Defense of Harbin Begins

Date: January 25, 1932 • Location: Beijing, China

This milestone marked the outbreak and beginning of this historic period, which spanned 1937–1945.

Second Sino-Japanese War: The Chinese National Revolutionary Army begins the defense of Harbin.

The Second Sino-Japanese War was fought between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan and its puppet states between 1937 and 1945, following a period of conflict localized to Manchuria that started in 1931. It is often regarded as the beginning of World War II in Asia, as the wars became heavily intertwined after Japan attacked the United States. It was the largest Asian war in the 20th century.