In the spring of 1945, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression entered its final stage. In the vicinity of the town of Sanduo in central Jiangsu, the Soviet-Chinese Military Region of the New Fourth Army carefully planned an ambush battle, targeting the Japanese puppet army moving south. On April 28, when more than 2,000 unsuspecting enemy troops entered the ambush circle, the New Fourth Army launched a surprise attack. This battle was not only a test of the combat effectiveness of the New Fourth Army, but also a test of their wisdom and courage. In just a few hours, the Japanese puppet army suffered heavy losses, and the New Fourth Army achieved a brilliant victory. The three-stack ambush not only changed the local war situation, but also contributed to the victory of China's Anti-Japanese War. How exactly was this battle planned and executed? And how did the New Fourth Army create miracles in the midst of disadvantages? Let's look back at this magnificent history.
The New Fourth Army is in a difficult situation
In 1945, the situation of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression changed dramatically. The Japanese army was losing ground in the Pacific theater, while China's anti-Japanese forces continued to grow.
In this year, the 1st Division of the New Fourth Army and the Soviet-Chinese Military Region became the backbone of the anti-Japanese resistance in the central region of Jiangsu. They fought hard behind enemy lines and dealt a heavy blow to the invading Japanese army.
However, the change in the situation has brought new challenges to the New Fourth Army. In order to cooperate with the plan of the possible landing of the Allied forces on the southeast coast, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China decided to send the main force of the 1st Division of the New Fourth Army to the south to open up the border area between Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces. Although this decision has its own strategic considerations, it has also brought a severe test to the Soviet-Chinese Military Region.
After the main force of the 1st Division of the New Fourth Army moved south, the strength of the Soviet-Chinese Military Region suffered heavy losses. The 1st Division, which originally had 3 brigades, now has only one main regiment left, the 52nd Regiment. Although this excellent unit has strong combat effectiveness, it is still weak in the face of a huge enemy army.
Many people began to wonder whether the Soviet-Chinese Military Region would be able to maintain the existing situation and continue to develop and grow. In the face of such doubts, the leadership of the military district is under deep pressure. They understand that only by fighting a good battle can they reinvigorate the morale of the army and strengthen everyone's confidence.
Just as the military region was looking for fighters, the movements of the Japanese army attracted their attention. In order to prevent a possible landing of American troops, the Japanese army began to strengthen the garrison forces in the Soviet-central region at the end of 1944. They not only mobilized part of the Kwantung Army's forces to Lianyungang and Shanghai, but also arranged for the 42nd Division of the Wang puppet regime to be stationed in Gaoyou, Baoying, Xinghua and other places.
This kind of movement of enemy troops not only puts pressure on our troops, but also creates opportunities to take advantage of them. The intelligence network of the New Fourth Army began to operate in full force, looking for possible fighters. At this critical moment, Liu Fei, commander of the 18th Brigade and commander of the 1st Army Division, showed outstanding military talent.
Through internal intelligence, Liu Fei learned an important information: the independent regiment of the puppet 5th Group Army, which was originally stationed in Baoying, would go south and be transferred to the area of Zhouzhuang south of Xinghua through Sanduo to deploy defenses. This puppet army consisted of about 1,500 people, accompanied by 2 squadrons of the Japanese Hechuan Brigade.
After receiving this information, Liu Fei was keenly aware that this was a rare fighter. He immediately proposed to the Soviet-Chinese Military District a plan to ambush this group of enemies. After careful consideration, the leadership of the military region approved Liu Fei's proposal and agreed to transfer back the 52nd Regiment to participate in the battle.
After Liu Fei was approved, he immediately began to prepare. He personally led the team to conduct on-the-spot investigations, and finally selected the ambush site on the road east of Sanduo and the area on both sides of the North Chengzi River. This location has several advantages: there are many villages along the river, which is conducive to the concealment of our army; The terrain is complex, and there are many ditches to cover the assault of our army; More importantly, it is more than 40 miles away from the two Japanese strongholds of Gaoyou and Xinghua, and it is difficult for the enemy to reinforce them.
