The morning of the first day when the Niangziguan Battle officially started was not only a torment for the soldiers on the battlefield. For the mountain people who have lived in the Taihang Mountains of Niangziguan for generations, it was also a memory that could never be erased in their lifetime.
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In addition to the almost never-ending rumble of gunfire coming from the distant mountains, in the sky, a batch of six Japanese bombers with eye-catching "sun" flags painted on their tail fins buzzed and roared overhead.
, from Snowflake Mountain to Niangzi Pass and then to Jiuguan, all the Chinese defense lines at the three attack points of the Japanese army were bombed by as many as 36 bombers in one morning.
On the way back, many Japanese planes also fired machine guns at the mountain villages within sight. This was their revenge for the loss of five fighter planes two days ago.
But this time, the mountain people were much smarter. As soon as they saw the Japanese plane flying overhead, they took their family and livestock and hid them in the woods. They waited until the sun went down and never saw another Japanese plane.
Just returned home from the mountains and forests.
The bombs were dropped by the Japanese planes on the Chinese defenders' positions. Most of the houses in the Taihang Mountains were built of stone. The damage caused by the machine guns was actually limited. However, the brutal behavior of the Japanese planes undoubtedly made the mountain people hate them even more. This also
This paved the way for the increasingly strong resistance of the people in the Taihang Mountains in the future, and attacks on Japanese troops were as frequent as drinking boiled water.
Mudun'er, who dragged the ewe that had been born prematurely due to fright, hugged the lamb that had just opened its eyes and hid in the mountains with his mother and sister, was only 8 years old, but he stared at the Japanese plane flying by in the sky.
His next wish is that when his sister grows up a little and he grows up a little, he will go to Uncle Shan Ying to sign up to join the army to fight the Japanese.
Moreover, he also wants to be an air force, and he wants to shoot down these little devils who cannot step on their traps in the air.
Of course, Shanliwa, who was staring at the Japanese planes with anger and making great wishes, did not know that thirteen years later he would become the Eagle of the Republic. Although he did not get the chance to fight against the Japanese invaders, he still fought against the Japanese invaders. However,
It's a foreign devil.
Who would have thought that the first generation ace pilot of the Republic would be just a little mountain kid with a runny nose holding a lamb in his arms while expecting the ewe to give milk?
People always have to have dreams. Maybe one day they will come true?
This afternoon, for Zhao Shoushan, the commander of the 17th Division of the Snowflake Mountain Battlefield, his dream was to open up the communication line and send reinforcements to a hilltop of the Snowflake Mountain defense line. His infantry company of the 102nd Regiment of the 17th Division was located at the main position of the hilltop.
It has been divided and surrounded by Japanese invaders for 20 hours.
The telephone line has been completely blown out, and the headquarters has no idea what the casualties of the infantry company on the top of the mountain are. To make matters worse, starting yesterday, the Japanese army used up to 12 mountain guns and 12 field guns to attack Snowflakes.
The defense line on the mountain was bombarded everywhere, and then a small group of infantry squadron-level troops took advantage of the gaps in the defense line to carry out outflanking. Although the 102nd Regiment on the Snowflake Mountain defense line organized several desperate counterattacks to repel several groups of Japanese invaders,
A group of Japanese invaders with more than 200 people occupied an important position, which was the only passage to the unit's position. The rest of the area was almost a 90-degree vertical cliff, and the troops delivering supplies to the unit could not get up at all.
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What would have happened if there were no supplies for such a brutal battle? Zhao Shoushan, who was two kilometers away, was sitting on pins and needles. He could only look at the still blurry mountains in the distance with a telescope in a daze.
In the past 20 hours, Zhang Shijun, commander of the 102nd Regiment, had organized at least five suicide squad attacks. However, because the Japanese artillery fire was too fierce and the position was difficult to defend and difficult to attack, the five suicide squads suffered heavy losses but were still unable to attack.
The position was taken.
The twelve mountain artillery pieces of the 17th Division were not without their efforts. They bombarded rapidly for ten minutes and poured more than 400 shells into the positions occupied by the Japanese invaders at a rate of 20 rounds per minute. Although the Japanese invaders suffered heavy casualties, the Japanese invaders still suffered heavy casualties.
Not only did the reinforcements arrive quickly, but at the same time, the Japanese artillery retaliation came more violently. Two artillery brigades with 24 guns simultaneously launched retaliatory artillery fire at the mountain artillery battalion.
Although the artillery battalion is very brave, firing at the opponent with only half the number of guns, but in this kind of artillery exchange where you can't see the opponent and can only feel the temperature of the artillery fire, courage may play a role, but it cannot determine the outcome of the battle.
of victory or defeat.
At the same time as the ten artillery pieces were fired, twenty enemy artillery shells came over. The extremely rare artillery battle in the Niangziguan area lasted for two hours. Japanese planes also participated in the battle. Liu Lang supported the two anti-aircraft and horizontal shooting units.
Anti-aircraft gun positions also participated brazenly in the battle.
But the final result was that more than half of the 17th Division's artillery battalion was lost, an air defense position was blown into ruins, two Japanese planes were shot down, and the Japanese artillery losses were unknown.
The artillery battalion of the 17th Division was almost crippled and suffered heavy losses, but the strategic goal was still not achieved. The key position was still firmly occupied by the Japanese invaders. The main infantry company located on the top of the mountain was still isolated from the world, regardless of
Either the supply route or the retreat route was completely cut off.
