This is the headquarters of the Kwantung Army. A group of staff officers are constantly giving out and feeding back instructions in the war room. The commander of the Kwantung Army, Kenkichi Ueda, touched his injured leg, looked at Nomenhan on the map and said, "This time, we will do it again." We can’t fail.”
Staff officers Tsuji Masanobu and Hattori Takushiro bent down excitedly and said, "Commander, don't worry, we have arranged everything and everything will be perfect."
Ueda Kenkichi nodded and said, "Let's get started!"
The two looked at each other, bent down and drank "yes"
With this sound, the Japanese troops began to take action. Various Japanese military stations began to distribute ammunition and urgently gathered. One tank after another began comprehensive maintenance and overhaul. The trains nervously transported ammunition and supplies, while in the cave The medium and heavy tracked tractors dragged the cannons with long barrels out of the caves one after another. The Kwantung Army took out all its assets.
——Nomenhan Grassland
After the conflict in the previous few months, the Soviet army and the Mongolian army did not lower their vigilance against Japan. Instead, they continued to increase their troop strength. At this time, Zhukov had concentrated 4 infantry divisions, 2 cavalry divisions, and 2 cavalry divisions on the front line of the Mongolian grasslands. There are a motorized infantry division, six tank armored brigades and an airborne brigade, with a strength of more than 100,000. There are also six divisions of the Mongolian army. In the rear, there are more than 100,000 troops standing by, ready to support the front line at any time.
In the middle of the night, a group of Mongolian cavalry was patrolling. They kept looking at the opposite side less than 500 meters away. Over there was the Japanese army. Both sides glared at each other, but neither side dared to fire the first shot.
"Pa" suddenly there was a gunshot. People on both sides looked nervously at their own people. The gunshot was very far away. When they heard it, they knew it was a cold shot. The Mongolians looked around and saw that no one was injured. They were relieved for a moment. tone, but immediately became nervous. Sure enough, the Japanese patrol team shouted loudly, and many people waved their weapons and were about to shoot, but were stopped. After the chaos, the Japanese patrol team left with the injured members. .
"Zhahe, what's going on? Do we want to go back and report?" a Mongolian cavalry asked.
"Japan is a cunning fox. They must have some conspiracy. Let's go back immediately." The cavalry captain also felt that the whole thing was full of weirdness and responded quickly.
--Shenyang
Tsuji Masanobu excitedly walked into the war room with a telegram and said, "On September 8, 14th year of Showa, our army was patrolling along the Halaha River and was suddenly shot by Mongolian cavalry. One person was injured and died. Counterattack! It's time to counterattack!" "
Ueda Kenkichi stood up and said, "Immediately disseminate the news through electricity, radio, radio, etc., order! The 7th Division, 23rd Division, 24th Division, and 25th Division launch an attack, order! Air Force The Sixth, Eighth, and Twelfth Troops immediately took off and raided the Soviet Union's Tamsk Airport. Order! The rest of the troops are ready for combat, and the logistics department is ready for ammunition transportation and wounded soldiers transportation, let's start!"
Tsuji Masanobu bowed and said "Hi!"
--Hamar Daba Mountain
Since the last conflict, Zhukov has been setting up his headquarters on this mountain less than ten kilometers away from the Halaha River. When he heard the staff report about this strange shooting, he couldn't help but think of what he had heard in China. The truth about the July 7th Incident.
"There is no doubt that this must be a trick of the Japanese. Every time the Japanese launch a war, they hope to put the name of justice on themselves. This was the case in the Sino-Japanese War. It was also the case when fighting Tsarist Russia. It was also the case on September 1st eight years ago.
This was the case with the August Incident, and the same was true with the July 7th Incident of the year before last. I believe that this time is no exception. This is the prelude to Japan's attack!" Zhukov waved the hand holding the pen and said, "But we are not Tsarist Russia, nor are we Chinese.
If they dare to come, we dare to make it impossible for them to go back. We immediately order the troops to start preparing for battle with their backs to the Halaha River. Anyone who dares to retreat without receiving orders will be executed! Order the planes at Tamsk Airport to take off and conduct reconnaissance first.
Check out the movements of the Japanese troops."
——Tamsk Airport
This is the most important airport for the Soviet Union in Mongolia. There are more than 300 aircraft, and many of them have been replaced by new aircraft for this battle, but at this time, most people are still sleeping.
