Tiger Troops: The 74th Army of the Kuomintang Anti-Japanese Ace

Chapter 18 Only the Strongest Have a Chance to Survive (Shanggao Battle) (1)
In February 1941, in view of the relative tranquility of the battlefield in northern Jiangxi, the Japanese "China Expeditionary Force" headquarters stationed in Nanjing internally decided to transfer the No. Transferred to Nanchang to take over the defense left by the 2rd Division.

If a brigade is transferred and a division is replaced, the strength of the Japanese army in Nanchang will naturally be weakened. Lieutenant General He Mao, head of the No.30 Fourth Division, therefore proposed that before the 33rd Division was transferred, an offensive should be launched while the troops were rich, so as to reduce the threat of the No.19 Chinese Army in northern Jiangxi.

At this time Okamura Ningji had left Wuhan, and the new commander of the No. 11 Army was Lieutenant General Sonobe Kazuichiro.Sonobe is an advocate of "short-cut assault".The so-called "short-cut assault warfare", also known as "short-range interception warfare", is a defensive tactic that uses offense as defense, but does not occupy the defense area of ​​the Chinese army, and withdraws immediately after a strike.

Sonobe agreed with Dahe to attack northern Jiangxi within the scope of the "short-cut assault battle". However, what Dahe considered was not as simple as a single blow. Destroy the No.19 Army.

In the past, there were differences of one kind or another between the headquarters of the No.11 Army and the divisions.However, Okamura is more careful and thoughtful, and often takes the initiative to go to the headquarters of the first-line divisions to communicate ideas, and he is also able to grasp the specialties and personalities of the division heads.The Sonobu cannot do this, and the division heads are not fuel-efficient lamps. They will bypass the restrictions of the No.11 Army Headquarters by directly accepting orders from the General Staff Headquarters or the "Chinese Expeditionary Force".

You said you want to cut it short, but I want to attack hard, and neither of them buys the other's account.When Major General Shinichi Tanaka, head of the Operations Department of the General Staff Headquarters, came to Nanchang for inspection, his perception was that the headquarters of the No. 11 Army was "somewhat pessimistic", while the headquarters of the No. 30 Fourth Division was "very confident".

Retreat duel
Due to inconsistent ideas, the Japanese army in northern Jiangxi and their headquarters appeared to be at odds before the battle was fought.When Okamura was in office, on the eve of every battle, he would take planes, cars, and even motorboats to visit all the participating divisions as much as possible.This time is different. The Sonobu, who is responsible for the actual command, has been sitting in Hankou from the beginning to the end, making orders behind closed doors. The division and brigade leaders who participated in the war in northern Jiangxi did not care, and they fought on their own. taboo.

According to the plan, the Japanese No.30 Third Division, No.30 Fourth Division and No.20 Brigade carried out joint attacks from the north, middle and south routes. On March 1941, 3, the northern and southern Japanese troops took the lead in launching. These two routes of Japanese troops were responsible for attacking the flanking troops of the Chinese No. 15 Group Army, pressing them to the center, and finally completing the encirclement and annihilation at Shanggao, which is regarded as the center of Northwest Jiangxi.

Not long after the battle began, the Chinese No.70 Army, which was fortified on the North Road, received an order to stay and conduct side attacks, and to retreat to the north of Shanggao to join the second-line corps.

Although it looks like a simple order, it reflects a major change in China's strategic thinking.

From the battle of Songhu to the battle of Wuhan, until the battle of Nanchang, the habitual tactics adopted by the Chinese army are the traditional single-line defense deployed on the first line.A single line of defense needs to be filled with a large number of troops. During the Battle of Songhu, China mobilized as many as [-] divisions to fill the entire Shanghai defense line.

This was the standard strategic thinking in the early days of the Anti-Japanese War. One of its benefits is that it can be defended for a long time at the beginning.However, in modern warfare, there are almost no lines of defense that cannot be breached. Once the front line is breached, it will be unthinkable to go back.The Battle of Songhu was a complete defeat, and there were almost no strong and complete troops to continue to fortify from Shanghai to Nanjing.The battle of Nanchang was the same. When the Japanese army broke through the forward positions, Luo Zhuoying had no reinforcements to plug the loopholes. When the Japanese army was about to approach the city of Nanchang, there were only security teams and a small number of policemen in the city. The main point is that only the police can maintain order.

