[War Situation Map of Shanghai]

Scarce map published during the Battle of Shanghai (1937).

This uncommon street plan shows the center of modern-day Shanghai, situated along the banks of the Yellow River. It was originally published on August 23, 1937 by the Osaka Asahi Shimbun to educate a Japanese audience about the ongoing Battle of Shanghai. At the time of issue, the depicted area contained the International Settlement and French Concession, both enclaves for refugees attempting to escape the bloody engagement, regarded by some scholars as the first battle of World War II.

The Battle of Shanghai (August-November 1937) was a major confrontation between the National Revolutionary Army of China and the Imperial Japanese Army, marking one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the Second Sino-Japanese War. The battle was fought in the dense city of Shanghai and its surrounding regions, with both sides suffering heavy casualties and committing atrocities. Despite fierce resistance, the Chinese forces were ultimately forced to withdraw, leading to the occupation of Shanghai by Japanese forces.