But only fifty miles away from them, more than a hundred Japanese fighter planes were densely packed in the sky and were flying towards the airport quickly.
"Headquarters ordered that our reconnaissance planes prepare to take off immediately. The Japanese army is likely to launch an attack on us!" The communications soldier handed the telegram to Popov, the person in charge of the airport.
Popov immediately said, "It's almost six o'clock now. Let's prepare the logistics. When we take off on time at seven o'clock, let the comrades of the aviation team get up and get ready for battle."
"woo woo woo woo"
Suddenly, a piercing siren sounded. Popov looked outside strangely, not knowing what had happened. A guard rushed in, pointed outside and shouted, "Planes, many planes, all Japanese planes."
"
"Boom" a huge fire ball appeared at the airport, and the huge explosion made Popov immediately understand what happened.
"Quickly, organize a counterattack quickly and send a message to General Zhukov. The Japanese planes are attacking us outside. Let all the planes that can fly fly. It's over. We will all be sent to the labor camp!" Popov covered his face in horror.
Shut up and say.
Outside the headquarters, the Japanese troops were like locusts, swooping and attacking in small groups. The planes placed outside were blown up one by one. This was the first time that the Soviet Union felt the power of a large group of aircraft raids. Watching
There seemed to be an endless number of Japanese fighter planes to fight against. The Soviet air defense garrison felt great mental pressure. After a few hits from the anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns, they would be called upon by the Japanese bombs. The Soviet army was not ready for battle at all.
It was not yet tragic for a while, but countless Soviet pilots who were preparing to kill the enemy died in their dormitories and on the runway before taking off.
"Great! Don't stop, use up all the bullets, drop all the bombs, just keep the fuel. There will be no planes to stop us on the road." Looking at the Soviet airport that had turned into a sea of fire,
The Japanese pilots laughed like crazy demons one by one. A Japanese fighter plane dropped a bomb at a flat house. The house shook violently, and then a huge fire ball burst out, and the fierce fire tornado almost destroyed the house.
This Japanese plane was all involved.
"This must be their ammunition depot or oil depot. Great, we succeeded!" The Japanese pilots excitedly high-fived each other in the plane.
This raid caused the Soviet Union to lose one-third of its air power in the Far East, and the front line completely lost air supremacy for a time.
——Nomenkan Grassland
Groups of Japanese troops wearing yellow military uniforms appeared in the sight of the Soviet army. Looking at the seemingly endless Japanese army front, all the Soviets secretly swallowed their saliva.
Komatsubara looked at the Japanese position in the distance and ordered, "Let the artillery attack! Let the tank troops prepare for a raid!"
There were bursts of artillery, and hundreds of shells fell into the Soviet position with light. The sound of explosions and the screams of the wounded soldiers immediately spread throughout the position, and the Japanese attack began.
And nearly a thousand kilometers away from the entire battlefield, Takeda Takeda was making final preparations with a troop.
"Checking the food and water bags. We don't have any supplies this time. We are completely dependent on ourselves. Everyone must be mentally prepared. Do you understand?"
Each Japanese officer kept checking the equipment of his men. Chang'an Itoji came over. He was 54 years old. After the July 7th Incident, he came to Northern Manchuria to prepare for the war against the Soviet Union and suppress the local anti-Japanese armed forces.
He looked at the troops and said to Takeda Takeo, "Takeda-kun, do you think there is anything we are not prepared for?"
Takeda Takeda looked at it, shook his head and said, "There are too many shortcomings. Our goal this time is Cullen. There are thousands of miles to go. It is already September. The weather on the grassland is changeable. It is very possible that
It will suddenly get cold and snowy, and in order to stay hidden, we cannot go to places with strong currents. There will be Mongolian tribes in those places, which adds uncertainty, but there is nothing we can do about it. Fighting on the grassland,
You can never be fully prepared.”
Toji Yasui nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, our preparations are not adequate, and the enemy's preparations must be even less adequate. I just got the telegram that the battle at Nomenkan has begun. Zhukov's attention must have been attracted to that side, their main force."
We and the reserve team will also gather there, and we will probably not encounter any enemies along the way."
Takeda Takeo's eyes flickered and he said, "That would be great. By the way, how are the things I asked you to prepare?"
