many anticipated, “Who is willing to shoulder the burden of defending Nanjing?” An awkward silence followed. Then Tang Shengzhi stepped forward. “Chairman, if no one else is willing, I will. I'm prepared to defend Nanjing and to hold it to the death.” Without hesitation, Chiang accepted his offer. “Good, the responsibility is yours.”A little refresher on Tang, he had played a role in Chiang Kai-shek's efforts to unify China by force in the 1920s, when the nation was a patchwork of fiefdoms. However, their relationship had soured on two occasions, forcing Tang into temporary exile, first to Japan and then to Hong Kong. The Japanese invasion of northeastern China in 1931 prompted a loose reconciliation, and since then, Tang had held several important positions, notably organizing war games simulating a Japanese assault on Nanjing. However Tang had often suffered from illness, and crucially, he had not led troops in the field against the Japanese since the onset of full-scale war that summer. Hailing from Hunan province, he was a typical provincial soldier and would likely face challenges commanding respect among elite divisions loyal solely to the central government in Nanjing. He was definitely not the first choice for such a significant task.  Amazingly, while tens of thousands of Chinese and Japanese were killing each other, while Japanese planes relentlessly bombarded Chinese cities including the capital, and while Japanese soldiers committed heinous atrocities against Chinese civilians, the two nations maintained diplomatic relations. China had a fully operational embassy in Tokyo, led by Xu Shiying, a 65-year-old diplomat. This surreal arrangement persisted because neither side was willing to officially declare war. In the fall of 1937, as Japanese armies were heavily engaged on two fronts within mainland China, Xu met with Japanese Foreign Minister Hirota Koki to propose a non-aggression treaty. The proposal was swiftly rejected in Nanjing. By November 1937, Xu was no longer at the forefront of events, and foreign observers shifted their focus from the capitals of the warring nations to Belgium. While large-scale battles raged along the lower Yangtze, representatives from 19 countries convened in Brussels to search for a way to end hostilities. Although China participated in the conference, Japan did not. Japan had received two invitations to join the talks, with its response to the second arriving in Brussels on November 12: a firm rejection. Japan asserted that it preferred direct bilateral negotiations with China, dismissing the Brussels conference held under the auspices of the Nine-Power Treaty, a pact signed in 1922 aimed at ensuring China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Japan argued that intervention by a collective body like the conference “would merely stir national sentiments in both countries and complicate efforts to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution.” The League of Nations had called for a Nine-Power conference a month earlier, which ultimately became a 19-power conference as other nations with interests in East Asia joined. From the outset, Japan opposed the assembly and was absent when the first plenary meeting commenced in Brussels on November 3. Japanese leaders feared that China might attempt to leverage the conference against Western powers, recalling how, in 1895, Japan had been denied its spoils following its first modern war with China due to the intervention of Russia, France, and Germany, who blocked Japan from claiming the strategic Liaodong Peninsula adjacent to Korea. China also exhibited a lukewarm attitude toward the conference. While Japan feared the potential outcomes, China was concerned about the lack of significant results. The proposal to transition discussions from the League of Nations, perceived as ineffective, to the even less authoritative Nine Powers, which lacked formal organization. Nonetheless, the Chinese chose to participate in Brussels, maintaining the pretense that something meaningful could be accomplished. Shortly after Japan's second rejection of the invitation, Wellington Koo made an impassioned plea in Brussels, stating, “Now that the door to conciliation and mediation has been slammed in your face by the latest reply of the Japanese Government, will you not decide to withhold supplies of war materials and credit to Japan and extend aid to China?” In reality, Koo understood that significant Western aid to China was highly unlikely, aside from token gestures. Previous international discussions had momentarily halted Japanese advances in the past; for instance, in 1932, Japanese troops had paused their movements in the Shanghai area just hours before the League of Nations General Assembly commenced. However, that was nearly six years earlier, and circumstances had changed dramatically since then. Rogue states had grown bolder, while democracies seemed increasingly timid. Thus, the Chinese agenda in Brussels was not primarily driven by hopes for substantial Western concessions. Instead, the delegates had been tasked by Nanjing to anticipate the post-conference landscape and to actively seek ways to encourage Europe and America to support Soviet military action against Japan.   