Take Taobao to fight against Japan

Changde in the northwestern part of Hunan is the throat of Sichuan and Guizhou. Heng Shanyong tried to defeat the main force of the Sixth War Zone of China here, so as to defeat the will of the Chinese army to resist the war and support the war with war.

Yong Shanyong's wishful thinking was good, but unfortunately he met Yu Chengwan, a tough opponent, thus doomed the battle of Changde, and the Japanese army could only end in tragedy.

Yokoyama used tricks from the very beginning to mislead the judgment of the Military Commission of the Nationalist Government.

The chairman thought that the target of the Japanese attack was not Changde, but a place closer to Sichuan. In order to ensure the safety of Chongqing, he transferred some elite corps to the northwest far away from Changde.

In Changde, there is only the seventh division of Wang Yaowu's army in Xue Yue's ninth war zone.

As the trump card division of the Central Army, the 57th Division is well-trained and disciplined. The soldiers will take the initiative to help the common people harvest crops, bring their own dry food when working, and refuse to accept payment.

The division commander of the solitary army guarding the city is Yu Chengwan from Panyu, Guangdong. Although he is from the first phase of Huangpu, he never puts on official airs and is very approachable.

Yu Chengwan knew that this battle would be cruel, so he actively evacuated the citizens before the war.

The army sent people to raise boats to ferry the people across the river for free, and they were also obliged to carry luggage for the citizens.

As soon as the battle started, Changde forcibly evacuated the residents in the city. Except for the county magistrate Dai Jiufeng, the construction section chief Yue Qilin, the chief of police and more than 100 policemen, all other government agencies have been evacuated.

The Seventh Division had strict discipline, and Yu Chengwan stipulated that no payment was allowed for helping the people evacuate. After the first class soldier Liu Weicai sent the luggage out of the city to the people, he received two Guangyang and was shot on the spot.

The people were evacuated out of the city, and Yu Chengwan began to deploy defenses.

He knew that the army was weak and had to rely on solid fortifications.He ordered that sandbags be used to build light and heavy machine gun positions at the three city gates, and the towers should be reinforced into bunkers.

A bunker was also built under the house, and barbed wire was laid on the position.

In the complex terrain interlaced with lakes and harbors in the eastern suburbs of the city, there are bunkers and dark forts at bridgeheads and embankments.

Soon, Changde was surrounded by powerful fortifications echoing from far and near.

Before the battle started, Yu Chengwan issued the "Proclamation on Defending Changde" to boost morale and express his determination to stick to Changde:

"The gain or loss of Changde is related to the entire destiny of the Republic of China. The task is so arduous and sacred. For the sake of the country, the people and ourselves, we have no reason not to complete this task.

We want to live and die with Changde, we want to exchange our flesh and blood for the vitality of the whole country, we must have the determination to make the greatest sacrifice, and fight the enemy to the last man and the last bullet. "

The Battle of Changde kicked off from the periphery on November 11.

On November 11, the Japanese artillery shells blew up the North Gate and broke into Changde City from the west of the North Gate. The commander of the 28th Regiment of the 57th Division, Chai Yixin, was ordered to move back, and the street fighting began.

Before the city was broken, Yu Chengwan ordered all the houses that were not opened to be opened up to prepare for street fighting.

When the devils outside the north gate continued to pour in, the soldiers of the 57th Division still calmly filled sandbags with soil to consolidate the battle fortifications.

The street fighting in Changde is destined to be as fierce as the street fighting in Taierzhuang.

Soldiers from both sides launched a brutal street battle in Changde City, fighting for each house and every street repeatedly.

The Japanese army fought house-to-house with the national army as they did during the street fighting in Taierzhuang. The Japanese army had to pay a heavy price for almost the first meter of advance.

日军与华夏军队战斗，往往是3：1或5：1，但在第57师士兵顽强阻击下，双方的死伤比例却差不多是1：1。

On November 11, the chairman sent a report from Cairo, strictly ordering Xue Boling to break the siege of Changde at all costs, otherwise he would be severely punished by military law; and asked Yu Chengwan to stick to Changde and not allow him to retreat.

By the night of December 12, only a few hundred of the more than 2 soldiers of the 57th Division remained.

