South Chahar Autonomous Government

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The South Chahar Autonomous Government was a puppet state controlled by Japan in northern China from 1937 to 1939. It was part of Mengjiang, a Japanese-ruled region during World War II.

After Japan invaded China in 1937, they set up regional governments in occupied areas. Kalgan (now Zhangjiakou) was captured on August 27, 1937, and the South Chahar Autonomous Government was created on September 4, 1937, with Kalgan as its capital. It included ten counties in southern Chahar.

Along with the Mongol United Autonomous Government and the North Shanxi Autonomous Government, it tried to work together under the Mengjiang administration, but the three did not cooperate well. In September 1939 they merged into the Mengjiang United Autonomous Government. The South Chahar Government Office continued inside the new structure and was later renamed the Ministry of Xuanhua in 1943.

The government was led by two top leaders from the political affairs committee. It had departments for general affairs, civil affairs, finance, and national safety. Japanese advisors were placed in each department to influence the administration, keeping Japan in control. About 2 million people lived there, using the Mengjiang yuan as currency. Official languages were Chinese and Mongolian, with strong Japanese involvement in the administration.