In order to ensure the victory of the battle, Liu Fei carefully deployed the troops participating in the battle. He divided the troops into the Henan Column and the Hebei Column, bounded by the Chengzi River in the north. The Henan Column consisted of the Jiangdu Independent Regiment and the 5th Special Service Regiment, which was responsible for preventing the enemy from escaping to the southeast. The Hebei Column consisted of the 52nd Regiment and the 1st Divisional Special Service Battalion, which was responsible for the main attack and blocking the enemy's westward escape.
During the deployment, Liu Fei paid special attention to one detail: Xinzhuang Village, located on the north side of the road, had been burned down by the Japanese army, leaving only ruins and broken walls. This seemingly inconspicuous place could become the key to the battle. Liu Fei foresaw that once the battle began, the enemy army might occupy Xinzhuang as a base of resistance.
Therefore, Liu Fei specially told Zhang Yiyou, the commander of the 52nd Regiment, that he must quickly occupy Xinzhuang after the battle began. If the enemy occupies Xinzhuang first, he will take it back at any cost. The consideration of this detail reflects Liu Fei's foresight as a commander.
In this way, under Liu Fei's careful planning, an ambush battle aimed at reviving the prestige of the New Fourth Army quietly kicked off. All the commanders and fighters were gearing up, waiting for the moment to annihilate the enemy.
Clever tricks to ambush the enemy and show their magic skills
After Liu Fei obtained the information on the enemy's movement, he immediately began to carefully plan this ambush battle. He knew very well that this was not only an ordinary battle, but also related to the morale and future development of the entire Soviet-Chinese Military District.
Liu Fei summoned Zhou Junming, chief of staff of the Military Region, Zhang Yiyou, commander of the 52nd Regiment, and others to discuss the battle plan. They revolve around a rudimentary map, repeatedly deducing all possible battle scenarios.
After repeated discussions, Liu Fei finally determined the ambush circle centered on Sanduo Town. This location not only has favorable terrain, but more importantly, it can cut off the enemy's retreat. Liu Fei pointed to the map and said, "We want to be like a big net, trapping the enemy in it." "
In order to ensure the feasibility of the plan, Liu Fei personally led a team to conduct on-site investigations. Disguised as ordinary peasants, they carefully inspected the terrain along a predetermined ambush route. In the process, Liu Fei noticed some key details, such as the water depth of the Beichengzi River and the situation of the bunkers on both sides of the road.
After returning to the headquarters, Liu Fei fine-tuned the plan according to the situation on the ground. He decided to divide the troops into two columns: the Henan Column and the Hebei Column. The Henan Column consisted of the Jiangdu Independent Regiment and the 5th Special Service Regiment, which was responsible for preventing the enemy from escaping to the southeast. The Hebei Column consisted of the 52nd Regiment and the 1st Divisional Special Service Battalion, which served as the main attack.
Liu Fei especially emphasized the importance of Xinzhuang Village. This seemingly inconspicuous village burned down by the Japanese army could be the key to deciding the outcome of the war. He said to Zhang Yiyou: "In any case, we must occupy Xinzhuang as soon as the battle begins." If the enemy occupies it first, it will be taken back at any cost. "
In order to ensure the success of the ambush, Liu Fei also arranged a special detachment. The task of this detachment was to sneak into the enemy's path and destroy bridges and roads before the battle began. This slows down the enemy's march and creates more time for our troops to prepare.
After deploying the battle plan, Liu Fei personally checked the readiness of each company. He exhorted commanders at all levels: "It is necessary to give a clear account of the tasks of each soldier and not to be ambiguous in the slightest. "
In order to ensure smooth communications, Liu Fei also specially arranged several groups of signal troops and set up temporary communication stations at key positions. "On the battlefield, information is life," he said. We must ensure that orders are communicated to each combat unit in a timely manner. "
In the process of preparation, Liu Fei also paid special attention to confidentiality. He demanded that the personnel involved in the program maintain strict confidentiality and not disclose any information to the outside world. Even the local civilians were mobilized to cooperate with the troops to do a good job of camouflage.
Over time, every detail of the ambush plan has been refined and refined. Liu Fei knows that in this crucial battle, any slight oversight can lead to defeat.
