In late May 1942, a flash of urgent electricity sped out of the deep jungle of northern Burma and finally spread out quietly on Chiang Kai-shek's desk in Chongqing.
After Chiang Kai-shek read it, he was silent for a long time, his face seemed to be shrouded in dark clouds, and he lost his former brilliance, as if he had suffered a thunderbolt blow from the clear sky. That night, he left a sad record in his diary: "I was shocked to hear that Master Dai sacrificed his life bravely, like a thunderbolt in the blue sky and a thunderbolt in the blue sky." ”
This division commander Dai is the soul of the 200th Division of the Mainland Expeditionary Force - Dai Anlan.
Since the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Japanese army has trampled on Southeast Asia, Thailand, Singapore and other places have fallen one after another, and Myanmar is also in danger.
At that time, in the face of the fierce offensive of the Japanese army, the British army in Burma was losing and retreating, and the British and the United States turned their attention to the mainland for help.
Once Burma is lost, the Yunnan-Burma highway, which supplies supplies the Continental Army, will be cut off, which will undoubtedly be a disaster for the mainland. Therefore, Chiang Kai-shek resolutely decided to send troops to help.
At the end of 1941, the Chinese Expeditionary Force was established, and Dai Anlan led the 200th Division of the 5th Army as the vanguard and took the lead in meeting Burma.
After arriving in Burma, the 200th Division quickly launched a stormy offensive to the strategic Tonggu and took over the British defensive line, both to resist the Japanese onslaught and provide cover for the British retreat.
On March 18, 1942, the Japanese army's 20,000 male divisions launched a fierce attack on Tonggu, and the brutal defense of Tonggu began.
In this fierce battle, which lasted for 12 days, Dai Anlan led the troops to resist bravely, swore not to retreat, and finally won more than 5,000 Japanese soldiers with less victories, winning the first brilliant victory of the Chinese Expeditionary Force in Burma.
This battle not only rejoiced the whole country, but also attracted widespread attention around the world. The United Kingdom's The Times praised: "The Battle of Tonggu was one of the toughest battles on the battlefield in Burma. ”
The United States also praised: "The Battle of Tonggu was the longest defensive battle on the Burma battlefield and won the division and its commanders supreme glory." ”
Even the Japanese army mentioned in the memoirs of military research after the war: "The frontal defender was the Chongqing 200th Division, which was highly motivated from beginning to end, especially the containment unit when it retreated, and held its position until the end." Although they were enemy troops, they were admirable, and all the generals from Commander Lieutenant General Iida and others to the commander praised their courage. ”
In his telegram to Chiang Kai-shek, Du Yuming also told a moving story in battle.
At that time, the Japanese captured many Chinese soldiers, and in the next battle, they pushed these soldiers to the front line to fend off the Chinese army's fire, and the Japanese army hid behind the sneak attack.
The Chinese army could not bear to open fire on their compatriots, and as a result, they suffered a lot of hidden losses from the Japanese army and suffered heavy casualties.
At this time, Dai Anlan shouted loudly: "Chinese with backbone, all lie down for me!" ”
As soon as the words fell, the captured soldiers immediately lay down, and the Chinese army immediately opened fire, taking the Japanese army by surprise and crushing.
However, a partial victory could not change the overall Allied defeat in Burma. With the arrival of Japanese reinforcements, Dai Anlan's 200th division fell into a heavy encirclement, and friendly rescue was delayed.
On May 17, 1942, when the 200th Division was retreating on the road from Xipao to Mogok, it was suddenly ambushed by the Japanese army. However, division commander Dai Anlan was unfortunately shot during the battle and his life was in danger.
At that time, the 200th Division was marching in the deep mountains and old forests, the medical conditions were extremely simple, coupled with the extremely hot weather and extreme humidity, Dai Anlan's wounds after simple treatment quickly became infected and deteriorated seriously.
When the troops arrived in Maobang, the 200th Division rested on the spot, and after Dai Anlan gave the last order, he died heroically at the age of 38.
After Dai Anlan's sacrifice, the soldiers of the division were grief-stricken, and they took turns carrying his body, which lasted more than a month, and finally arrived in Kunming, Yunnan.
Chiang Kai-shek ordered a grand state funeral for Dai Anlan, and personally inscribed a couplet:
The tiger roaring mountain forest shook the majestic wind, the long march of thousands of miles, and the enemy army was fearless.
The horse leather shroud returned to the ambition, regretted the unfinished work, and looked forward to the future sadly.
Zhou Enlai was Dai Anlan's teacher at the Whampoa Military Academy, and he also sent an elegy to this proud protégé: "Whampoa heroes, the soul of the nation." ”
Chairman Mao, who was far away in Yan'an, was also deeply saddened when he learned the news of Dai Anlan's death, and wrote a memorial poem "Seagull General Through the Ages":
External troubles need to be guarded, and the general goes to Caiwei.
The division is mechanized and bravely wins the power of the tiger and wolf.
Bloody battle to defend the east melon, drive the enemy Tang auspicious.
The battlefield sacrificed his life, and his ambition was not violated.
Among the generals who died in the Chinese Expeditionary Force, General Dai Anlan had the highest status and made the greatest contributions, and he was not only the pride of the Chinese nation, but also the pride of the all-China army. United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt once commented: "General Dianlan fought bravely, commanded excellently, and successfully completed the tasks shouldered, which is indeed an exemplary model for the soldiers of our allies." ”