The result of this is that no one is guarding the places that should be guarded, and some areas that are not critical to the overall situation are often guarded because the troops happen to be sufficient.An American military attache stationed in China who has carefully observed the frontal battlefield analyzed that the Chinese army often easily abandons positions that can be defended by only a few thousand people, but will hold on to a place that cannot be defended in theory for several weeks or even several days. months.

The military officer expressed helplessness about this: "They insist on fighting in their own way. It is useless to worry about it." It's like this.

In the case of repeated battles and defeats, the Chinese military's strategies were desperately thinking about changes, and they began to rack their brains to conceive some novel strategic plans.Some people of insight have invariably thought that if a different style of play is used, instead of sticking to the front line, but resisting one by one, retreating to a certain distance, and then fighting the enemy after the arrival of reinforcements, will it be different?
Under the action of this tide, the fixed mode of pure defense was gradually broken, and the strategic thinking of "retreating for a decisive battle" gradually surfaced.In fact, during the Battle of Gao'an, Luo Zhuoying already had the consciousness of "retreating for a decisive battle". He did not continue to fill the 74th Army into the Gao'an defense line, but temporarily abandoned Gao'an, because he had the consideration of taking a step back to control the enemy.

Both the terrain in northern Jiangxi and northern Hunan created conditions for the "retreat decisive battle".Here are either mountains or lakes, and the traffic has been repeatedly damaged, which determines that they are different from plains, and they cannot be exercised anywhere.Movement was limited, and casualties and fatigue along the way, the longer the fighting time, the easier it is for the advancing Japanese army to become the last of its strength, and the easier it is to be repelled by the defenders who are waiting for work.

Luo Zhuoying dared to leave a part of the [-]th Army for a flank attack, and he was not afraid that this force would be wiped out by the Japanese army, because he had mastered the characteristics and habits of the Japanese army in combat.

Before the Anti-Japanese War, the mainstream tendency of Chinese society was to "learn from the East in military affairs, and learn from the West in politics." The courses in military officer schools were mainly translated from Japan, and there were also many Japanese instructors.Take the Army University, which focuses on training military staff members as an example, all Japanese instructors were hired for the first nine periods.In a sense, Chinese soldiers are actually students of Japanese soldiers, and the "students" are no strangers to the tactics used by the "teacher".

There are many tactical principles of the Japanese army, but there is only one core one, that is, "Attack first, encirclement first". No matter how exquisite Okamura's command is, its basic thinking cannot be separated from this main line.Reflected in actual combat, the Japanese army often only focused on the target sites to be captured or encircled, while ignoring the annihilation of the opponent's vital forces.

This is the case in Nanjing, this is the case in Xuzhou, and even the battle of Nanchang personally commanded by Okamura is no exception.At that time, there were many Chinese retreating troops falling behind the enemy's flanks. If the Japanese army with superior maneuverability made up their minds to annihilate them, these troops would be doomed. However, the Japanese army was only satisfied with siege, and easily let go of the opportunity. up.

Knowing that the No. 30 Third Division of the Japanese Army is all high-ranking, Luo Zhuoying placed a considerable number of counterattack troops on the flanks.The counterattack force will run counter to the Japanese army, and then turn around to harass and besiege the No.30 Third Division.

An Unforgettable Troop

Zou Jiyan was a battalion commander of the [-]th Division of the [-]th Army.On the way of leading his troops to march upwards, he kept encountering all kinds of friendly troops. For a while, the marching road became crowded with cars and horses, and crowded shoulder to shoulder.

Some of these friendly forces have just been damaged on the front line and need to be withdrawn to the rear for repairs; some, like the 30th Division, are being transferred from one area to another to carry out blocking missions; Team.Most of them belonged to the No.30 Army. The No.[-] Group Army was organized on the basis of the security team of the Sichuan Provincial Security Department. When the Anti-Japanese War came out of Sichuan, it was at the end of the Wuhan Battle, so the troops did not suffer serious losses, and the soldiers were still intact.

Of course, this is only about the soldiers, and there is no way to mention the others.The friendly troops that Zou Jiyan encountered were not only messy and outdated weapons and equipment, but also mostly tattered clothing and poor military appearance.