Finally, on the night of April 27, Liu Fei received the exact information that the enemy was about to move south. He immediately gave the final battle order: "The troops immediately went into predetermined positions, strictly followed discipline and waited for my order to attack." "
On a dark and windy night, the fighters of the New Fourth Army quietly entered the ambush position. They hid in the fields, in the villages, quietly waiting for the arrival of the enemy. Tension was in the air, and everyone knew that an earth-shattering battle was about to break out.
At this moment, Liu Fei received an unexpected piece of good news. The enemy army, which was expected to be only 1,500 men, actually increased to more than 2,000. This means that if the ambush is successful, they will achieve greater results. Liu Fei immediately summoned commanders at all levels and made final adjustments to the battle plan.
In the early morning of April 28, the sound of horses' hooves and wheels could be heard in the distance. Enemy forces are approaching the ambush circle. Liu Fei stood on a small mound and carefully observed the movements of the enemy army through a telescope. His heart raced, and he knew that the moment of decisive battle was coming.
It was at this tense moment that Liu Fei showed outstanding leadership skills. He calmly observes the situation and is always ready to adjust his plans according to changes in the battlefield. He said to the staff officers beside him: "Remember, the battlefield is changing rapidly, and we must be ready to deal with all kinds of unexpected situations at any time. "
When the enemy's vanguard entered the ambush circle, Liu Fei did not immediately give the order to attack. He waited patiently until the main forces of the enemy army were completely in the ambush circle. This calmness and self-control is the embodiment of a good commander.
Finally, when the enemy's rearguard also entered the ambush circle, Liu Fei decisively raised the flare gun in his hand. With a "bang", a red flare pierced the sky. This is the order to attack, and it is also the signal that this ambush battle has officially begun.
Rain of bullets and bullets The New Fourth Army was intimidating to the enemy
As the signal flare sent by Liu Fei pierced the sky, gunsmoke suddenly erupted near Sanduan Town, and gunshots rang out. The units of the New Fourth Army came out of a cage like a tiger and launched a fierce attack on the unsuspecting enemy army.
The 52nd Regiment, as the main attacking force, took the lead in the charge. The regiment commander Zhang Yiyou led the assault team, like a sharp knife, straight into the hinterland of the enemy. Their goal is clear - to occupy the village of Xinzhuang.
Although Xinzhuang Village has been burned down by the Japanese army, its geographical location is extremely important. Zhang Yiyou knows very well that whoever controls Xinzhuang will have the initiative on the battlefield. He commanded the troops to advance rapidly, and before the enemy could react, he managed to capture the village of Xinzhuang.
At the same time, the Jiangdu Independent Regiment and the 5th Special Service Regiment of the Henan Column also launched operations. They were responsible for cutting off the enemy's retreat to the southeast. These two forces were like an iron wall, blocking the enemy's retreat.
As soon as the battle began, the enemy army was thrown into chaos. They didn't expect to be attacked so violently, and they were at a loss for a while. The Japanese commanders tried to organize effective resistance, but their chain of command was quickly paralyzed under the intensive fire of the New Fourth Army.
Liu Fei stood on the command high ground and observed the situation on the battlefield through a telescope. Seeing that the 52nd Regiment had successfully occupied Xinzhuang Village, he immediately ordered other troops to intensify their attacks and not give the enemy a chance to breathe.
The battle reached a fever pitch, and the enemy began to break through. An enemy force of about 300 men tried to break through to the west in an attempt to escape to Gaoyou. Liu Fei had expected it and immediately ordered the special service battalion of the 1st Division to attack and intercept it.
The commander of the special service battalion led the troops to maneuver quickly and set up an ambush on the path that the enemy army must pass. When the enemy army fled halfway, the special service battalion suddenly came out and smashed the enemy team to pieces. Most of the enemy forces were annihilated on the spot, and only a few escaped in disarray.
On the other side of the battlefield, the Jiangdu Independent Regiment encountered stubborn resistance. A Japanese squad occupied a small mound and took advantage of the favorable terrain to put up stubborn resistance. The commander of the independent regiment immediately made a decision and ordered the mortar company to carry out fire support.
Under the precision of mortars, the Japanese fortifications were quickly destroyed. The independent regiment took advantage of the victory and pursued and took this stronghold in one fell swoop. The Japanese squad leader detonated the grenade at the last moment and died along with the position.