China, long reliant on Germany as a diplomatic partner, increasingly felt betrayed, not just by Germany, but also by its fascist ally, Italy. Consequently, it began looking more favorably upon the Soviet Union, Japan's archrival in Northeast Asia, as its main source of international support. The Soviet Union exhibited a firmer stance than the Western democracies at the Brussels conference, joining China in advocating for collective security in Europe and Asia. On November 15th, a small group of officers from the 10th Army gathered for late-night discussions in an abandoned building north of Hangzhou Bay, where they would effectively decide the fate of China. Yanagawa Heisuke, the commander of the 10th Army, presided over the discussions. Fresh from the battlefield since the beginning of the month, he was eager to escalate the fight, a sentiment echoed among the others. It was an unusual meeting, where officers as low in rank as major were making decisions typically reserved for the highest echelons of political power. The agenda included a pivotal question: Should they adhere to Order No. 600 received from Tokyo a week prior, which instructed them to halt their advance along a line from Suzhou to Jiaxing? Or, should they disregard these explicit orders and push forward to seize Nanjing? While the Japanese Army had failed to completely annihilate the Chinese forces around Shanghai, there was a consensus that their adversary was now reeling from recent setbacks, presenting an opportune moment to strike decisively and secure a swift victory. The only remaining question was how aggressively to pursue this goal. Colonel Terada Masao, a senior staff officer within the 10th Army, spoke first. “The Chinese Army is currently retreating toward the capital. We should cross that line and pursue the enemy straight to Nanjing.” Major Iketani Hanjiro, a staff officer recently attached to the fast-moving 6th Division, then offered his input “From a tactical perspective, I completely agree with Terada that we should cross the line, but the decision to attack Nanjing should be considered not just tactically, but also politically. It's not that field commanders can't create a fait accompli to pressure our superiors in Tokyo. However, we must proceed with great caution”. A staff officer raised this question  “What if Tokyo orders us to pull back those smaller units?” Iketani responded “In that case, we will, of course, withdraw them to this side of the line”. Ultimately, Iketani's cautions were set aside, and Terada's aggressive approach prevailed. The majority agreed that the tactical circumstances presented a rare opportunity. Japanese troops in the Shanghai area were poised to advance west, not through small, individual skirmishes but with a substantial deployment of their forces. Officers estimated that if a decisive push was made immediately, Nanjing could fall into Japanese hands within 20 days. However Colonel Kawabe Torashiro, the newly appointed chief of the Army General Staff's Operations Section suddenly arrived at the theater. He was sent on a mission to assess whether the Central China Area Army should be granted greater operational freedom. It was well known in Tokyo that field officers were eager to capitalize on the momentum created by the collapse of Chinese defenses around Shanghai. Kawabe's task was to explore the possibility of allowing forces to cross the line from Suzhou to Jiaxing and move westward in pursuit of the retreating enemy. However, Kawabe was staunchly opposed to further military adventures in China. Kawabe was part of the dwindling faction of "China doves" within the Japanese military. As early as the summer of 1937, he had become alarmed by a letter from a civilian Japanese visitor to the Chinese mainland, warning that Japanese officers were attempting to engineer an “incident” with China to provoke open conflict. This would provide Japan with a pretext to expand its influence in northern China. Kawabe had attempted to alert his superiors, but his warnings fell on deaf ears. They had been lulled into a false sense of