The military theaters (; also called war areas) of the National Revolutionary Army were 76 northern military districts and the largest formations of the National Revolutionary Army, under the Military Affairs Commission, chaired by Chiang Kai-shek during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. During the Second Sino-Japanese War the National Revolutionary Army eventually organized itself into twelve Military Regions.
In August 1937 there were:
Region Area of Operations1st Military Region Hebei, northern Beijing–Hankou railway Front (in September 1937)2nd Military Region Shanxi3rd Military Region Shanghai5th Military Region Tianjin-Pukou Railway Front (From Oct. 1937)6th Military Region Tianjin-Pukou Railway Front (September - October 1937) As the Japanese advanced, three more military regions were formed and the older ones reassigned on 17 January 1938 following the capture of Nanjing.
Region Area of Operations1st Military Region northern Beijing–Hankou railway Front 2nd Military Region Shanxi3rd Military Region Jiangsu, Zhejiang4th Military Region Guangdong, Guangxi5th Military Region Tianjin-Pukou Railway Front8th Military Region Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Suiyuan Following the Battle of Xuzhou and Northern and Eastern Henan 5th Military Region defended Anhui and Hubei north of the Yangtze River. 1st Military Region defended Henan. 3rd Military Region extended itself to defend Anhui south of the Yangtze. 4th Military Region extended its command to the coast of Fujian.
In early July 1938, during the battle of Wuhan the 9th Military Region was activated. It commanded the 1st and 2nd Army Corps, the Wuhan Garrison, units in Jiangxi west of Poyang Lake, and in southern Hubei and Hunan south of the Yangtze River.
Following the Battle of Wuhan the Chinese army was reorganized along with the military regions.
Region Area of Operations1st Military Region Henan, part of northern Anhui2nd Military Region Shanxi, part of Shaanxi3rd Military Region Jiangsu, Anhui south of the Yangtze, Zhejiang, Fujian4th Military Region Guangdong, Guangxi5th Military Region Western Anhui, Hubei north of the Yangtze, southern Henan8th Military Region Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Suiyuan9th Military Region northwestern Jiangxi, Hubei south of the Yangtze, and Hunan 10th Military Region Shaanxi
Additionally there were two special military regions behind Japanese lines: Shandong-Jiangsu Military Region - northern Jiangsu and Shandong. Hebei-Chahar Military Region - Hebei and Chahar
6th Military Region was reactivated a second time in October 1939, after the first Battle of Changsha. It commanded forces in Hubei south of the Yangtze and west of the Xiang River. It included forces formerly part of 9th Military Region.
References Citations
Sources
Hsu Long-hsuen and Chang Ming-kai, History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) 2nd Ed., 1971. Translated by Wen Ha-hsiung, Chung Wu Publishing; 33, 140th Lane, Tung-hwa Street, Taipei, Taiwan Republic of China.