本文旨在處理德國軍事顧問主動參與1937年底的上海保衛戰，以及總軍事顧問法肯豪森將軍對於中國計畫如何預先防衛日本強力的進攻之影響。歷時甚久的上海保衛戰（1937年8月11日至11月8日），雖說由德國軍事顧問一手訓練及供給裝備之中國部隊應戰，然而根據當代日本的看法，該戰役係因德國人主動參與作戰才得以持續。在當時，德國當局堅決否認此點。但是截至目前為止已經有種種證據顯示，事實上德國顧問確實主動參與作戰。惟在此脈絡下，必須再斟酌肯豪森的活動，因為他不計其數的備忘錄以及評估，對於中國戰略的型態具有決定性的影響力。當然，要處理這個主題不應止於軍事層面，宜再觸及政治的角度。柏林傳統熱愛中國圈裡如工業、外交以及武裝力量（國防軍）等，為了阻礙希特勒關於東亞政策的新方向－德國的新盟國日本最近才證實，極有可能激勵了或甚至於，雖然是間接的，命令德國顧問主動介入戰爭。

　　　　　The paper is to deal with German military personnel taking an active part espicially in the battle of Shanghai at the end of 1937, and the influence taken by General von Falkenhausen, the chief military adviser, on the Chinese defence planning to meet the expected forcible advance of the Japanese. The long resistance in Shanghai (11 August till 8 November 1937) put up by Chinese troops that had been trained and armed by the Germans was repeatedly, in contemporary Japanese comments, put down to active German participation, which in those days was equally categorically denied by the Germans. Yet, so far there has been every indication that the German advisers did in fact take an active part. In this context Falkenhausen's activities must be reconsidered since his innumerable memoranda and evaluations had a decisive impact on the shaping of the Chinesestrategy. The topic, however, should not be treated as a purely military one but mush rather should be approached from the political point of view. Quite probably the traditionally sinophile circles in Berlin- the industry, the diplomats and the armed forces (Wehrmacht)- encouraged or even, though indirectly, ordered active intervention by the German advisers in order to counteract Hitler's new course in Germany's East Asia policy that had recently been favouring Germany's new ally Japan.