Sacrifice of the Few*
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Date: November, 1937*
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Battle Type: Chinese Delay vs Japanese Advance*
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Design: Ed Mortimer*
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Updated for v6*
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For three months China had been defending Shanghai from a fierce Japanese assault.  Over 300,000 Chinese soldiers and uncounted civilians died during those 3 months.  Finally, in November of 1937, the Chinese were forced to withdraw from Shanghai.  The retreat did not go well.  Civilians, afraid of becoming victims to Japanese atrocities, panicked and fled Shanghai -- and their panic spread to the Chinese soldiers and threatened to turn the retreat into a complete and utter rout.*
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Tanks and other units of the 1st Chinese Tank Battalion were called on to cut into the Japanese advance and slow them down enough to allow an orderly retreat of military assets -- and to allow the civilians to reach safety.  The attack force knew it was, essentially, a suicide mission.  They knew a successful delaying action might enable the Chinese army to regroup to fight another day -- and they knew that if they could not accomplish what they set out to do, the Chinese army would be shattered by the onrushing Japanese.  Japan would win the war.  But either way, the chances to get out of the battle alive were slim.*
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As the Chinese player you will be outgunned and outnumbered, facing troops of higher morale and experience than yours, but you have one thing on your side: a better general, you.*
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This delay/advance scenario is playable from either side, but if played from the Japanese side only total victory should count as a "win."*
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Historically, the Chinese 1st Tank Battalion was successful.  They lost every tank and armoured car that was committed, and most of their men, but they held the Japanese tide back long enough to allow the army to successfully retreat most of their assets.*