 Barbara W. Tuchman described this as also being "the first terror bombing of a civilian population of an era that was to become familiar with it", preceding the Condor Legion's bombing of Guernica by five years.Three thousand Japanese troops attacked targets, such as the Shanghai North railway station, around the city and began an invasion of the "de facto" Japanese settlement in Hongkew and other areas north of Suzhou Creek.In what was a surprising about-face for many, the 19th Route Army, which many had expected to leave after having been paid, put up fierce resistance.