Yu Chengwan asked Chai Yixin, head of the 169th regiment, to lead a breakout and go outside the city to find reinforcements.Chai resolutely refused, and he let the teacher go first.

Yu Chengwan said in a deep voice: "I said that I will live and die with Changde, and I will never leave Changde."

Chai Yixin said with a crying face: "Although Shangfeng did not let us break through, the [-] disciples of my teacher fought hard for more than ten days, and there are only a few hundred people left. Our mission has been completed, and the teacher will lead the brothers to break through. Leave some kindling for our teacher."

Yu Chengwan was very contradictory. The chairman told him to stick to it. It would be a capital offense for him to break through without an order.

But if it does not break through, the 57th Division will be wiped out.

Under the entanglement, Yu Chengwan decided to break out of the siege. Late at night, with the surviving army commander and more than 100 soldiers, Yu Chengwan broke out of the city from the south gate.

In the end, the 57th Division fought to the end. The whole division, from top to bottom, even the orderly soldiers, stretcher soldiers, cooks, and Changde policemen who had not been transferred, all joined the front-line battle.

They all fought to the end, and no one surrendered in the entire Changde defense battle.

But in the end, due to the disparity in strength, on December 12, the 3th Division was sacrificed and Changde fell.

At the same time, the Japanese army also paid a heavy price of 2.8 casualties.

While the 57th Division stood alone in Changde, the Huaxia Army, which was in charge of peripheral operations, continued to attack the Japanese army since November 11.

Li Yutang led his troops to rescue Changde in advance and fought fiercely with the Japanese army on the south bank of the Yuan River. Ou Zhen led his troops into the battle and entered the east gate of Changde on December 12.

However, Wang Yaowu led his troops to attack the Japanese army from the flanks, cutting off the Japanese army's detour to Changde.

As a result, the Japanese army was finally besieged by the Chinese army, and then the South Gate and West Gate of Changde were successively captured by our army. On December 12, the Chinese army officially recovered Changde.

In the end, the menacing Japanese 11th Army had to flee in embarrassment. In the entire Changde Battle, the Japanese army suffered more than 4 casualties, and the Chinese army suffered 4 casualties.

The Battle of Changde was a victory won by more than 57 officers and soldiers of the 8000th Division defending the city and the huge casualties of the people of Changde. Under the circumstances of the extreme disparity in the strength of the enemy and ourselves, the army stood alone for 16 days and won for other troops to encircle the Japanese army on the periphery. precious time.

Although it was a tragic victory, it was indeed a rare victory for the Chinese army on the frontal battlefield since the War of Resistance Against Japan entered a stalemate.

Throughout the battle, the Huaxia soldiers bravely killed the enemy, marched forward bravely, and fought for every inch of land.They have only one belief in their hearts, and that is "to struggle, to survive, and to defend the land left by their ancestors."

Yu Chengwan led his troops to defend Changde desperately, but was misunderstood by the chairman of the committee. After returning from Cairo, the first thing he said was to shoot Yu Chengwan.

Because the chairman fell into the Japanese trick.

When the Chairman was in Cairo to attend the China-U.S.-U.K. summit meeting, the Japanese published in the newspaper several false photos of Chinese soldiers raising a white flag to surrender on the city wall of Changde, which made him feel ashamed in front of Roosevelt and ordered Yu Cheng to be arrested. Ten thousand.

Later, people from all walks of life in Changde complained for Yu Chengwan, and the chairman released him and restored his military post and rank.

The Battle of Changde was one of the large-scale battles during the Anti-Japanese War and one of the most significant victories since the Anti-Japanese War. It had a certain status in the entire Anti-Japanese War and even World War II.

Chapter 1566 Cherkasy Steel Pocket

The time finally came to New Year's Day in 1944.

In the past year, the situation of the World Anti-Fascist War has undergone a fundamental reversal. The Axis countries retreated steadily until they fell apart, while the Allied Powers made great strides and achieved turning points in various battlefields.

With the victorious victories of the Allied camps in foreign battlefields, coupled with the elated Cairo Declaration, the great victory in the Battle of Changde, and a series of military victories achieved by the Huben Army, this year's New Year's Day in China is particularly lively.

The senior staff of the Central Committee of the Kuomintang, the Nationalist Government, and the Military Commission gathered in the front yard of the National Government Auditorium. First, they paid homage to Sun Yat-sen’s mausoleum, and then entered the auditorium. .

