Marco Polo Bridge Incident

The Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurred on July 7, 1937, near Beijing, and marked the start of a full-scale war between China and Japan. Japanese troops conducted a military exercise at the bridge, and when Chinese soldiers responded, a skirmish broke out. Both sides believed the other initiated the fight, leading to increased hostilities. This clash escalated tensions, ultimately triggering Japan's invasion of China, which expanded into a broader conflict that contributed to the outbreak of World War II in Asia. The incident symbolizes how a minor dispute can ignite larger, devastating wars.