1180 Encirclement and Annihilation of Inoue Division (1)
Regarding this battle, at the military meeting before the war, Ding Wei put forward this tactical idea:
"In the past, when we fought ambush battles, the ambush troops would often seize nearby high ground and attack the Japanese troops from a high position.
But this time we dispatch a large-scale armored force, so we cannot continue to use this style of play.
Mechanized combat vehicles such as armored vehicles and tanks are not suitable for driving on narrow hillsides. This will greatly limit the mobility of our mechanical vehicles. Once exposed, the enemy's aerial firepower reinforcements will come and there will be nowhere to run.
So let's just do the opposite.
Give up these hills and drive the Japanese over. Their infantry can go up, but a large number of armored vehicles, motorcycles, trucks, tanks, towed artillery and baggage cannot be moved up immediately.
Even if they were moved up, where would they put them?
These isolated hills are the tombs we have prepared for the devils. When the devils go up there, our heavy mortars and aerial bombs will explode with perfect accuracy, leaving no place to hide.
First divide the Japanese soldiers, eliminate small groups of troops, drive some Japanese soldiers to isolated hillsides, and finally encircle them one by one so that they cannot escape."
The generals all agreed with this. This was the most appropriate way to fight based on the local terrain.
…
the other side.
It has to be said that the Japanese have been operating in the Datong and Zhangjiakou area for many years and are very familiar with the terrain here. The relevant military combat maps they drew even marked every valley and stream in detail. The topography of each place has long been memorized.
In the heart.
Even the forward troops of the 14th Division from outside this pass are familiar with the road conditions here. This time they did not leave a reserve force. They directly used some troops to attack the Eighth Route Army blockade, and the main force detoured from one side.
Then, this roundabout force directly ran into the joint defense line composed of the Eighth Route Army and Allied commandos on the original secondary battlefield.
As soon as the Japanese came up, they carried out a limited bombardment with Type II artillery tanks, but were followed up by the Eighth Route Army's howitzers and were routed.
Sakamoto, who led his troops to evacuate hastily after losing the battle with the Eighth Route Army's armored vehicles, saw that he was not prepared for the artillery fire, so he could only bite the bullet and launch a charge towards the defense line in an attempt to break out of the Eighth Route Army's encirclement.
As a result, the Eighth Route Army responded calmly and repelled many Japanese charges. The casualties on the Japanese side spread rapidly, and the front of the position was covered with the remains of Japanese tanks.
At first, the Allied forces saw a large-scale tank attack. The mountains and plains seemed to be filled with tanks. This scene brought a strong visual shock. Many foreign soldiers and reporters marveled. Could it be that all Japanese tanks were coming?
Bar?
Everyone began to panic.
The strength shown by the Japanese army in the Pacific battlefield and the Southeast Asian battlefield made the gringos like them have lingering fears.
But as the battle situation evolved, they soon discovered to their shock that the Japanese tanks were so vulnerable, and were destroyed like tofu under the anti-tank defense lines built by the Eighth Route Army.
In the end, if there had not been an order to attack, even these foreign soldiers would have rushed forward eager to try.
Soon after, the Eighth Route Army's mobile assault artillery unit and anti-tank destroyer unit arrived. Old Japanese Inoue was at his wits end. He originally tried to break through, but was repelled by the Eighth Route Army.
Even the large-scale tank troops that Inoue relied on most suffered heavy casualties in the successive battles.
The various lines of encirclement constructed by the Eighth Route Army were like steel barriers and could not be broken down at all.
The main force of the Japanese army also sent troops to assist in the flanking attack, but nothing could be done.
In addition, the main force of the Chinese army was also divided by mobile troops led by generals such as Li Yunlong and Ding Wei, and it was even difficult to protect itself.
For a moment, the forward combat troops of the Inoue Division and the Chinese army were unable to look at each other, and they were almost in chaos.
In desperation, Inoue, who was sitting at the temporary headquarters, already looking embarrassed and frightened, had no choice but to issue an order to hold tight and wait for help.
In order to prevent the troops from being interspersed and divided by the Eighth Route Army's mobile troops, especially to prevent our own infantry from being attacked by the enemy's armored troops, Inoue, who was familiar with the topography of this area, immediately ordered all troops to move to highlands and hills.
, relying on the condescending terrain to garrison and build fortifications to resist the Eighth Route Army's attack.
In this way, everything was as Ding Wei expected at the pre-war military meeting.
The various troops of the 14th Division divided into groups, occupied some mountainous highlands, and quickly built anti-tank fortifications and artillery positions.
As for the large-scale gathering of troops in various mountain and forest highlands, whether they would be attacked by the Eighth Route Army's aerial firepower, the old Japanese Inoue had actually considered this.
