Changchun, located in the northeast of Jilin, is actually a very young city. It has only been more than 2 years since it was founded. However, after the September 18th Incident, Changchun, which fell into the hands of Japanese imperialism with the three northeastern provinces, actually became the puppet regime of Manchukuo concocted by Japan? Guodu? , and renamed it? Xinjing? . Among the three northeastern provinces, Changchun, with a population of only 13, at that time, was almost blank, and its cultural, political and economic value was not only inferior to Harbin and other cities, but also its historical status and significance were far inferior to that of Shenyang, the land of Longxing in the Qing Dynasty. Although it is only a puppet regime, but, nominally puppet Manchukuo? Fuehrer? After all, it was Pu Yi, the emperor of the Qing Dynasty.

Then, why did the Puppet Manchuria regime set the center of colonial rule in Changchun instead of Shenyang, the land of Longxing in Qing Dynasty?

Puppet Manchuria Palace Museum

As we all know, Shenyang, known as Fengtian, has been the largest city in Northeast China for hundreds of years. It is also the political, military and economic center of the three northeastern provinces, with a population of 4, at that time. Before the establishment of the Puppet Manchuria regime, more than 2, Japanese settled in Fengtian. Especially after the September 18th Incident, the Japanese invaders immediately moved the headquarters of the Kwantung Army to Fengtian, and then, Japanese political circles, military circles and traitors gathered in this city.

for this reason, as early as October 24, 1931, the commander-in-chief of the Kwantung Army put forward a proposal to locate the capital of the Puppet Manchuria regime in Fengtian. However, this plan was eventually rejected, because in the eyes of the Japanese, Fengtian was deeply influenced by the warlord, which would lead to inconvenient management; Fengtian used to be the ancient capital of the Qing Dynasty. Setting the capital of the new regime here is somewhat suspected of restoring the Qing Dynasty. For these two reasons, it is difficult for Fengtian to become the capital of the puppet regime.

Old buildings in Manchukuo

As for why Changchun was chosen as the capital, the Japanese Kwantung Army mainly considered the following aspects. First of all, among the three northeastern provinces, Changchun, which is located in the south-central part, is located on the threshold of Liaohe Plain and Songhua River Plain, and the climate with four distinct seasons is suitable for grain growth. It is also located at the junction of Nanman Railway and Middle East Railway, and the railway network extending in all directions gives it a very important strategic position. Changchun also has the advantage of shipping, which can easily reach Japan and North Korea.

Map of Changchun

Secondly, Changchun is rich in resources and cheap land prices, which have attracted the attention of the Japanese Kwantung Army and enabled them to conduct more direct immigration activities. Changchun is vast and sparsely populated, and at the same time has vast and fertile black land, which is beneficial to Japanese immigrants. Due to the short history of Changchun, the land in Changchun is cheaper among all the northeastern cities, which allows Japanese colonists to frantically purchase and plunder land resources. To sum up the above two points, Changchun, with its small scale, small population and no burden of old city reconstruction, is conducive to the Japanese Kwantung Army's further urban planning and construction. They can even build Changchun into a new city full of Japanese culture according to their own wishes.

Changchun during the Puppet Manchuria

Finally, the Puppet Manchuria regime chose Changchun because of political factors and the policy of moving northward. Since 197, Changchun has become one of the strongest strongholds of Japanese colonialists in northeast China. They opened commercial ports and consulates here. When the September 18th Incident happened, there were as many as 1, Japanese living in this small town. What's more, Changchun was less influenced by the military forces, and it was difficult to pose a threat to the puppet regime, which made Changchun an ideal city for Japanese invaders to supervise.

Furthermore, the purpose of Japan's establishment of the Puppet Manchukuo regime is not only to rule the Northeast. Considering from the military strategy, the Japanese army wants to invade China's Guannei area and the Far East of the Soviet Union with the Northeast as the center, and Changchun, with a thin political color, has become the most suitable city for the capital of the Puppet Manchukuo.