HISTORY STORIES | The most interesting events from the past.

The Yellow River is known for its obstinate character. It was found that it came out of the banks more than a thousand times. Moreover, the riverbed for all the time of its existence changed as much as 30 times. Such disasters are, of course, was a disaster for the people. However, the worst of them overtook the Chinese in 1938.

When the Second Japan-China war broke out, it became clear that China is inferior to the invaders. Low level of technical equipment and weapons, nightmarish training of soldiers, weak leadership - so the country entered the war. The fighting was unequal, and by June 1938, the Japanese occupied almost the entire North of China and large areas of its Central part. The capital was occupied even earlier-in the beginning of winter 1937.

By the summer of 1938, the rival troops were separated by the Yellow River in the area of Henan province. The leadership of the nationalist Kuomintang party understood that it would soon be occupied. This means that the Japanese will come to the object of great strategic importance-the railway connecting Beijing with the temporary capital of Wuhan. To stop the Japanese army, a detachment of soldiers under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek blew up one of the dams that regulate the flow of the river.

The operation could not be carried out immediately. The first attempt was made in early June, but it was not successful: the holes were too small and soon clogged with silt.

Then a second attempt was made near Huayuankou. On June 9, the dam was blown up, but the water was weak. To expand the hole, the soldiers fired on the edges of the guns.

A huge stream of water rushed to the Japanese, sweeping away the Imperial army from the path. The strategic objectives were met, but soon the people of China caught up with another trouble.

The fact that some of the water from the yellow river, contrary to the estimates, poured into a nearby river and ran to Horseshoe. Reaching the great channel, the river came out of the banks. The flood covered three provinces, covering a total area of almost 54,000 square kilometers.

Flood of enormous scale

People were not warned. First, the means of rapid transmission of information in China at that time simply did not exist. Secondly, the country's leadership did not fully understand how the river would behave. However, the news of the flood gradually spread among the residents. However, many of them, seeing that the management is silent, did not risk to leave the house and farm. In addition, the harvest time was approaching, and the flight would result in the loss of livelihood.

The water level itself was small - no more than 1.5 meters, so many farmers were able to escape, climbing to the roof of the house. Nevertheless, the flood claimed the lives of almost 900 thousand Chinese. Someone drowned when the water and someone died of starvation, waiting on the roof until the water recedes. The Japanese suffered less.

According to the approximate data, their losses amounted to about 2,000 people. After all, Japanese troops were well armed and had boats. The Imperial army could not take Zhengzhou and the railway branch. However, the flood did not prevent her from capturing Wuhan.

The Japanese are to blame

For a long time, the real reasons were hushed up. Official media reported that the dams were destroyed by Japanese troops during the bombing. Foreign media were also silent. Reporter Robert Capoy took a few pictures, but they did not produce a public response. It sounds incredible, but in fact, nobody noticed a million deaths, or six million refugees.

Another flood?

The flood was a tragedy not only for people, but also for nature. 70 thousand square kilometers of fertile territories went under the water, which did not go for almost 9 years, turning the rich area into a dead desert. The sand and silt contained in large quantities in Yellow River mixed with the soil, making it unsuitable for agriculture.

A terrible famine broke out. The population was hostile to the Kuomintang government. Then it was decided to create a natural barrier for water. But it turned against the leaders themselves. The Communists took advantage of the barrier zone, strengthening their influence in the territory cut off from the country's leadership.

When the war ended, it was decided to return the river Yellow River to its former course, but by that time there had already settled people and formed about five hundred villages. In 1947, the decision was implemented. More than 150 thousand Chinese were forced to flee again. Anti-Kuomintang sentiment among the population increased. In 1949, they reached a peak in the Northern provinces. The government failed to regain control and fled to Taiwan.