But for him at this moment, is there a better way than this to protect the entire army when the enemy's mobile troops are at a clear advantage?
As for aerial fire strikes.
Inoue could only place all his hopes on the empire's aerial firepower reinforcements.
In a telegram sent to the headquarters, Inoue made it clear: "Our headquarters was besieged by a large number of enemy main forces and was forced to occupy the high ground and hold tight. However, we can attack the enemy from both inside and outside at any time after reinforcements arrive.
.
We also appeal to the Imperial Aviation Command to ensure air superiority in the warring areas, drive away enemy fighters, and ensure the safety of our combat troops in the skies!"
In response to Inoue's appeal, the Japanese aviation command and the Japanese aviation commander swore that they would destroy the Eighth Route Army's aviation units, seize air supremacy, and coordinate with ground field forces.
And at this time, as time goes by.
The Japanese aviation force seemed to be successfully fighting for air supremacy.
According to the little devil's plan, the first day was a wave-like feint attack to lure the Eighth Route Army's aviation unit into battle.
The effect was also amazing. The Japanese Air Force Command quickly obtained relevant information and learned the specific locations of the airports exposed by the Eighth Route Army.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Then at night, they contacted the field troops closest to the exposed airports and launched a storming attack on the Eighth Route Army airports.
Troops from both sides launched an offensive and defensive battle around the airport at night.
The next day, just before dawn, the Japanese army's night offensive troops quickly evacuated. The Japanese army formally deployed a large number of aviation units to launch air strikes against the exposed Eighth Route Army airport, and also conducted a series of bombings on the Eighth Route Army troops defending the airport.
Then, the specially organized flying units of the Japanese army searched back and forth in the airspace, targeting the remaining aviation units of the Eighth Route Army or those that dared to leave the airport to counterattack.
Under these successive attacks, the Japanese aviation force seemed to have the upper hand.
Sure enough, a considerable number of Eighth Route Army airports were destroyed one after another, and the Eighth Route Army troops defending the airports also fled in panic under the Japanese air strikes.
After hearing the news, Hata Shunroku and Okabe were immediately overjoyed and felt like they were letting out a lot of bad breath.
Soon after, Peiping became completely lively.
Old Japanese Harada made a special report that a considerable number of Eighth Route Army fighter planes were seized at Yangmingbao Airport, and a batch of Eighth Route Army heavy artillery was seized at Xinkou.
Special news came from the Aviation Command, saying that everything was going smoothly and that five exposed Eighth Route Army airports had been destroyed, a considerable number of enemy fighter planes were blown up, and heavy blows were caused to the enemy's guarding troops.
The air control surrounding Datong and Zhangjiakou basically fell into the hands of the empire.
After the results of each battle are reported.
Hata Junroku, who had been victorious for a long time, was in a happy mood. In order to publicize the military might of the Japanese army, he immediately decided to fly over the captured Eighth Route Army aircraft and transport heavy artillery. He also held a display conference on the results of the anti-bandit public security campaign at Beiping Civilian Airport, inviting all parties.
Journalists and puppet government personnel at all levels in Peiping came to observe.
At this time, it was necessary to completely eliminate the decline in the Japanese army that had been defeated by the Eighth Route Army in the past two years.
In order to further win over these puppet forces and suppress the arrogance of the anti-Japanese armed forces.
At the exhibition meeting, the old Japanese soldier Okabe shamelessly boasted that the Imperial Army was heroic in battle and invincible.
He pointed to the heavy machine guns, mortars, mountain artillery, field artillery, firearms, ammunition and artillery shells in the audience and said: "These are the spoils of the imperial army. The holy war has ushered in a new stage. Our army is ready to eliminate public security in North China in one fell swoop and build the imperial army."
Tao’s Paradise.”
Then, Yan Shunroku, Okabe and other senior Japanese officials personally took a group of reporters to visit these weapons and equipment, and continued to confuse right and wrong, slandering the Eighth Route Army's resistance behind enemy lines as banditry that disrupted public security in North China.
These old devils declared: "We are not invaders, but at the request of Chairman Wang of the Nanjing Republic of China government, we came to maintain public security, build a co-prosperity circle, and build backward China into a modern country."
As he spoke, the Japanese took out a stack of photos and distributed them, saying: "The Eighth Route Army bombed indiscriminately and air raided the Imperial Army's humanitarian hospitals, settlements, and facilities for refugees. It is really cruel!"
However, this fake thing is still fake after all, and the hypocritical face can be easily exposed after all.
Then a reporter from a neutral country took out a series of photos he had taken, which truly showed the miserable life of the Chinese people under the rule of the Japanese army.
With a slap in the face.
Okabe and Junroku Hata could only muddle through the topic just now with vague words.
Then he continued to promote the power of his imperial army and the victory of this defeat of the Eighth Route Army.
