It's just that the 118th Division, which was the first to complete the turn, has been unable to get closer to the 72nd Division. It's not because Lieutenant General Uchida Ginnosuke didn't work hard. After receiving the order from Lieutenant General Uchiyama Eitaro, I felt like my lips were dying and my teeth were cold.
The 118th Division really tried their best, and it can even be said that they even used their strength to feed themselves.
Under the strict orders of Lieutenant General Uchida Ginnosuke, Major General Oka Hiroaki of his 89th Brigade even arrived at the front line to supervise the battle. After several days of fierce fighting, the casualty rate averaged more than three squadrons a day. The casualty rate increased from 70 to 70.
The Second Division was surrounded, and the 118th Division was ordered to turn to rescue. After several days of offensive, the 118th Division had suffered casualties of nearly one-third of its troops.
From this aspect alone, the support provided by the 118th Division is not insignificant. However, under the stubborn resistance of the resistance forces, the progress is extremely slow, with an average progress of less than two kilometers per day.
In other words, after the attacks of the past few days, the ministry is basically standing still.
In these days of frontal attacks, the anti-alliance artillery, especially the rocket launchers of two calibers, caused the 118th Division to suffer a lot. Coupled with the accurate and fierce artillery fire of the barrel artillery, the 118th Division suffered every day.
Every step forward will come at a huge price. After several days of attacks, the 118th Division has suffered heavy losses.
At the beginning of Chiba Kumaji's breakout, in order to cope with Chiba Kumaji's breakout, the 118th Division even mobilized all available troops, concentrated all artillery fire, and launched successive attacks on the flanks. But for three days
After fierce fighting, they managed to break through less than nine kilometers. As a result, before the troops that had penetrated deep could stand their ground, they were counterattacked by the Anti-Alliance.
The troops of the Hebei, Shandong and Yu Military Region behind them did not engage in flanking attacks with the blocking troops in front of them. However, they used regiments as their organizational structure and constantly harassed their rear and supply lines. The troops of the Hebei, Shandong and Yu Military Region did not have much appetite, and they had never tried to do so.
How many troops of the 118th Division were eaten up in one go. But today they blew up an artillery position and tomorrow they burned down a supply hoarding point.
Eat two squadrons today and cripple a squadron tomorrow. After several days of piecemeal attacks, although there are very few large-scale battles, the 118th Division is more uncomfortable than being defeated by repeated frontal attacks.
.Just like a tiger eating a fly, there is no place to bite it.
The 118th Division tried every means to mobilize part of its troops, trying to clear out those guys behind them who had no warrior demeanor and did not dare to confront them head-on. But it was not in vain. They returned empty-handed and could not even catch a shadow. They were ambushed by the enemy's maneuvers.
This method resulted in heavy losses.
One of the most serious losses was that they were sent out to sweep away these guys who could only fight sap, and the search was intensified. A full infantry brigade with one squadron each of engineers and soldiers was attracted by the enemy's tactics of constant resistance, from Wei County to
After heading northwest to the county, we were suddenly attacked by superior enemy forces.
By the time Major General Takeshi Nagaho of the 90th Infantry Brigade personally arrived with reinforcements and rescued the surrounded troops, there were very few of the infantry brigade left. Together with this loss, these days do not count the battle losses caused by the setback of frontal attacks.
The troops that were simply eaten up by the troops of the Hebei, Shandong and Yu Military Region behind them, calculated based on miscellaneous calculations, amounted to nearly one-fifth of the strength of the 118th Division.
In other words, the losses suffered in coordinating the 72nd Division's breakout operations are also included. The current 118th Division is really no longer able to support the 72nd Division's operations. They can only continue to harass in small groups.
This action prevented the anti-alliance forces in front of it from being able to escape.
This is the only thing the 118th Division can do for the 72nd Division at the moment. In order to reinforce the 72nd Division in the battle, most of the troops were concentrated on the front, and they had to face the Hebei, Lu, and Yu behind them.
The 118th Division, which was harassed by military region troops, is currently in no better situation than the 72nd Division.
The department's supply line has been intermittent under the harassment of troops from the Hebei, Shandong and Yu Military Region. Since the completion of the turn, it has not received any supplies from the rear. Not only ammunition, but not even a grain of food has been received. And the war zone where it is located has not received any supplies.
, the enemy army implemented a thorough fortification and clearing the country.
It was supposed to be a densely populated area, but no one could find any homes within dozens of kilometers. Even the county seat of Wei County has been completely relocated. The small group of troops sent out to collect food have either gone there or not.
There is no return, or they will return empty-handed. And if a large force is mobilized to go out to rob, the 118th Division will not be able to mobilize it at the moment.
The troops responsible for safeguarding the supply lines suffered heavy losses and were exhausted under the constant harassment of the enemy. In other words, in addition to not being surrounded, the 118th Division still maintained its organizational structure intact and had relatively sufficient troops.
The situation is no better than that of the 72nd Division.
A large number of wounded people not only lack medical treatment, but also can only move with the team and cannot be evacuated at all. In the absence of transportation means, one wounded person requires several people to carry it. Unless they are placed in that village, otherwise it will involve a lot of trouble.
The 18th Division, a considerable part of the energy.
But in the current chaotic situation at the rear, placing all the wounded no matter where they are is almost equivalent to abandoning these wounded. Although the communist army behind them is still a gentleman. In the previous raids, extremely
Fewer attacks on wounded soldiers' hospitals.
