The battle ended the First East Turkestan Republic's hold on Kashgar and resulted in the deaths of up to 2,000 Uyghur civilians.
Key Facts
- Date
- January 1934
- Civilian deaths
- 1,700–2,000 Uyghur civilians killed
- Uyghur advance
- Khoja Niyas Hajji trekked ~300 miles from Aksu
- Attacks
- Four separate attacks over six days
- British casualties
- Several British consulate staff murdered, March 1934
- Post-battle speech
- Ma Zhongying addressed Uyghurs at Idgah mosque, April 1934
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Kumul Rebellion, Turkic Muslim Uyghur and Kirghiz separatists under Emir Abdullah Bughra sought to consolidate the First East Turkestan Republic by seizing Kashgar from Hui and Han Chinese forces. Khoja Niyas Hajji, driven from Aksu by Chinese Muslim troops, joined the campaign after a 300-mile march, reinforcing the assault on the city.
Uyghur and Kirghiz fighters launched four attacks over six days against Chinese Muslim and Han troops under Gen. Ma Zhancang, besieging them inside Kashgar. Gen. Ma Fuyuan's New 36th Division stormed the city, relieved the trapped garrison, and drove out the Turkic fighters, inflicting severe casualties on the attackers and killing an estimated 1,700–2,000 Uyghur civilians.
The defeat shattered the First East Turkestan Republic's military presence in Kashgar. Gen. Ma Zhongying subsequently addressed Uyghurs at Idgah mosque, demanding loyalty to the Republic of China government in Nanjing. Several British consulate staff were murdered by New 36th Division troops in March 1934, creating a diplomatic incident with Britain.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Ma Zhancang, Ma Fuyuan, Ma Zhongying.
Side B
1 belligerent
Emir Abdullah Bughra, Khoja Niyas Hajji.