However, the meeting was only halfway through.
One after another news came one after another that stunned Tian Jun's Liuhegang Department.
"Sir, the armored unit of the 14th Division was severely damaged by the Eighth Route Army's tank troops. It is currently under full siege by the Eighth Route Army and is tightly blocked in the Yangyuan area!"
"Your Excellency, Commander, just a few minutes ago, various aviation units of the Eighth Route Army suddenly launched a full-scale attack. The number of enemy fighter planes and the intensity of the air attack were so high. According to reports from the frontline aviation reconnaissance force, it greatly exceeded our army's intelligence.
According to the department's investigation and prediction, various field troops have been raided by the Eighth Route Army's aerial firepower, and the casualties and losses are currently expanding rapidly!"
"Sir, there is news from the 14th Division that the battle situation ahead is extremely urgent. A large number of Eighth Route Army fighter planes appeared in the sky to launch air strikes. The field troops originally guarding the highland mountains and forests suffered a tragic blow..."
"Sir, our frontline airport was raided by the Eighth Route Army troops, and more than ten fighter planes that had not yet taken off were destroyed!"
"Sir, the Morita Chariot Division, which was scheduled to go south, was intercepted by the National Army's 35th Route Army and is now locked in a bitter battle!"
"Sir, there is news from the 14th Division on the front line. It is not the 35th Route Army of the National Army that is facing them, but the Iron Triangle Field Army of the Eighth Route Army!"
"Sir..."
"Your Excellency Commander..."
When the old Japanese soldiers Hata Junroku and Okabe walked out of the headquarters, they even staggered a little. The originally bright sky always felt a little dim in their sight.
Reporters gathered around one by one.
"Your Excellency, Commander, is there another good news coming from the front?"
"Did your Japanese army achieve any results again?"
"Has the jihad really reached a new stage and the situation has been completely reversed by your Japanese army?"
Hata Junroku, Okabe: "..."
The two gloomy old Japanese were no longer in the mood to entertain these reporters, so they left in a hurry after saying a few perfunctory words.
…
But he said it was the Eighth Route Army.
After the first day of the battle to encircle and annihilate the 14th Division, it quickly attracted the attention of the Allied forces. Some senior officers from Britain, the United States and other countries immediately organized an officer visiting group and rushed to Datong overnight to watch the battle, hoping to establish a certain foundation for the troop commanders.
To gain confidence in victory, let’s see how the Eighth Route Army fought, and by the way, transport a batch of supplies to support the Eighth Route Army’s actions.
Chiang Kai-shek also shamelessly sent a group of people to watch. In addition to the expeditionary force, General Sun, General Gui, General Song and other famous generals from Chiang Kai-shek's army arrived one after another.
The Eighth Route Army generals made no secret of their expressions.
"The goal of this battle is to encircle and annihilate the 14th Division of the Japanese elite Kwantung Army in one fell swoop between the two major groups of Japanese troops!"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! After the words fell, the whole room gasped.
Whether it was the British and American generals or the officers of Chiang Kai-shek's army, all of them had their eyes widened as they listened to those domineering words.
"These Eighth Route Army officers are not afraid of flashing their tongues when they talk big!"
On the side of Chiang Kai-shek's visiting group, many officers, especially some of the fleeing generals, looked even more disdainful, insisting that the Eighth Route Army was just bragging and that they would never be able to do this.
"That is the elite Kwantung Army of the Japanese army, and it is a nearly full field division! Moreover, there are main groups on both wings that can be reinforced at any time, and the Japanese aviation force is not a vegetarian!"
Under such conditions, the 14th Division of the Kwantung Army encircled and annihilated the Japanese.
In the eyes of many officers in Chiang Kai-shek's army, this was simply a fantasy.
Then, news of the first day's confrontation came out.
The main forward force of the 14th Division of the Kwantung Army was bombarded and was severely damaged.
The visiting officers were a little surprised. They did not expect that the Eighth Route Army's first battle would go so smoothly.
On the second day, the tank troops of the 14th Division of the Kwantung Army were defeated by the tank troops of the Eighth Route Army.
After the news came, the visiting officers were even more surprised.
Subsequently, the Japanese flying troops were fully mobilized and launched air strikes against the Eighth Route Army troops in the fighting area, and successively destroyed many airports exposed by the Eighth Route Army.
Many visitors sighed and regretted it.
Some of the fleeing generals on the general's side breathed a long sigh of relief. Seeing the Eighth Route Army singing all the way like this, they felt that there was no room for their old faces.
On the third day, the Eighth Route Army's aviation unit also launched a full-scale attack and concentrated almost all its firepower in the Yangyuan area. The troops were dispersed and guarded over the 14th Division in various mountainous highlands...