Countdown to War

The Mukden Incident
September 18 1931, 2222H - A bomb exploded near the South Manchurian Railway. The perpetrator was unknown. The explosion then caused the railway to be destroyed. This is to be known as the Mukden Incident.



September 18, 2230H - A train soon passed over the damaged track. The train soon derailed and tumbled down into the countryside. The train was carrying some petroleum and kerosene cargoes along with Japanese passengers. The petroleum and kerosene cargoes soon was exploded, a few moments after the derailment of the train, causing death to almost 14 Japanese dead and 37 Chinese. Only 5 of the passengers of the train survived.

September 19, 0310H - A Japanese telegraph from Mukden soon arrived to Tokyo. The news was then released into the media. In response to the incident, the Japanese Government then launched an investigation team into the site.

September 19, 0400H - Eventhough the investigation team from Mukden haven't reach the railway site yet, Japanese troops from the 19th Regiment of the Kwantung Army began firing their artillery into the nearest garrisons from the site.

September 19, 0900H - The Japanese investigation team launched by Tokyo immediately made a conclusion. They claim the incident was done by Chinese Nationalist. The Chinese government automatically denies any involvement in the incident. The incident caused an outcry in Tokyo and Kyoto, demanding for blood.

September 19, 1100H - Mukden was now secured under the Japanese Flag. The The Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army in Manchuria, General Shigero Honjou then agreed on a full mobilization of the Kwantung Army (eventhough Tokyo haven't said anything yet).

September 19, 1330H - Commander Senjuro Hayashi of the Chosen Army of Japan in Korea send in soon reinforcements. The Japanese Army in Manchuria is now in full mobilization. The second Sino-Japanese War had begun.

The Japanese Invasion of Manchuria
September 20, 1931 - The Japanese Government in Tokyo was shocked. The civilian populace do want blood, but this was too much. The diet at first demanded to stopped all operations in Manchuria, but soon the Emperor steps in and said to wait and see what would the invasion would do to Manchuria. He was soon supported by the Prime Minister.

September 21, 1931 - Zhang Xueliang, claiming to have received a directive order from Chiang Kai-shek, have imposed a non-resistance policy against the Japanese. He then urged his men not to put up a fight against the Japanese troops.

September 20 - 25 1931 - The Japanese blitz was fast. In a matter of days, the Japanese has immediately captured  Hsiungyueh, Changtu, Liaoyang, Tungliao, Tiaonan, Kirin, Chiaoho, Huangkutun and Hsin-min.

November 1931 - The Japanese movement in Manchuria vegan to slow down. The Chinese forces began to show up some resistance against the Japanese Kwantung Army but it was too late.

November 15, 1931 - The Japanese send an ultimatum to the Chinese forces. The Chinese forces declined.

November 19, 1931 - The League of Nations then sent a a resolution to the Japanese government to withdraw its forces from Manchuria. The Japanese Government eventhough they haven't declared war yet to the Chinese Government, soon declined.



January 3, 1932 - Chinchow falls to the Japanese.

January 4, 1932 -  Shanhaiguan falls to the Japanese. The conquest of southern Manchurian is now over.

January 7, 1932 - The United States issued the Stimson Doctrine, that the United States would not recognized any government that would be established in Manchuria as a result of the Japanese campaign. The Japanese Government simply ignores it.

January 28, 1932 - The Japanese attacked Shanghai.

February 4, 1932 - Harbin falls to the Japanese. Northern Manchuria is now secured.

February 27, 1932 - General Ting Chao offered to cease the fighting in Manchuria. The Japanese accepted the offer.

March 1, 1932 - The Puppet State of Manchukou is formed. Emperor Pu'yi became the head of the new puppet government of Japan. The League of Nations, however, decided not to recognize Manchukou as a sovereign state and condemned the Japanese actions in the China.

March 5, 1932 - A ceasefire between Japanese and Chinese troops in Shanghai was signed and made Shanghai a demilitarized zone.

March 6, 1932 - The fighting in Shanghai ceased.

The Japanese Warpath
October 2, 1932 - The Lytton Report was published. The report clearly rejected the Japanese claim of self defense on the Manchurian invasion and occupation. The report also asserted that Manchuria (or Manchukou) was a product of Japanese aggression in China. The League of Nations refused to acknowledge Manchukou as an independent state. Japan was outrage from this conference and walked out.



January 1, 1933 - Operation Nekka has been initiated. Japanese garrison commander staged an incident by exploding hand grenades and a few shots. The Kwantung Army immediately used this as an excuse for Chinese soldiers to evacuate the Shanhaiguan. The Chinese immediately refused. The Battle of Shan Hai has begun.