At the ceremony, the chairman delivered an inspiring speech again, praising the series of great victories of the anti-fascist alliance camp passionately, and announced to the people and the world that the Chinese nation will resolutely and thoroughly win the great and brandish war of resistance victory.

Under the combined effect of these factors, this year's New Year's Day is naturally very different from previous New Year's Day. All areas in the Kuomintang-controlled area organized grand and enthusiastic celebrations, and all soldiers and civilians were immersed in the ocean of joy.

The most dangerous and difficult time for the Chinese nation has passed. Although the Japanese invaders entrenched in China are still very strong, the dawn of victory has illuminated the land of China, and the pace of victory is unstoppable.

In the Huben military defense zone, Yang Fan naturally spared no effort, not only organizing an unprecedented government work summary and commendation meeting, but also an army award and celebration commendation meeting.

In addition, Yang Fan also ordered the publicity department to organize a series of celebration activities, condolence activities, and a very grand New Year's Day party.

Anyway, in a word, it is to create a crazy atmosphere, throw a lot of money, give meritorious personnel from all walks of life promotions, salary increases, titles and honors, money and gifts, and various welfare gift packages, so that all soldiers and civilians All can share the joy and happiness of victory.

European Eastern Front.

In the early days of the Soviet-German War, the German army achieved a series of huge military victories on the battlefield, which made the situation in the Soviet Union precarious.

However, since winning the Battle of Stalingrad, the Soviet Army not only reversed the situation of the war, but within a very short period of time, the Soviet Army already possessed the strength of a strategic counterattack.

As of the beginning of 1944, the Soviet army had completely lost its strategic advantage, and the German army was forced to enter the stage of strategic defense and contraction.

However, the number of Soviet losses is extremely shocking.

Since the Soviet-German War, the number of casualties and missing persons of the Soviet army has exceeded 780 million, while that of the German army is only about 200 million.

However, such losses did not break the Soviet Union in the face of the frantic exchange of the Soviet Union's terrible war potential.

At the beginning of 1944, an important strategic stronghold, Cherkasy, appeared in the southeast of the Soviet-German battlefield.

The Soviet Ukrainian First Front Army occupied the large landing field west of Kiev, and the Ukrainian Second Front Army approached the Cherkasy Landing Field and occupied Kirovgrad, forming a pincer attack on the German army at the Karenev salient between the two landing fields trend.

In order to obtain the right to move freely to the South Bug River, the Soviet army was determined to pull out this salient.

In order to seize the area, the Soviet Army assembled about 15 people in the First and Second Ukrainian Front Armies, equipped with 370 tanks, and launched a surprise attack on January 1944, 1.

It was winter and spring, with constant rain and snow, and the roads were muddy and muddy. It was not suitable for large troops to fight, but the Soviets chose this time to attack.

Because in their view, the bad weather is precisely the guarantee of the suddenness of the attack.

In fact it is.

Faced with Karenev's dangerous situation, both the German Army General Staff and the commander of the Southern Army Group, Manstein, who was fighting on the southern flank, were aware of it.

However, since the German army did not expect the Soviet army to attack during the thaw season, the German army took almost no defensive measures in the early days of the battle.

On January 1, the Second Ukrainian Front Army took the lead in launching an attack. After 25 minutes of intensive artillery strikes, the tank troops cleared the way and the infantry pressed tightly.

The Soviet army quickly opened a loophole in the German defense line, and the elite 5th Guards Tank Army immediately broke in and went straight to Zwinigodeka.

However, the well-trained German army immediately launched a counterattack. The "Viking Division" and the 3rd, 11th, and 14th Armored Divisions tried to block the breakthrough of the Soviet army from the east and west respectively.

The Soviet army continued to reinforce.

However, the German army had an advantage in the number of tanks on the defense line. Under the fierce bombardment of the "Leopard" tanks and 88mm guns, the Soviet tank troops suffered heavy losses and had to suspend their offensive.

At 25:21 on the 20th, the German army blocked the breakthrough and encircled the 29th and [-]th Armored Divisions of the Soviet Army.

However, these two armored divisions were the elite of the Soviet army after all. Instead of panicking after being surrounded, they launched a fierce attack all the way.