By noon, the enemy's resistance had begun to crumble. Liu Fei seized the fighter plane and ordered the 52nd Regiment to launch a general attack. Zhang Yiyou led the 52nd Regiment like a sharp knife, straight into the enemy's hinterland.
At this critical moment, Zhang Yiyou showed excellent commanding skills. He commanded his troops to adopt flexible and mobile tactics, sometimes dispersing surprise attacks and sometimes concentrating strikes. This flexible tactic makes the enemy unguardable.
At this moment, an elite Japanese army of about 200 people suddenly launched a counterattack from the flank, trying to open the breakthrough. This Japanese army is the elite of the Hechuan Brigade and has extremely strong combat effectiveness. Their sudden appearance once caused a lot of pressure on the New Fourth Army.
Liu Fei sensed the change in the situation on the battlefield and immediately mobilized reserves to meet the attack. He personally led a reinforced company to launch a surprise attack around the flank and rear of the Japanese elite. This bold action completely disrupted the deployment of the Japanese army.
Under the fierce offensive of the New Fourth Army, the elite of the Japanese army soon fell into a heavy encirclement. Their commander, realizing that there was no hope of breaking through, even ordered a jade-shattering counterattack. For a time, the battle entered its most intense stage.
However, the officers and men of the New Fourth Army are no longer what they used to be. They are no longer the poorly equipped and inexperienced troops, but an elite division that has gone through countless baptisms of war. In the face of the frantic counterattack of the Japanese army, the officers and men of the New Fourth Army were undaunted and fought back with a more fierce offensive.
The battle continued until about 3 p.m., and the gunfire on the battlefield gradually thinned out. With the exception of a few that slipped through the net, most of the enemy forces had been annihilated or captured. Liu Fei ordered all units to clean up the battlefield, and at the same time sent scouts to guard against enemy reinforcements.
In the evening of the same day, Liu Fei received the statistics of the results of each unit. In this battle, the New Fourth Army annihilated more than 1,800 Japanese puppet troops, including more than 200 Japanese soldiers, captured more than 400 people, and captured a large number of weapons and ammunition. The casualties of our troops were extremely light, less than 100 casualties.
This brilliant victory not only smashed the arrogance of the Japanese puppet army, but more importantly, greatly boosted the morale of the New Fourth Army. Liu Fei said at the post-war summary meeting: "This victory proves that our New Fourth Army has grown into a strong force that can compete with the Japanese army head-on. As long as we are united, there is no battle that cannot be won! "
The victory in the three-stack ambush caused great repercussions in the Soviet-Chinese region. The local people came to offer their condolences one after another and sent condolences to the New Fourth Army. This victory not only consolidated the New Fourth Army's local base areas, but also laid a solid foundation for the subsequent anti-Japanese struggle.
Taking advantage of the victory, the New Fourth Army shocked East China
The glorious victory of the three-stack ambush was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, setting off earth-shattering waves in East China. The prestige of the New Fourth Army began to spread in this land.
Instead of basking in the joy of victory, Liu Fei immediately convened a military meeting to study the next plan of action. He believes that now is the best time to take advantage of the victory. At the meeting, Liu Fei put forward a bold idea: "We should take advantage of the enemy's unstable foothold to launch a larger-scale offensive and completely disrupt the deployment of the Japanese army in the Soviet-central region." "
This proposal was supported by many generals. Chief of Staff Zhou Junming applauded: "That's how it should be!" Let the little devils taste the power of our New Fourth Army! "After intense discussions, an ambitious plan was finally decided on - to launch the Soviet-Chinese Seventh War.
The Soviet-Chinese Seventh War refers to the fact that in just one month, the New Fourth Army will launch seven large-scale battles in the Soviet-Central region in a row. The goal of this plan was to completely break the rule of the Japanese army in the Soviet-central region and create favorable conditions for the subsequent anti-Japanese struggle.
After the plan was formulated, Liu Fei immediately began to deploy. He divided his troops into several battle groups, which advanced in different directions. The 52 Regiment, as the main force, was tasked with the most difficult tasks. After receiving the order, Zhang Yiyou immediately led his troops to advance eastward.