security by reports from China that dismissed all talk of war-mongering as baseless and alarmist. When he arrived to the front he stated “I am here to inspect conditions on the ground so that a final decision can be made on where to establish the operational restriction line”. Alongside him came General Akira Muto, recently appointed the commander of the Central China Area Army. He also happened to be one of the architects of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. Muto responded promptly: “The line currently stretches from Suzhou to Jiaxing, but we should consider crossing it. This will help us achieve our overall objectives in the theater.” Muto continued, arguing that the 10th Army should be permitted to advance to Huzhou, south of Lake Tai, effectively cutting off communications between Nanjing and the strategic city of Hangzhou. He further claimed that the Shanghai Expeditionary Force should be allowed to capture the vital city of Jiangyin, suggesting, perhaps overly optimistically, that its loss could lead to the fall of Chiang Kai-shek. Ultimately, Muto insisted, Nanjing should also be seized, which he asserted would bring an end to the war. Kawabe listened patiently, a practice he would repeat in the following days as other field officers echoed similar sentiments, eagerly expressing their desire to advance all the way to Nanjing. Yanagawa and his 10th Army exemplified this aggressive mindset. Nevertheless, just as the hawks within the Japanese military and the nation's political leadership appeared to be prevailing in the struggle over China policy, they faced unexpected challenges from a different direction. Germany, a power with ambiguous sympathies in East Asia, was quietly engaged in negotiations aimed at bringing peace. Oskar Trautmann, Germany's ambassador to China, had maintained an objective and neutral stance when he met with Chiang Kai-shek in early November to relay Japan's conditions for initiating peace talks. These conditions included extensive concessions in northern China, such as the withdrawal of all Chinese troops to a line south of Beijing and the establishment of a pro-Japanese regime in Inner Mongolia, bordering the Soviet-controlled Mongolian People's Republic. Chiang dismissed these demands outright, but Trautmann and his superiors in Beijing continued their top-secret efforts. Germany's motivation for seeking an end to the Sino-Japanese War was not rooted in a genuine love for peace, but rather in their embarrassment over witnessing their old Asian ally, China, fighting against their new partner, Japan. Herman Göring, president of the Reichstag and a leading figure in the Nazi party, told a Chinese visitor, “China and Japan are both friends of Germany. The Sino-Japanese War has put Germany between Scylla and Charybdis. That's why Germany is ready to seize the chance to become a mediator.” Germany also feared that a prolonged conflict in China could jeopardize its commercial interests in East Asia and weaken Japan's capacity to confront the Soviet Union, potentially freeing Moscow to allocate more resources to a fight in Europe. In essence, continued hostilities could significantly harm Germany. Japanese field commanders were frustrated by Germany's mediation efforts.  When news of Trautmann's mission leaked, the German diplomat faced severe criticism in the Chinese media, which deemed any negotiation with the "Japanese devils" unacceptable. Additionally, there was the matter of China's ties with the Soviet Union; employing a German mediator raised the possibility of cooperation among China, Japan, and Germany, potentially expanding the anti-Soviet bloc, which would, in turn, pressure Moscow to increase its support for China. By mid-November, however, the complexities of this diplomatic game started unraveling and then Japan took action. At 7:00 am on November 19, Yanagawa issued instructions to his troops in the field. “The enemy's command system is in disarray, and a mood of defeat has descended over their entire army. They have lost the will to fight. The main Chinese forces were retreating west of the line stretching from Suzhou to Jiaxing, and this withdrawal was soon likely to spiral into a full-scale retreat. We must not miss the opportunity to pursue the enemy to Nanjing.” I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Shanghai had fallen, and the Japanese forces pursued their fleeing enemy further west. However they had orders to halt, but would they? Officers from top down deliberating on the issue, with the vast majority pushing for a drive to Nanjing. They thought it represented the end objective of the conflict. They would all be very wrong. 