The German army along the way was unexpected and collapsed at the first touch.

In addition, with the reinforcement of the Ukrainian Second Front Army, the Soviet Army not only reopened the breakthrough, but also established an encirclement circle against the German Army, known in history as the "Cherkasy Steel Pocket".

A total of 2 people in 10 German military departments and 6.8 divisions were surrounded by the Karenev salient. The only armored division was the famous Waffen SS "Viking Division".

From a military point of view, the German army should abandon the salient, and it would be more beneficial to level the front, but the head of state did not agree to do so, because he thought the salient was like a wedge, and he even fantasized about using it as a springboard to launch a counterattack against the Soviet army. .

Therefore, Maninstein could only order the German army not to retreat, and must stick to the Cherkasy salient.

At the same time, Maninstein made up his mind to gather his forces to inflict heavy damage on the Soviet army while breaking through the siege, but unfortunately, he overestimated the strength he had in his hands at this time.

On February 1944, 2, the German army began a large-scale massing of troops to launch a counterattack.

This huge rescue force has a luxurious lineup. It has many elite German troops, including the famous SS 1st Armored Division and the "Becker" Heavy Armored Regiment, with a total of more than 500 tanks.

The Soviet army has 307 tanks. In contrast, the German army has an advantage in the number of battles.

On February 1944, 2, the German army took the lead in launching an air strike, and then the huge armored corps was fully pressed.

Under the sharp offensive, the German army once opened a breakthrough in the Soviet defense line.

However, the Soviet Union then sent in another group army for reinforcements. After tenacious resistance, the Soviet army finally held the line of defense and stopped the German army at the Gniloy Tiki River.

In the next few days, more than 10 German troops fought bloody battles with more Soviet troops. The German troops who were relieved made continuous assaults, but suffered heavy losses in front of the Soviet troops, which were superior in all aspects, and could no longer move forward.

Among them, the most tragic one is the "Head of State Guard Banner Squad" division. In order to save the trapped compatriots, it almost shed the last drop of blood. gun.

Although the German troops who were released from the siege continued to try to attack, they all ended in failure.

On February 1944, 2, Manstein had to send a telegram to the surrounded troops: the strength of the rescue force has been exhausted, and your department can only break through on its own.

This telegram immediately announced the death penalty for the besieged German troops.

At this time, under the pressure of the Soviet attack, all the besieged German troops had shrunk to a narrow area about 1 and 7 kilometers long and within the range of the Soviet artillery.

The Soviet army began to urge the besieged German army to surrender, guarantee personal safety and give humane treatment, etc., but the German army refused.

Therefore, the Soviet Supreme Command decided not to give these Germans a chance and ordered annihilation.

Chapter 1567 The most tragic breakout battle

On the night of February 1944, 2, the last field airfield of the German army in the Cherkasy encirclement.

Before the last German plane scrambled to take off from the airport, the commander of the 11th Army, General Stammermann, came to the plane, handed his diary to the pilot, and said in a heavy tone: "Maybe people outside can use it." hold it".

At this time, Giller, the commander of the 5th "Viking" Panzergrenadier Division of the Waffen-SS Army who was standing not far away, said in an anxious tone: "General Stammermann, please board the plane and evacuate immediately. This is the only chance to evacuate!"

If it weren't for the straight military uniform and dazzling medals, he would be more like a professor in a university. In fact, Giller is one of the most skilled and most honored commanders in the Waffen-SS.

"No, I am the commander of this breakout battle, I must not back down, I must fight to the last moment!"

Stammerman shook his head resolutely, and then said seriously to Jiller, "General Jiller, you are a rare and excellent general in the Third Reich. At this time, the one who should evacuate by plane should not only It's me, it should be you."

"General Stammermann, our division is the only armored unit in the encirclement, and it is also the only hope for the entire army to break through the encirclement.

And as the commander of this armored force, I should be duty-bound to take on the heavy responsibility of attacking the spearhead during the breakout! "

Giller also resolutely refused to evacuate by plane, because he had long made up his mind to leave the troops to save him.

On May 1943, 5, Giller was appointed commander of the 1th "Wiking" Panzergrenadier Division of the Waffen-SS.

The appointment was controversial at the time, as there were suspicions that Giller did not have the experience to hold the position.