The most important thing is that in addition to the lives of more than 100 brothers, the position named Position 1 is too important. If it is captured, the Japanese army will mount the infantry artillery on the top of the mountain, and all other positions in Snowflake Mountain will be within its range.
In the middle, and in a condescending position, there is no way to avoid it.
Without the loss of position No. 1, the entire Snowflake Mountain defensive battle can be declared a failure. The entire army must retreat to the second line of defense, which is also the last line of defense discussed with Liu Lang and others - Fulule Ridge.
However, this was only the second day, and what Zhao Shoushan promised Liu Lang was to hold on for at least five days, kill a large number of Japanese invaders, and firmly block the enemy's 40th Brigade in front of the right wing of Niangziguan.
He knew that he could not demand more from Liu Lang. His 17th Division was on the front line, facing a regiment of the 40th Infantry Brigade of the Japanese invaders, and Liu Lang's Independent Regiment and the 772nd Regiment were also a regiment.
They also faced heavy artillery such as the 105 howitzer. They also had to hold off until the final moment of the decisive battle.
He has already sent all the submachine guns sent by Liu Lang to the front line. The anti-aircraft artillery and anti-aircraft machine gun platoons that came to support have already lost nearly a platoon. The thousand gas masks sent are all on the front line. There are no 1,000 gas masks he sent.
The artillery battalion did not even have the ability to engage in a bayonet-style artillery battle with the Japanese artillery. He had done everything he could.
"Tell Zhao Shijun to use the flag to inform Zhang Dengdi's fifth company that even if they fight to the last man, they will fight until dawn tomorrow." Zhao Shoushan licked his lips that were dry after not drinking water for a long time. Without looking back, he called to the headquarters
Geng Jinghui, commander of the 51st Brigade, who was also speechless for a while, ordered. "Also, it was me, Zhao Shoushan, who told Company Commander Zhang that after the war, the fifth company will be the 17th Division to rebuild the first company. The 17th Division only needs
It’s still there, the Fifth Company will always be there.”
"Yes, Master." A trace of sadness flashed across Geng Jinghui's face.
He knew that the elite infantry company under his command was finished. However, the division headquarters had tried its best. For them, 133 people were killed in the artillery battalion, 34 people were killed in the anti-aircraft platoon supported by the independent regiment, and 143 people were killed in the 102nd Regiment.
, the sacrifice alone was already twice their number.
"Tell Zhang Shijun of the 102nd Regiment that as long as the gunfire from the 5th Company position continues, his 102nd Regiment cannot retreat. The brothers of my 17th Division have shed their blood in Snowflake Mountain, and his little devils can't even think of falling.
Okay." The trace of sadness on Zhao Shoushan's face was overwhelmed by the boundless coldness, and he puffed out his cheeks and continued.
The rumbling sound of artillery resounded in the distance proved that the Japanese invaders had started a new round of attack. Zhao Shoushan had already been beaten, and he even forgot about holding on for five days. If it were not for Fululing, his 17th Division would have
Coexist and die with the position in Snowflake Mountain.
On Position 1 of Snowflake Mountain.
A soldier with a dirty face and a uniform that had been stained by dust and blood to the point where the color could not be distinguished touched the lieutenant officer who was lying next to him with his eyes closed and holding a submachine gun: "Hey, company commander, why are you laughing!
Did you marry a wife in your dream?"
"The Japs are here again?" The lieutenant officer, who had been dozing with his submachine gun in his arms, woke up with a start.
"No, no, I saw you enjoying yourself, company commander. I don't know what you are enjoying, and I want to ask." The soldier chuckled.
"You coward, I just had a dream about my home. The water in the river in front of my house is so sweet! I was drinking happily when I was woken up by you coward." He just stood up.
The lieutenant responded somewhat angrily and gave the happy soldier a blow.
"Go home! Company commander, do you think we can still go home?" the soldier asked with a sad face, forgetting that he even received a blow to the head.
"Watermelon! I'm afraid I won't be able to get the ball back when I go home. Look at how many little Japs are gathered at the foot of the mountain. In order to save us, the regiment and division headquarters took out all the mountain artillery they had been reluctant to use. I don't know how many they fired.
The artillery shells, the stubborn little Japs are determined not to leave, and the officers have no choice." The lieutenant shook his head and sighed.
"That's the end of the game. Before I left, I just told him about a wife. I left before I even got through. Poor guy doesn't know what it's like to sleep with a woman!" The soldier's face turned even worse.
He said with a cry of reluctance.
"Xigua, you are a bitch. I and my sister haven't even come through the door yet. You are already going to sleep. Let's see if I don't beat you to death." A thin soldier lying not far away on the other side was so angry that he jumped out of the trench.
When the other end comes over, it's time to do it.
"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, I just said that, but I can't even think about it in my heart!" The soldier hurriedly explained. "Hey, if you hit me again, you'll fall out with me."
"Give me some time to calm down. What a bastard. You haven't had any water all day and you're still so energetic." The lieutenant kicked the two of them away angrily.
"Yes! Why doesn't it rain a little bit in this damn god? Let me drink some water before I die!" The soldier looked up at the sky and couldn't help but lick his chapped lips.
The soldier's wish at this time was no longer to live, but just to drink water.
From last night to now, as the supply supply has been cut off, the water has also been cut off.