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What drives innovation and resilience in today's ever-changing footwear industry? In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Aldo Product Services President Jonathan Frankel shares his journey from the world of action sports to leading global footwear brands like Sperry. With decades of experience scaling brands through licensing, digital leadership, and strategic retail partnerships, Jonathan offers sharp insights into what it takes to stay relevant in a crowded, constantly shifting market. With special guest: Jonathan Frankel, President, ALDO Product Services Hosted by: Matt Priest, FDRA and Thomas Crockett, FDRA

August 3, 2025 | A Heart After God | Josh Sperry

This week Drew is joined by Daniel Sperry of the Kansas City star to break down all things Sporting KC this week. Cody unfortunately had some life requirements get in the way of recording this week but should be back next week as usual.Sporting KC struggled to make a substantive imprint on the match in Vancouver, as we had unfortunately predicted might happen last week. Kerry Zavagnin did make substantive tactical changes at halftime that did appear to make a positive impact on the game, but it left us wondering why these choices aren't made to start games rather than in the middle of them. There is a concern that there are two Kerry's, one who puts the tactical plan together and is fairly risk averse a la his mentor Peter Vermes, and the pragmatist game manager that makes the right changes to improve his team's prospects in games that is very different from his predecessor.We also talk about a lot of MLS Hot Stove topics(that unfortunately do not include Sporting KC yet), as well as the return of NWSL regular season play for the KC Current this weekend.Music by The Spin Wires

June 28, 2025 - 1PM KLIF by Neil Sperry

June 7, 2025 - Texas Lawn and Garden Hour by Neil Sperry

June 14, 2025 - Texas Lawn and Garden Hour by Neil Sperry

June 21, 2025 - Texas Lawn and Garden Hour by Neil Sperry

June 21, 2025 - 1PM KLIF by Neil Sperry

June 22, 2025 - 8AM WBAP by Neil Sperry

June 28, 2025 - Texas Lawn and Garden Hour by Neil Sperry

June 29, 2025 - 8AM WBAP by Neil Sperry

What kind of man founded one of the most influential theological seminaries in America?In this episode, Dr. John Hannah—longtime professor at Dallas Theological Seminary—joins Pastor Jesse Randolph and Pastor Aaron Nicholson to explore the life, theology, and ministry of Lewis Sperry Chafer. We trace Chafer's journey from evangelist to seminary founder and unpack his unique contributions to the development of dispensational thought.Sound Words is a ministry of Indian Hills Community Church, a Bible teaching church in Lincoln, NE. Sound Words is also a partner of Foundations Media, a collective of Christian creators passionate about promoting biblical theology and applying it to everyday life. Learn more at https://foundationsmedia.org. Follow on Instagram Follow on Facebook Follow on YouTube Follow on Twitter Follow on Threads Visit https://ihcc.org

Daniel Sperry, SKC beat writer for the KC Star, joined The Drive to discuss the struggles Sporting KC has had this season.

Download Episode 1050 – Nintendo based PartyCast chatter and a small batch of reviews lie ahead, so let’s not waste any time!The show kicks off with Pernell Vaughan, Chris Taylor, and Aki on hand to start off the show with Andy Sperry joining just a few minutes in to chat about the Switch 2! A bunch of us got them and we talk about how we got them, games we picked up, Mario Kart Mondays, storage and game transfers, the ups and downs of Virtual Game Cards as well as the downs and downs of Switch 2 Keycards. All that plus Steam Next Fest discussion and a batch of reviews!0:00 - Intro/Banter46:48 - Sperry’s Next Fest Spectacular1:02:39 - Scar-Led Salvation - Idea Factory, Compile Heart, Nelio, Idea Factory International (Aki)1:12:49 - Pipstrello and the Cursed Yoyo - Pocket Trap, PM Studios (Pernell)1:21:42 - Covenant of Solitude - MAGITEC, KEMCO (Chris)1:35:02 - POPUCOM - Hypergryph, Gryphline (fka Gryph Frontier) (Pernell)1:45:52 - Remnants of the Rift - Bromio, Mooncat Games (Pernell)The show ends with some Mario Kart goodness from The OneUps since Mario Kart World just released and all that jazz.2:00:45 - The OneUps - Donut Plains (Super Mario Kart)https://www.ideaf.co.jp/https://www.compileheart.com/https://neilo.co.jp/https://ifi.games/https://pocket-trap.com/https://www.pm-studios.com/https://magitec.jp/https://www.kemco-games.com/https://www.hypergryph.com/https://www.gryphline.com/https://bromio.com.mx/https://www.mooncat.games/https://theoneups.com/https://ocremix.org/https://www.keymailer.co/https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sml-podcast/id826998112https://open.spotify.com/show/6KQpzHeLsoyVy6Ln2ebNwKhttps://terraplayer.com/shows/the-sml-podcasthttps://bsky.app/profile/thesmlpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/theSMLpodcast/https://thesmlpodcast-shop.fourthwall.com/ALL REVIEWED GAMES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOR FREE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY COVERAGE ON THE SHOW

