The Shanghai Incident in 1932 is a critical event in the history of East Asia, highlighting the complexities of foreign influence and territorial control in the city of Shanghai, China. These notes will help you understand the incident and the broader historical context in a fun, engaging, and in-depth way.

• Shanghai: A prosperous city located on the estuary of the Yangtze River. Since the mid-19th century, it became a major hub for international trade.
• Foreign Population: Approximately 50,000 foreigners lived in Shanghai, mostly in the French Concession, the Japanese Concession, and the International Settlement (a combination of British and American Concessions).
• Real-World Example: Think of Shanghai as a modern-day New York City, where multiple cultures and interests converged due to its status as an international trade center.

• Initial Unrest: Anti-Japanese riots and disturbances erupted in Hongkou, known as Little Tokyo due to its large Japanese population.
• Japanese Response: Japanese marines arrived to restore order, supported by a cruiser and 12 destroyers that bombarded the Chinese section of Hongkou. There was also extensive aerial bombing.
• Local Resistance: A local warlord fought back with the help of the Green Gang (a triad gang controlling Shanghai's drug trade). GMD troops, led by Jiang Jieshi, also joined in after realizing that Western powers would not intervene.
• Ceasefire: On March 3, 1932, a truce was reached, turning Shanghai (outside the International Settlement) into a demilitarized zone.
• Real-World Example: Imagine a localized conflict like a gang war escalating to involve national military forces, with foreign powers closely watching but not directly intervening.