Military appearance is not as simple as making superficial articles.Okamura is very good at capturing such details. During the Wuhan battle, he often observed the camps of various troops from indoors.He noticed that the Taiwan brigade's marching and camping were very chaotic, and the tents carried by soldiers were often used as backpacks, which made them dilapidated and difficult to shelter from wind, frost, rain and dew.On the contrary, the tents used by the soldiers of the Ninth Division were in good condition, and they set up tents for camping as soon as they arrived at the campsite, and the order in the camp was also orderly and quiet.

From this, Okamura concluded that the Ninth Division is an elite unit and can be used in the future; as for the Taiwan Brigade, it will be embarrassing to use it.

Okamura's vision is sharp, and his judgment can also be applied to any army.Back on the battlefield in northern Jiangxi, the [-]th Division encountered a Sichuan infantry regiment head-on during the march. At this time, three Japanese planes flew over the sky. The Sichuan Army immediately exploded after seeing it. The soldiers would not look for the terrain. The ground features are hidden, and they will only run around like a group of headless chickens without order, and there is no officer to command and stop them.

The Japanese machine hopes that you will mess up.After a burst of dive-bombing and low-flying strafing, dozens of officers and soldiers of the Sichuan Army were casualties, and the luggage was also bombed into a mess.

It was also an accidental air strike.Zou Jiyan immediately ordered the soldiers to evacuate and hide, and set up modified anti-aircraft machine guns to monitor the air, so the troops did not suffer too much loss.Zou Jiyan's [-]th Division belongs to the Hunan Army system. It is itself a newly formed division that lacks actual combat experience, but its military training is obviously much more standardized than that of the Sichuan Army.

The Chinese army has a large number, but its combat quality and combat effectiveness are often not high. In the Chinese army, troops like the Sichuan Army and the Hunan Army, which are slightly better than the Sichuan Army, account for a considerable part.

There are also real strong troops.When Zou Jiyan led his troops into a mountain pass between two mountains, he saw a domestic army that he had never seen before.This army is not only uniform in weapons, but also majestic in military appearance. The officers and soldiers are full of energy and fighting spirit, and the difference with the Sichuan army is very obvious.

Zou Jiyan was somewhat complacent when compared with the Sichuan Army, but now he has to admit that the Hunan Army may be slightly better than the Sichuan Army, but it is far inferior to the army in front of him.

This unforgettable force is the 74th Army.Now its strategic role in the War of Resistance is different.Things have to start with a selection by the Military Commission not long ago.

At the beginning of 1941, the Military Commission decided to set up two attacking armies (main forces) in the northwest and southwest regions respectively, as mobile forces on both sides of the river.One of the differences between the attacking army and the ordinary army is that the establishment of the army headquarters has been significantly expanded. The troops directly under the army include artillery, engineering, and logistics regiments, as well as semi-mechanized search battalions, anti-aircraft artillery battalions, tank defense artillery battalions, and communication battalions. , Secret service battalion (that is, guard battalion), the number of officers and soldiers is more than a division.In combat, these special forces can be assigned to each division to enhance the infantry's firepower and maneuverability.

The Northwest Territory was changed to the attacking army is the first army and the second army.It has been decided in the southwestern region that the Fifth Army stationed in Guangxi is the earliest mechanized army in China, and no one has anything to say.Around the last remaining spot, the competition is quite fierce in all aspects, and everyone is trying to get it.

Nominated by the Ministry of Military Command, four armies in the southwest region submitted applications for approval, among which No.18 Army and No.74 Army were evenly matched. The No.18 Army, with the No.11 Division as the basic unit, was built by Chen Cheng alone. From the Civil War to the Anti-Japanese War, it has made many achievements and has a high reputation. No.70 The Fourth Army was only established in the early days of the Anti-Japanese War, but its achievements have been impressive since its establishment. As its military song sang: "We have defended Luodian, defended the capital, rushed to help Xuhai, and fought against Lanfeng! Nanxun line, Show your loyalty, Zhang Gushan, blood stained red!" Such a heroic unit that dares to fight and fight is also a strong candidate for the attacking army.

The Military Commission was unable to make up its mind after reviewing and reviewing, so it had to submit it to Chiang Kai-shek for a decision.After careful consideration, Chiang Kai-shek voted for the 74th Army.