Download Episode 1048 – We’ve got ourselves a big one with a Knock on the Coffin Lid chat and a batch of reviews, so let’s get going!The show kicks off with Bri Galgano and Aki on hand to welcome Dmitry Chinaev of RedBoon to the show to chat all about the console release of their deckbuilding rougelite Knock on the Coffin Lid! We chat about the origins of the game, development, the team, design choices and randomization, the music, feedback, porting to console, and tons more! Plus Aki and Bri totally bring it with their own questions and topics and it’s like we’re a cohesive team doing real podcast stuff! An awesome hour with Dmitry!After a quick break it’s PartyCast time as Chris Taylor, Pernell Vaughan, and Andy Sperry all join alongside Aki to have a quick chat before descending into a small batch of reviews. We chat about bands and concerts, Sperry raiding and chatting with us, awful and weird names, Double Dragon, and Pride support. Yes, we support our LGBTQIA+ friends and family and if you DON’T support them, then you can unfollow us, thanks. Plus reviews including a visit from Big Adam Chase!0:00 - Intro/Knock on the Coffin Lid chatter1:04:08 - PartyCast1:34:08 - The Siege and the Sandfox - Cardboard Sword, PLAION (Pernell)1:50:15 - PaperKlay - WhyKev (Andy)2:03:06 - Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks - Caged Element, Wired Productions (Adam)2:17:03 - Starlight Legacy - Decafésoft, eastasiasoft (Chris)2:29:42 - Missing Banban - Euphoric Brothers, Simon Carny, Feardemic (Aki)The show ends with some Stranger Things goodness from our friend Ailsean!2:39:52 - Ailsean - Goes to Eleven (Stranger Things)https://redboon.net/https://bsky.app/profile/redboon.bsky.socialhttps://redboon.itch.io/https://siegeandsandfox.com/http://www.cardboardsword.co.uk/https://plaion.com/https://whykev.com/https://cagedelement.com/https://wiredproductions.com/https://decafesoft-official.itch.io/https://www.eastasiasoft.com/https://www.euphoricbrothers.com/https://www.feardemic-games.com/https://ailsean.net/https://sindravaniaprojects.bandcamp.com/https://ocremix.org/https://www.keymailer.co/https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sml-podcast/id826998112https://open.spotify.com/show/6KQpzHeLsoyVy6Ln2ebNwKhttps://terraplayer.com/shows/the-sml-podcasthttps://bsky.app/profile/thesmlpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/theSMLpodcast/https://thesmlpodcast-shop.fourthwall.com/ALL REVIEWED GAMES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOR FREE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY COVERAGE ON THE SHOW

