Old photos taken before and after the Japanese army attacked Baoding in September 1937

This is a group of old photos taken on the battlefield before and after the Japanese army attacked Baoding City in September 1937. Xiao Bian has not yet verified who took these photos, but these photos are strong historical evidence of Japan’s invasion of Baoding and China

On September 18, 1937, Zhuoxian was captured, and the Japanese army was close to Baoding. A battle to defend Baoding was imminent. At that time, the 2nd Division of the 52nd Army was responsible for guarding Baoding City. The Japanese army did not leave enough time for the Chinese army to deploy. Relying on its air superiority, the Japanese army sent dozens of planes to bombard Baoding City and its surrounding Chinese defensive positions& ldquo; 9.18 Baoding Bombing” It is a permanent pain in the hearts of many Baoding people

日军在轰炸后的次日即19日，开始向守卫保定的52军发动了全面进攻。9月19日占定兴，9月20日占徐水，9月21日进入满城大册河北岸地区。

9月22日日军在坦克、火炮和飞机的掩护下突破漕河防线。中国守军不得不退守保定城垣据守。负责守卫保定城的第52军第2师师长是郑洞国。

9月23日日军从三面发起对保定城的进攻，中国守军凭借城墙据守。日军利用重炮狂轰保定城墙的同时，出动数十架飞机向城墙上的中国守军投弹扫射。保定西、北两侧城墙被炸开了多处豁口，最终日军就是从这些被炸开的豁口上冲上了城墙。

中国官兵与日军为了争夺城墙豁口，展开了你死我活的肉搏战。近身肉搏限制了日军重武器的使用，激战一天，尽管中国守军付出的巨大的伤亡，但是并没让日军越过城墙进入保定城内。

9月24拂晓，中国守军还未得到喘息，日军第6师团第11旅团便开始向保定城西北角豁口进行猛攻。8时30分左右，日军冲上了西北城墙，随后西门、北门相继陷落。面对涌入保定城内的日军，守城的第2师官兵不得不且战且退，从南门撤出保定，最终保定沦陷。

保定沦陷当日，日军为了泄愤在城内展开了大规模的屠杀，2000多名保定百姓惨遭杀害。至此，保定落入日军的魔爪之中。