Being selected into the attacking army can not only expand the strength of the army, but more importantly, it also means a kind of supreme honor, which is the praise and affirmation of the army's past record and overall quality.When the good news came, the whole army of the 74th Army was jubilant, and the morale was unprecedentedly high.

When he was elected, the 74th Army was stationed in Shanggao and Gao'an areas, under the command of Luo Zhuoying.After being changed to an attacking army, according to regulations, they no longer serve as fixed defensive tasks on the front line, but should retreat and become an attacking army.

The 74th Army first handed over defensive tasks to friendly troops for the first phase of training.The content of the training is mainly to check the personnel and equipment, and to explain the performance and use of the replacement weapons.

A week later, the first period of training was over, and the whole army held a review.At this time, the situation on the front line suddenly tightened. Luo Zhuoying issued an order to participate in the battle in accordance with the deployment of "retreat decisive battle" and listed it as the core of the second-line corps.

old trilogy

The most important difference between the "retreat decisive battle" and the single-line defense is that after consuming the enemy's strength, let the enemy army break in freely, and at the same time use the key points as bait to force them to automatically give up their maneuver advantage, ignore the frontline corps, and foolishly attack the key points. Start the siege.

Who will keep the key points?Guarded by the second-line corps.In the single-line defense, the second-line corps is only a reserve team to fill the gap in the first-line position. If the position defended by the first-line corps is breached, the reserve team is used to piece together the second line of defense. The "retreat decisive battle" is different. The second-line corps can be completely unaffected by the front-line corps. No matter how the front is fought, it will not rush forward, but will only keep the lineup intact. When the Japanese army is attracted to the main point, Fight with it again.

"Retreat decisive battle" is different from luring the enemy to go deep in the traditional sense.Generally, to lure the enemy deep, the defender must surpass the opponent in terms of maneuverability, or at least the difference should not be too large.For example, in the four domestic "anti-encirclement and suppression" wars, the Red Army lured the enemy deep, and at the same time had the advantage of being familiar with the terrain and being good at climbing mountains and mountains, which made it impossible for the Kuomintang troops who came to "encircle and suppress" to move at all.

In the Anti-Japanese War, the maneuverability of the Japanese army far surpassed that of the Chinese army. If it is not done well, the attacker is likely to turn to the enemy and take advantage of the inside line. Therefore, the success of the "retreat decisive battle" actually depends on the ability of the second-line corps: you can hold it The opponent, let the opponent want to stop, and finally fall into the trap (Luo Zhuoying calls it "magnet tactics"), then you are the biggest contributor to this battle, if you can't, you are the sinner of this fiasco.

The judgment of merit and demerit is both direct and cruel, and looking around northern Jiangxi, there is no second choice for such a heavy burden except the 74th Army.

Luo Zhuoying still lacked experience in mastering the "decisive retreat" in the Battle of Gao'an, the most critical of which was that he did not make good use of the 74th Army. The 74th Army was supposed to be used as a baseboard, and it would only attack with all its strength when the Japanese army rushed in front of it, but in actual operation, it was the front-line corps with insufficient combat power that served as the baseboard. The 74th Army ran up to defend against the enemy ahead of time, but due to insufficient mobility, the intention of encircling the 51th Division of the Japanese Army and cutting off its rear was not fully realized. During the pursuit, only the [-]st Division's Jiuxiantang battle was fought. It can be called beautiful.

It used to be putting the cart before the horse, but now it has to be readjusted, that is, let the 74th Army lead the second-line corps as the base, and let the first-line corps intercept the enemy's rear from the flanks.

After receiving Luo Zhuoying's order, the 74th Army immediately occupied the second-line position centered on Shanggao.For this reason, Wang Yaowu also specially sent a battalion to defend in front of Shanggao's mountain pass, strictly preventing all irrelevant troops from withdrawing to the vicinity of Shanggao, so as not to interfere with the deployment of the defense battle.

After Zou Jiyan showed his order to participate in the defense of Shanggao, they were allowed to pass through the pass of the mountain pass and go to station at the foot of a high mountain in the south of Shanggao City.In the second-line corps, except for the 74th Army, the rest of the troops, including the [-]th Army, were used as follow-up counterattack troops and did not participate in the first round of operations.

(End of this chapter)