On July 7, 1937, The Lugou Bridge Incident broke out as Japanese troops shelled the town of Wanping, China. From July 29 to 30, 1937, Beiping and Tianjin were captured. 

On November 12, 1937, the Chinese troops withdrew from Shanghai and the city fell to the enemy.

On December 13, 1937, Nanjing fell to the Japanese army, which occupied the city and committed the Nanjing Massacre.