May 24, 2025 - 1PM KLIF by Neil Sperry

May 18, 2025 - 8AM WBAP by Neil Sperry

May 25, 2025 - 8AM WBAP by Neil Sperry

May 25, 2025 - 8AM WBAP by Neil Sperry

May 24, 2025 - Texas Lawn and Garden Hour by Neil Sperry

May 17, 2025 - 1PM KLIF by Neil Sperry

May 17, 2025 - Texas Lawn and Garden Hour by Neil Sperry

May 11, 2025 - 8AM WBAP by Neil Sperry

May 10, 2025 - 1PM KLIF by Neil Sperry

May 10, 2025 - Texas Lawn and Garden Hour by Neil Sperry

Celý rozhovor přístupný s VIP předplatným! + 44 VIP dílů https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/brainweare/subscribeJaká je hranice mezi tím, co víme, a tím, co si myslíme, že víme?Jaký je vztah mezi mozkem a myslí? A proč je to největší milosrdenství, že si neuvědomujeme většinu vlastní mysli?V této epizodě jdeme hluboko – a zároveň odlehčeně – do fascinujícího světa vědomí, subjektivní zkušenosti a filozofie mysli.Hostem je Marek Hlavík – filozof, neurovědec, autor a trochu i kung-fu cestovatel. Bavíme se o:milosrdenství nevědomí podle Lovecraftahranicích subjektivní zkušenostimoderních i klasických teoriích myslirozdílu mezi fyzikalismem, dualismem a idealismemmyšlenkových experimentech, které otřásly způsobem, jak přemýšlíme o soběa proč být „zombí filozof“ není tak daleko od pravdyEpizoda, která tě pobaví, rozšíří tvé myšlení – a možná tě donutí se na chvíli začít ptát, „co je realita“.Kdo je Marek Havlík: Autor knihy Černá Bouře. Výzkumník Národního ústavu duševního zdraví, Centra pokročilých studií mozku a vědomí. V současné době se podílí na řešení projektu OPJAK  s názvem s Akronymem COREmind, kde zastává pozici vedoucího jednoho z výzkumných závěrů.Parťáci Epizody:Parťáci dnešního dílu ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Macromo.com⁠⁠ a https://www.uplife.cz/brain-we-are/Macromo DNA a krevní testy! Jdi na ⁠⁠Macromo.com/bwa "Macromo je super způsob, jak mít veškeré informace o vašem zdraví na jednom místě a sledovat dlouhodobé trendy, které navíc dostanete i s interpretací." - Vojta z Brain We AreMinutáž:02:50 Marek Havlík jako spisovatel: Thriller “Černá bouře”07:23 Platonova jeskyně: Interpretace a nechuť k překračování reality08:54 Hranice subjektivní zkušenosti a její sdílení11:41 Ztráta iluzí: Evoluce, Freud, samota subjektivity13:16 Vědomí jako řízená halucinace (Anil Seth) a evoluční perspektiva19:05 Prof. Jiří Horáček a empirická věda21:46 Vznik knihy “Černá bouře” a zážitky z Hongkongu26:04 Dualismus: Dvě substance (hmotná a myslící)28:39 Paralelismus jako řešení v dualismu31:23 Monismus: Jedna substance32:17 Fyzikalismus: Reduktivní, nereduktivní, eliminativní34:44 Nereduktivní fyzikalismus: Vědomí jako emergentní vlastnost36:06 Eliminativní materialismus: Vědomí neexistuje37:55 Těžký problém vědomí (Chalmers) a qualia41:53 Panpsychismus42:45 Myšlenkové experimenty ve filozofii mysli46:09 Nagelův netopýr: Jaký je to být…? A hranice poznání52:24 Hard problem of consciousness: Proč vzniká subjektivní zkušenost?56:10 Může mozek pochopit sám sebe? Metafora divadelního jeviště01:00:38 Renesance humanitních věd v informační době01:05:01 Attention Schema Theory01:07:15 Blindsight: Vidění bez vědomého zrakového vjemu01:10:04 Unilaterální neglect (Marshall Halligan)01:13:06 Split-Brain (Gazzaniga, Sperry, Bogen) a levý interpret01:21:39 Zkušenost s binokulární rivalitou: (Ne)kontrola nad obsahy vědomí01:22:32 Determinismus mozku a svobodná vůle01:25:43 Konec neplacené částiVIP OBSAHUJE:01:26:53 Nejistota a frustrace v moderní době, informační přetížení01:30:44 Jak čelit informačnímu přetížení a nejistotě? Sociální opora a challengeování názorů01:33:50 Konspirační teorie jako zjednodušené kauzální modely01:44:38 Metafora "memetické infekce" a řezných ran do mysli01:46:08 Inokulační teorie: Očkování proti dezinformacím01:49:48 Osobní "paradigm shift" Marka Havlíkaa: Narození dcery01:52:45 Funkce small talku: Synchronizace před hlubší konverzací

