In Yang Zhen's entire plan, the Japanese troops closest to Mongolia and most likely to be reinforced will be stationed in the First Army of Shanxi, as long as they are handed over to the Taiyue Military Region, the Beiyue District of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region, and the remaining troops of the Taihang Military Region As well as the Jinsui Military Region to contain it, the possibility of this idea is not impossible, but the hope of success is too slim.
As the commanders of the two largest strategic areas behind enemy lines in North China, no one knows the current situation of their troops more clearly than the two old commanders. If the troops at this time are still the same as when they first crossed the river and marched eastward, the old Red Army The military quality of the troops may not be an impossible task.
However, after so many years behind enemy lines, the troops have expanded dozens of times, but the corresponding military quality has also declined sharply. In addition, there was a severe shortage of ammunition in the past. The limited ammunition was not enough even for troop operations, let alone daily training. , coupled with the limitations of the original equipment, make the commanders' ability to deal with modern warfare insufficient. Most commanders have not received collaborative combat command training.
Even though a considerable number of troops have been equipped with a large number of new weapons with the help of the Anti-Japanese Alliance, the fundamental quality of the troops still needs to be strengthened. The coordination capabilities of infantry and artillery and the overall air defense combat level of the troops are still very high. There is a big gap, especially compared with the Japanese army. The gap is quite obvious. The equipment provided by the Anti-Japanese Alliance can play 50% of the effect in the battle, which is already very good.
It is true that the three main regiments of the Taiyue Military Region have been re-equipped, and the main forces of the Shanxi-Sui Military Region have also completed part of the re-equipment. In addition, the Beiyue District of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region and the left-behind troops of the Taihang Military Region have also retained their weapons and equipment in accordance with the current advancing army weapons and equipment standards. A part of the troops served as the backbone.
These troops, coupled with the newly upgraded local armed forces, make the troops in Shanxi appear to be quite numerous. After completing part of the equipment replacement, the equipment of the troops has also been greatly improved. Although it cannot be said that the troops are strong, they are still better than The lack of guns and ammunition was nothing like the shortage before. Although the equipment was still far behind the Japanese army, it was now relatively sufficient, and each major military region had also established an artillery force that was not small in size.
In a short-term battle, you will no longer have to worry about ammunition. At least, you will not be able to even carry out live-fire shooting due to lack of ammunition. When recruits join the army, they will be given a machete or a grenade at best, and a grenade at worst. A little bit, I'm sorry for waiting empty-handed. It won't happen again to see if any comrades have died or if the equipment has been captured and distributed to you.
Regardless of whether it is a Type 38, Czech, or Chinese-style gun, or an Italian-made gun with an old slide or Mannlicher left over from the Beiyang period, it is now a good thing that everyone has one, even though there are accessories. There are still some shortcomings, such as the lack of bayonets, but at least it can be used with one shot.
Equipment has been improved, and coupled with the original goal of the entire army to go deep behind enemy lines to open up anti-Japanese base areas, it can now be said that from Hengshan and Wutai Mountains in the north, to Taihang Mountains and Taiyue Mountains in the east, to Luliang Mountains in western Shanxi to the south, In Wangwushan, there are activities of the 18th Army Group everywhere.
In the entire Shanxi Province, except for the Jinzhong Plain area and along the railway lines, there are bases of the 18th Army. Even the Jinzhong Plain area and along the railway lines are not a pure land. They also have anti-Japanese guerrilla zones. It can be said that Throughout Shanxi, the towns and transportation lines were controlled by the Japanese army, while the vast mountainous areas were in the hands of the customs troops. From this point of view, Yang Zhen had this idea, and there was nothing wrong with it.
However, the equipment of the troops has been improved, but the military quality has not been improved accordingly. Judging from the current quality of these troops, it is possible to use destructive warfare to cut off the Japanese army's railway transportation, or to delay part of the Japanese army. But if you want to delay I'm afraid it will be difficult for the main force of the Japanese First Army to move.
Apart from anything else, just looking at the three main regiments of the Taiyue Military Region that have now completed their reloading, even with the cooperation of all the main remaining troops of the Taihang Military Region, it will be difficult to hold back even one Thirty-sixth Division. It is possible to hold off part of it, but it is almost impossible to hold off all of it.
Even if a considerable number of these troops have completed the change of equipment, compared with the real combat effectiveness of the Japanese army, it is at least about three to one. In other words, at least three regiments of troops are concentrated, and the corresponding artillery is assigned. Only under this situation can we compete with the main force of a Japanese regiment. Even so, it is difficult to completely encircle and annihilate a Japanese regiment.
The gap in equipment does play a large factor in determining the success or failure of a battle, but this is not decisive. The key determinants are the training of the troops and the quality of the commanders. The expansion of the troops is too fast, and the quality of combat operations Neither the commander's abilities nor his abilities have been significantly improved.
Many people are still using tactics and thinking from the Civil War period when fighting against the much stronger Japanese army. Coupled with the lack of equipment and ammunition, the training of the troops has also been seriously affected. There is only one soldier in the entire army with few rounds. Most of the artillery regiments have only one or two mortars, or even no cannon at all.
Even those troops with artillery only have a few artillery shells in total. Under this situation, even if they want to carry out coordinated infantry and artillery training, it is not possible. The limited artillery shells are not enough for combat. Where can they be used? It was used for training, and artillery personnel were in short supply. Even if many troops captured the artillery, they could only destroy or bury it because there was no replenishment of the artillery shells and no one knew how to use it. Moreover, when fighting against the fierce Japanese army, the artillery was not captured. not much.