Toji Yasui laughed loudly, "I didn't expect you to have such an idea. You are all ready. Look, everyone is starting to wear them."
I only saw the Japanese army starting to take out a cloak. One side of the cloak was yellow and green, and the other side was white. Takeda said helplessly, "I learned this from the Eighth Route Army. If nothing else, wearing it like this, on the grass
The last time I lay down, even the wolf couldn't see clearly."
Seeing that it was almost done, Toji Yasui shouted, "Warriors of the Empire, our goal is victory, for His Majesty the Emperor, for the Empire, and for the freedom and peace of the yellow race! Move forward!!"
"Long live! Long live! Long live!!" The Japanese army shouted three times, crossing the grassland border with fighting spirit and advancing towards Kulun. Takeda Yixiong walked onto this red field that he had always imagined with mixed emotions.
On the grassland, he turned back and looked in the direction of China, not knowing whether to send blessings to the Red Party members in Yan'an and Shanxi, or to say goodbye to his family who didn't know where they were.
--Hamar Daba Mountain
"The Japanese army's attack was very fierce, but under our army's artillery fire, our army's position was not lost."
"The 149th Regiment reported that Japanese armored forces appeared on the battlefield and were raiding them. They have lost two companies and requested support."
"Tamsk Airport came to report. After counting, there are only less than 40 aircraft in the underground hangar that can still be used. The person in charge, Comrade Popov, died for his country."
"The Fifth Cavalry Division came to report that the Japanese troops were found on the right wing and are trying their best to stop them."
"The 11th Tank Brigade received a call. A large number of Japanese tanks and armored units appeared on the left wing, but there was no exchange of fire."
The tense battle situation was constantly updated on the map. Along the Halaha River, the Japanese and Soviet armies came into direct contact. Both sides fought with all their strength. In just one day, Zhukov lost 300 aircraft.
, more than forty cannons and nearly a thousand soldiers.
Zhukov touched his lips and said, "Our advantage is that we have enough new equipment, especially armored units. In the last conflict, we found that the Japanese tanks were extremely backward. Although they did very well in basic tactical movements,
, but it was too rigid, I knew without thinking that they must be thinking of a roundabout attack."
The staff officer asked, "What should we do? It will take three days for the following planes to come up. During these three days, we have no air control and are very passive."
Zhukov sighed, "I made a mistake this time, but our main force was not hit. Most of the I-16 fighters were still behind. I wanted to use them as my trump card, but this time it was good, we avoided losses and let
They should come up immediately. In addition, reconfirm the direction of the Japanese tank troops. We must knock them out first. As long as we knock them out successfully, our war will be half won."
The staff officer nodded and said, "The best way to conduct reconnaissance is by airplane, but we also have many cavalry, so we can allow the cavalry to penetrate and conduct reconnaissance."
Zhukov nodded, turned around and said, "Let the rear use all its strength to transport supplies. The battle is about logistics. We are further away from the logistics line than the Japanese. Tell the rear that the front line needs at least 20,000 tons of artillery shells. Less than 20,000 tons. I
Let him go and explain to Comrade Stalin!"
——Japanese Army Command
"They probably think this is all we have, right?" Tsuji Masanobu said to Komatsubara with a smile.
Komatsubara pointed to the battlefield not far away and said, "We tentatively attacked for a day. The battle was fierce. The Soviets' firepower was very fierce, but we did not see a large-scale tank force. It seems that they are also hiding their strength."
Tsuji Masanobu pointed behind him and said, "Then let the empire's scientific achievements educate the Soviets."
Behind Tsuji Masanobu, heavy artillery one after another raised its head high, but a careful person can find that many of these artillery are relatively old, and many of them are from World War I.
Japan's economy and industry cannot be compared with those of European and American countries. Although it has always focused on military development, in the long-term war with China, there were not many places for heavy artillery to be used. Most of the heavy artillery was placed in the Northeast to defend against the Soviet Union.
This makes these heavy guns few in number and older models.
Under the command of a red flag, nearly two hundred heavy artillery pieces over 100 mm began firing, while in the Soviet position opposite, there were only a few less than twenty heavy artillery pieces.
But in the nearby Hamal Daba Mountain, more than 400 heavy artillery pieces are being assembled and are about to head to the front line. This is Zhukov's first killer move!