January 3, 1933 - Overwhelmed and outgunned, the Chinese commander in Shanhaiguan evacuated their positions and retreated.The Battle of Shan Hai was over.

February 23, 1933 - The Japanese forces launched an offensive to Rehe. The Battle of Rehe

March 4, 1933 - Chengde was captured. The Battle of Rehe was over.

March 11, 1933 - The Japanese forces has reached the Great Wall.

March 21, 1933 - The Japanese took Yiyuankou Pass.

March 27, 1933 - Japan finally leaves the League of Nations after the League of Nations, according to the Lytton Report, has stated that Manchukou is a part of China and thus should not be recognized as a nation or anything close to it.

April 8, 1933 - The Japanese captured Xifengkou Pass.

April 11, 1933 - The Japanese has secured Lengkou Pass.

May 20, 1933 - The Chinese finally retreated and leave the Great Wall to the Japanese.

May 22, 1933 - The Chinese forced to sign the Tanggu Truce. In addition to that a 100 mile demilitarized zone was established. The Chinese aren't allowed to place in troops in the demilitarized zone, however, the Japanese are allowed to conduct aerial reconnaissance in the area. The Chinese were also forced to recognized the new state of Manchukou.

The Rising of the Sun
June 20, 1933 - Emperor Hirohito boldly declare in front of the Japanese people in Tokyo that Japan will began full militarization of the country. The Japanese people greeted the new declaration of the Emperor with a thundering applause.

June 22, 1933 - Emisarries from different countries sent a protest to the Japanese government. The Japanese government simply ignored the letters, putting a strain on Japanese relations on the world, especially the United States of America.

November 12, 1933 - Japan began an extensive military program. The government soon established the Imperial Commision on Military Evaluation. The purpose of this institution is to study and make plans about the implications of the effectiveness of the Japanese Government to its military as well as the evaluation and acounting of the military.

December 29, 1933 - Seeing that Japan requires a more powerful navy, as per recommended by Imperial Commission on Military Evaluation, the Japanese Prime Minister boldly declares in Tokyo that Japan renounces the Washington Naval Treaty and the London Naval Treaty. Adding to that, the Prime Minister declares that Japan is going to double its military spending. The world powers such as the United States and the United Kingdom meet the declaration with full protest.

February 14, 1934 - Japanese officials and economists made a report to the imperial government that if Japan continues to expand its military aggressively, America, as Japan's major trading partner, might declare an embargo, which could then crippled the overall economy of Japan. This is to be known as the Osaka report.

March 23, 1934 - One month after the Osaka report, supporters from the scientific, engineering and economist groups have increased many folds over. The report has become a classified sensation among the Japanese community. Seeing this as a way to improve Japanese standings in the world, after multiple debates and discussions, Japanese Prime Minister Saito Makoto declared that Japan should move with a scientific approach. The committee accepted the Prime Minister's offer. 17 government officials, 12 economist, 7 scientists and 8 military officials then began drafting a new doctrine.

April 2, 1934 - A new top-secret doctrine has been created. Seeing that Japan as nation which is overly dependent on oil imports have suggested that Japan must go to something not oil. The government meet the agreement with welcoming arms. The Imperial Department of Technical Research has been established. Its main objective is to develop brand new technology for and only for the empire.

May 16, 1934 - Tohuko university professor Hikosaka Tadayoshi's atomic physics theory was released. Hokosaka pointed out that the huge energy by nuclei and the possibility that both nuclear power generation and weapons could be created. Seeing this document - the Imperial Department of Technical Research rapidly made their move to compile every known document regarding about nuclear technology.



June 17, 1934 - The Imperial Government began to notice the progress of RIKEN regarding about high energy physics. One month after the release of Hikosaka's atomic physics theory, the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, under the umbrella of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and under the support of the Ministry of War and Misnistry of Navy, immediately started organizing an energy porgram which is to develop a powerplant which operates without the need of natural gas and oil. The center of research for this new technology is at RIKEN which is under Yoshio Nishina.

February 2, 1935 - Looking at RIKEN institute making contributions to the Imperial Government (and its well funded programs which includes the development of nulear energy), the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service began making programs of its own with the help of Nakajima and Mitsubishi companies to produce new plane models for the army.

April 17, 1935 - Given enough fundings by the Imperial Government, Yoshio Nishina began building cyclotron in RIKEN.

May 20, 1935 - Seeing the Japanese agreesive military buildup in the Pacific, the United States President Franklin Roosevelt demanded that Japan should let the United States investigate the seemingly "increasing scientific activities" of the Empire. Japan refused.