The first battle was fought near Taizhou. The Japanese army had an important stronghold here, with about 500 troops stationed. Zhang Yiyou adopted a surprise tactic and quietly surrounded the Japanese stronghold at night. At dawn, the Japanese army was still asleep, and the offensive of the New Fourth Army had already begun.
The battle was extremely fierce, and the Japanese army resisted desperately. However, under the intensive fire of the New Fourth Army, the resistance of the Japanese army was quickly broken. By noon, the entire stronghold had fallen into the hands of the New Fourth Army. This victory made a good start for the Soviet-Chinese Seventh War.
Immediately afterwards, the iron fist of the New Fourth Army began to attack everywhere in the Soviet-Central region. They are like a bunch of haunting ghosts, here today, and there tomorrow. The Japanese were completely disorganized, not knowing where their next target would be.
In the third battle, the New Fourth Army met stubborn resistance. An elite Japanese army of about 1,000 men put up a stubborn resistance in a small town. Liu Fei personally commanded the battle, and he adopted the tactics of encircling the point to send reinforcements. First, they feinted to attack the town to lure Japanese reinforcements, and then the main force ambushed the reinforcing Japanese troops.
It worked. When the Japanese reinforcements entered the ambush circle, the New Fourth Army suddenly launched a fierce attack. The reinforcements were thrown into confusion and suffered heavy casualties. The Japanese army, which had lost its reinforcements, was soon broken by the New Fourth Army. This victory completely broke the Japanese defense line in this area.
As the fighting continued, the morale of the New Fourth Army was getting higher and higher. They were no longer afraid of the sophisticated equipment of the Japanese army, but charged into battle with greater courage. In the Fifth War, the New Fourth Army even took only half a day to capture an important stronghold of the Japanese army.
The Japanese began to panic. They hastily mobilized their forces in an attempt to stop the New Fourth Army's offensive. But Liu Fei had expected it and adopted flexible tactics. While the main forces of the Japanese army were gathering in one direction, the New Fourth Army suddenly turned around and attacked another weak point.
In the Sixth War, the New Fourth Army encountered the fiercest resistance. The Japanese army amassed a force of about 3,000 men in a vain attempt to annihilate the main force of the New Fourth Army in one fell swoop. A fierce battle ensued near a small town called Huangqiao. The battle lasted for three days and three nights, and the two sides went back and forth, causing damage to each other.
In the end, it was Liu Fei's clever plan that turned the tide of the battle. He ordered a small detachment, went around the rear of the Japanese army, and raided the Japanese headquarters. The Japanese command system was disrupted and immediately plunged into chaos. The New Fourth Army seized this opportunity and launched a general offensive. The resistance of the Japanese army soon collapsed.
By the end of the Seventh World War, the entire Soviet-Central region was already in jubilation. In just one month, the New Fourth Army won seven major victories in a row, completely changing the situation in the Soviet-Chinese region. The Japanese rule was shattered, and the defense line had to be shrunk and retreated into several large cities.
This earth-shattering battle not only played the prestige of the New Fourth Army, but more importantly, greatly encouraged the anti-Japanese enthusiasm of the people of the whole country. Anti-Japanese forces in various places imitated the tactics of the New Fourth Army and launched fierce attacks on the Japanese army. For a time, the anti-Japanese situation in the entire East China region changed.
Liu Fei said at the post-war summary meeting: "The victory of the Soviet-Chinese Seventh War proves that our New Fourth Army has grown into a strong force that can compete head-on with the Japanese army. But we must not be complacent, and there is more difficult work to be done. "
With the spread of the prestige of the New Fourth Army, more and more patriotic young people have joined this team. The strength of the New Fourth Army continued to grow, and it soon developed into the main force of resistance against Japan in East China. They continue to write heroic chapters on this land and make great contributions to the cause of the liberation of the Chinese nation.
The victory of the Soviet-Chinese Seventh War was not only a military victory, but also a spiritual victory. It proves to the whole world that the Chinese people are invincible. As long as we are united, there is no mountain that cannot be climbed, and there is no hurdle that cannot be crossed. This victory became an important turning point in the history of China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and laid a solid foundation for the final victory.