Even if it happens a few times occasionally, all the weapons, equipment and medicines are taken away without killing the wounded and doctors. But the attack on the hospital undoubtedly made the morale of the 118th Division even lower. Now no matter where the wounded are placed,
, all made these wounded feel abandoned. In order to maintain the low morale caused by the protracted attack, Lieutenant General Uchida Ginnosuke could only order that these wounded be transferred with the army as much as possible.
The most critical thing is that in one of the richest areas in North China, under the enemy's almost day and night harassment, the 118th Division, whose supply lines are still unable to keep open, is still facing the danger of running out of food. Food.
, replenishing ammunition and medicine, almost everything is missing. This undoubtedly makes the rescue operation of the 118th Division even more difficult.
After the failure of concentrating its forces to coordinate the 72nd Division's breakout operation, the 118th Division was actually unable to fight anymore. In the words of Lieutenant General Uchida Ginnosuke, the 118th Division, in order to cooperate with the 72nd Division
In regimental combat, in order to comply with the requirements of the army's combat plan, it can be said that they have really tried their best, and they are almost losing the last drop of blood.
After the failure of the response operation, Lieutenant General Uchida Ginnosuke has repeatedly reported to the army commander, requesting that either the 118th Division suspend the rescue operation and concentrate its forces to sweep behind them in order to completely open up the supply line that is like an intestinal obstruction. At least the wounded will be removed.
If you can retreat, you can get enough supplies.
Either the army commander is giving the 118th Division, or at least one regiment, the strength to ensure the smooth supply line behind him. If he continues to persist, the 118th Division can only have two results. Or the entire army is trapped and dead.
Here, it will either be polished bit by bit under the enemy's attack from the front and back.
The 100th Division is now unable to quench its thirst, and the 118th Division has failed to succeed despite many attempts. It is even in a delicate situation, leaving Chiba Kumonji at a loss. But when he faced the situation, he was helpless.
, when they were ready to commit seppuku, the anti-union forces in front of them suddenly stopped their final offensive.
This sudden change puzzled Lieutenant General Chiba Kumaji. It was clear that he only had one breath left, but the enemy in front of him suddenly stopped giving him the final blow, and just continued to bombard his only remaining position with artillery fire.
The forward observation posts also observed that the anti-alliance artillery and tanks in front of them were constantly being transferred to other directions.
However, although it is not clear why the anti-alliance forces in front of him transferred troops and left at this time, Lieutenant General Chiba Kumaji breathed a sigh of relief anyway. Although the enemy will definitely not let him leave, but fortunately now
Can take a breath.
However, when I received reports from various frontline positions, I only observed the number of artillery units mobilized from Zaonan by the Anti-Japanese Alliance. Faced with the reports from the frontline troops, Lieutenant General Chiba Kumaji took a breath of cold air.
.I also understood that when I fought on the battlefield, I did not lose unjustly.
When did the enemy mobilize so many artillery units on the Zaonan battlefield? As the main attacking division, not even the army, front army, and multi-level intelligence agencies found any trace. The reconnaissance plane repeatedly conducted reconnaissance and found no trace.
.I am afraid that these artillery units have already been transferred in this direction and are waiting for me on the battlefields of Zaonan and Gucheng.
The counterattack launched by the base camp has long been planned by others. I am afraid that as soon as my division arrived in northwest Shandong, they were targeted by them. They set a trap for themselves, and they stupidly jumped into it. As a result
A division that had been fully staffed by itself now only has a handful of defeated troops left. As for how long it can hold on, only God knows.
The number of artillery units reported from the frontline troops, especially the large-caliber artillery pieces, far exceeded the number of artillery units invested by the two Japanese divisions in the entire northwest Shandong battlefield. He was also considered a veteran of the Japanese invasion of China.
Lieutenant General Chiba Kumaharu shook his head silently and couldn't help but sigh. In just a few years, the enemy's body has become so tough.
In the past few days, there were swarms of artillery shells falling on his head, various combat aircraft above his head, tanks on the ground, and half-track vehicles. In addition, his commander's accurate judgment and grasp of the entire battle situation, and his relaxed and measured deployment.
Due to the sophisticated tactics and tenacious fighting will of the participating troops, his own failure changed from accidental to inevitable.
When an army not only surpasses one's own in terms of equipment, but also is not inferior in tactics and will. Is the current Imperial Army still a rival? This operation to reopen the Jinpu Road can still be as expected by the base camp.
? Lieutenant General Chiba Kumaharu no longer has any hope.
Lieutenant General Chiba Kumaharu also understands that the Japanese Empire has already lost this war. The only thing that is still uncertain is how miserably the Empire will lose in the end. Will it still be able to retain a trace of vitality, or will it eventually lose?
The one who loses even wears his crotch cloth.
During these days of fierce fighting, Lieutenant General Chiba Kumaji, who had seen the Anti-Japanese War troops more than once, never retreating even if they fought to the last man, now fully understood the ultimate reason for his failure. .A well-equipped army is not scary. What is truly scary is an army that is well-equipped but whose willpower does not decrease as the equipment improves.
When an army's tenacious will to fight is not inferior to the Japanese army, which has always been known for its strong will, and when it surpasses the Japanese army in terms of equipment, strategies and tactics, the empire will fail in this battle, or even in this war. , maybe it is already destined.
As for now, the anti-alliance forces in front of him suddenly let him go. Lieutenant General Chiba Kumaji believes that this is definitely not the opponent's kindness, let alone some low-level mistakes by the enemy. The enemy is now letting themselves take a breath, but It's their tactical needs. As for whether the next unlucky guy will be the 118th Division or the 100th Division, I'm afraid only God knows.