Ding Chao[a] (Chinese:丁超;Wade–Giles:Ting Ch'ao; 1883–1950s) was a military general of theRepublic of China, known for hisdefense of Harbin during theJapanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and 1932.
Ding Chao's forces commenced mobilization in November 1931 at the request ofMa Zhanshan.[1]
Following theInvasion of Manchuria by theImperial Japanese Army and the capture ofLiaoning andJilin provinces. Hostilities did not commence in the Harbin area until the end of January 1932 when Ding Chao resolved to defend the northern metropolis, a key hub of rail and riverine communication, against the approach first of GeneralXi Qia's "New Kirin" Army and then Japanese troops. He appealed to the city's Chinese residents to join hisJilin Self-Defence Army made of railway garrison troops and other regulars in battle against the Japanese. On 29 January, Ding put the Chief Administrator under house arrest and took possession of the office.[2]
Formerly, Ding had been in control of the Railway Guard,[3] with the rank of brigade-general.[2]
Ding was defeated on 5 February 1932 by a force combining Japanese troops and those of General Hai Hsia.[4]
Later after Ding's beaten forces retired from Harbin to the northeast down theSungari River, they joined the Lower Sungari garrison of Gen.Li Du as the nucleus of armed opposition in the north. After his retreat from Harbin he was made Chairman of the Government ofJilin, from where he opposed the new puppet government ofManchukuo in theiranti-bandit operations of thepacification campaign.