At this time, the Japanese army was at its peak in terms of the military literacy of officers at all levels and the combat capabilities of soldiers. Comparing the two armies, in addition to not being afraid of death, both the combat qualities of individual soldiers and the combat capabilities of commanders The capabilities are all very different, not to mention that in addition to equipment, the Japanese army's collaborative combat capabilities are far higher than all the Chinese armed forces.
This is not to belittle oneself, nor to look down on oneself. This is actually a true portrayal of China's War of Resistance during the entire Anti-Japanese War. The difference between the enemy and us is not only in weapons, but also in the use of entire tactics and the quality of commanders at all levels. and the difference in the overall combat effectiveness of the troops.
Even the Nationalist Government's regular army, which was much better equipped, often had even one Chinese army. Even with the cooperation of artillery, it was difficult to annihilate a fully equipped Japanese regiment, plus the Japanese army. The ability and response to rapid reinforcements, according to the original historical trend, neither the Kuomintang nor the Communist Party could annihilate a single Japanese regiment during the Anti-Japanese War.
The 18th Army troops with worse equipment and supplies had a more difficult time facing the Japanese army. In the Battle of Guanjianao during last year's Hundred Regiments War, the headquarters of the 18th Army concentrated two brigades and several others. Despite the strength of the regiment, there was no case in which a Japanese brigade could be annihilated. In addition to the gap in equipment, this was more about the gap in the capabilities of commanders at all levels and the combat quality of the troops.
Seeing oneself clearly does not mean underestimating oneself, nor does it mean being afraid of the enemy and avoiding fighting. Only by correctly understanding the real gap between oneself and the Japanese army can we better eliminate the enemy, and always keep a calm mind and find more advantageous options. Combating the enemy with his own tactics is what a senior commander should do most.
What's more, with the exception of Taiyue and Jinsui, most of the other old troops have been incorporated into the marching army north. The remaining troops, except for the backbone troops, are mostly newly upgraded troops. The combat effectiveness and quality of these new troops are far behind those of the old troops. Under such circumstances, this ratio will be further expanded, not to mention that the Japanese army also has aviation, armor and cavalry that can cooperate with them in combat. .
According to the estimates of the two veterans, even if all the North China troops except Shandong were mobilized, they could hold back at most two main divisions of the Japanese army plus one or two independent mixed brigades, which would be a huge task. , this is still after a considerable part of the troops have completed the change of equipment, but the Japanese army can mobilize far more troops than two divisions no matter which direction it is.
In addition to a large number of Japanese and puppet troops, there are also a large number of puppet troops in North China who can cooperate with the Japanese army. In other words, if they want to contain the main force of the Japanese army in North China from being able to reinforce, the enemies faced by the Guanchi troops are not just on paper. The upper quantity, the actual quantity, can only be more, not less.
Moreover, after this battle, in such a battle with the Japanese army, which has an absolute advantage in terms of quality and equipment, even if only two Japanese divisions are held back, the remaining troops in the pass will probably be injured. The future development of the situation in North China can only be said to be full of harm and no benefit.
If the North China Army cannot prevent the Japanese North China Front from fully reinforcing the Mongolian garrison, then the westward advancing troops with an overly long front line will most likely be in a situation where they cannot take care of each other. Especially once the Japanese army concentrates a large number of troops, it will take advantage of our army and the The Mongolian garrison took advantage of the fierce fighting to move north from Zhangjiakou to cut off the connection between our army in Chabei and Rehe, and then all the supply lines of the westward advancing troops would be cut off.
After supplies were cut off, Chabei itself was unable to raise funds, and the main force of the Shanxi-Sui Military Region and the Taiyue Military Region troops were entangled by the Japanese First Army and unable to reinforce, nor could they open up the route from northwest Shanxi and Beiyue areas to Chabei and Suiyuan. If the transportation in the region is reduced, then the westward troops who will be isolated and without supplies will have no choice but to sit and wait for death. The outcome of the West Route Army that year can be said to be a lesson learned from the past.
The overall situation of the war must be considered comprehensively. The strategic position of Chahar is very important to the entire North China Front of the Japanese army. It is not only the barrier of the Japanese army in the Pingjin area, but also its offensive from the northwest. China's hinterland, and a passage to the rear of Shaanxi via Suiyuan.
Whether you choose to check the north or the south as the breakthrough point, you must take into account the overall response of the Japanese army. Once the battle is fully launched, it is impossible to stop it, so when formulating the plan, you must try your best to Think carefully, take into account the situation around the entire battlefield, be cautious, and be more cautious.
Therefore, the two veterans did not agree very much with Yang Zhen's idea. For them, it is not yet time for a decisive battle with the Japanese and puppet troops. In their view, using Chanan as the main breakthrough point is far better than choosing Chanan. The north is in a more favorable situation. Not only can it open up land connections with the pass, but most fundamentally speaking, it is relatively close to its own supply lines.
Once the move south is blocked and the Japanese army dispatches a large number of reinforcements to attack from Zhangjiakou and Datong, the attacking troops can return to Jehol at any time. Even if the supply line and retreat route are all cut off, they can also withdraw to the Beiyue District of Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei to avoid going deep into the army alone. bring excessive losses.
Although if you choose Cha'nan as your breakthrough point, you will also face attacks from all sides by the Japanese and puppet troops, but after all, the battle line is much shorter. In addition to considerable convenience in food supply and the placement of the wounded, at least it is adjacent to Cha'nan In terms of Rehe, cooperation is much easier.