Some of the most impactful moments in coaching occur when a client bumps up against resistance. Have you noticed this too?!... It can often seem like more of a barrier when our clients experience emotional resistance. However, highly skilled coaches (like my Master Coach client Sondra who you'll hear from in this week's podcast) know that resistance is actually a sign that transformation is near. As Master-level coaches, we can use this as a tool to help our clients move forward in the most powerful way. When we recognize it with curiosity and compassion, resistance becomes a powerful ally in the healing process. Not only is understanding emotional resistance important for our clients, but it's essential for us as coaches as well. In order to lead with great service and cultivate lasting change in our clients, we need to overcome the barrier of self-judgment and truly be open to a holistic approach to coaching–the importance of which becomes so much more clear when we have experienced it ourselves. In this blog (and this week's podcast episode), we'll explore how emotional resistance offers valuable insight, and how creating a safe, welcoming space allows clients to move through it with confidence and clarity. When we can master the art of navigating deep resistance we create client breakthroughs that make an impact on their lives.Effective emotional work begins with you as a coachFrom creating an effective plan of action to offering tools clients can use in daily life, there is one thing that is crucial for growth: a holistic view that not only uses mindset, but the nervous system and emotions as well. All three are essential, but here we'll focus on the deep emotional work that so many clients need in order to thrive.When we support clients in their emotional journey, one of the most powerful things we can do is meet them exactly where they are. As most highly skilled coaches already know, this isn't about changing their emotions–that attitude will most likely be met with more resistance. We must show up for our clients with acceptance so they can recognize they are in a safe place to truly feel their emotions.Often clients are conflicted and struggling with judgment of themselves when they come to us. When you, as their coach, demonstrate genuine acceptance—free from expectations or opinions about how they “should” be—they begin to trust that it's okay to show up exactly as they are. They can then let go of some of their self-judgment and start recognizing the deep work that needs to happen.Creating a safe, non-judgmental space is crucial to helping our clients move through emotional resistance. But in order to do this, we have to build that capacity within ourselves first. In Master Coach training, there are many skills and concepts that we spend time on to help us be better coaches: we learn about the nervous system, we work on tapping, and we're always talking about how we use cognitive coaching language to create safety and remove judgment. Developing these skills through knowledge is an amazing way to help your clients, but so much of the compassion we have for them comes from having done our own emotional work.How skilled coaches build trust in themselvesOne of the skills we cultivate in Master Coach training–and that I think is imperative for every human being, especially coaches–is to build the self-trust required to...

April 20, 2025 - 8AM WBAP by Neil Sperry

April 27, 2025 - 8AM WBAP by Neil Sperry

April 26, 2025 - Texas Lawn and Garden Hour by Neil Sperry

May 3, 2025 - Texas Lawn and Garden Hour by Neil Sperry

April 19, 2025 1PM KLIF by Neil Sperry

April 19, 2025 - Texas Lawn and Garden Hour by Neil Sperry

April 13, 2025 - 8AM WBAP by Neil Sperry

April 12, 2025 - 1PM KLIF by Neil Sperry

With this episode we celebrate the 900th episode of The Magic Word Podcast. Every 50 episodes we like to present a special guest who is well known throughout our worldwide magic community. And who better for this episode than Dan Sperry. He was a regular member of The Illusionists who toured the major stages of the world from Sydney, Australia, to Broadway in New York City. He has headlined in nightclubs, Las Vegas casinos, and performing arts theaters. For many years he has appeared on Masters of Illusion television show as well as many other TV shows. Now residing in Florida, he continues to travel the globe, but when at home, he enjoys (believe it or not) performing for children's birthday parties. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize In this week's episode, Dan shares his story of how he developed his act and his character. He tells us about his early journey as he worked with doves and learned from some of the true masters like Joseph Gabriel that developed into a residency at a casino in Las Vegas. He toured Canada with Murray Hatfield as he honed his dove act and began to settle into his Shock Illusionist persona. He also talks about developing his talking act that led to work with the Illusionists and television appearances. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.