If the Xuebing Army is like a rising sun, then the situation of the Japanese army in the country is that of the sunset. Think about September 18th, when a Japanese army could run rampant in the Northeast, and then in the first battle of the Great Wall, the Japanese army was 35,000
One man can defeat an army ten times larger than his own. In the Battle of Songhu and the Battle of Nanjing, the Japanese army could also defeat three troops with one. But what about now? In Nanjing and Shanghai, the Japanese army assembled a total of 600,000 troops.
The number of soldiers was less than 300,000. However, whether it was the Songjiang front line in Shanghai or the Jiangning battlefield in Nanjing, the Japanese army was absolutely on the defensive, but was suppressed and beaten by the student army everywhere.
The Japanese troops currently located on the Nanjing battlefield are the 5th Division, the 13th Division, the 38th Division, the 51st Division, as well as two independent brigades and the 2nd and 4th Divisions of the Korean Communist Army.
divisions and three independent brigades. In addition, the Peace Army also has three divisions and two independent brigades. The total strength once exceeded 300,000. After more than five months of fighting, the 300,000-strong army is currently
, the Japanese army no longer has a complete establishment above the brigade level. Take the Fifth Division as an example. After two replenishments, there are only about 15,000 people left, and its strength has been greatly reduced.
While Li Tieshu and Fox Shisan were discussing the strategy to capture Nanjing, inside Nanjing City, Sakai Takashi was discussing the new changes on today's battlefield with his generals. At the beginning of Li Tieshu's attack on Nanjing, Sakai Takashi still had fifteen
Ten thousand people, plus nearly 60,000 people in Zhenjiang and Yangzhou, he decided to take advantage of his military strength and adopt the strategy of letting the small ones catch the big ones. He abandoned the surrounding small towns and gathered his troops to fight Li Tieshu's troops at the gates of Nanjing. What he thought at the time
Yes, as long as they can defeat Li Tieshu's tribe, the situation in East China will be completely changed. They can cover up the enemy along the way and invade the border area of Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangxi. As long as they capture any one of Quzhou, Shangrao or Pucheng, they will have the ability to outflank them.
The ability of a single hero to retreat.
The idea is very tempting, but the implementation is completely wrong. It is true that the Japanese army has an absolute advantage in military strength, but the quality of the troops is getting worse year by year. Secondly, the gap in the modernization process of the two armies is becoming wider and wider.
Not only did Takashi Sakai's decision fail to achieve its intended purpose, but it actually got him into a quagmire - as evidenced by the Santai Guerrilla Column, a guerrilla force that fought all the way from Yangzhou and Zhenjiang to Baohua.
"A mere guerrilla force" was once the most common evaluation of the Santai guerrilla column by senior Japanese military officials. But today, after Baohua was almost bloodlessly captured by the Santai guerrilla column, no one has made such a sound again
Defending and defending will be a continuous war of attrition. Thinking that fifty-six out of ten troops lost in the Nanjing battlefield were killed by the Xuebing Army's air raids, Sakai Takashin couldn't help but feel powerless. Take the initiative to attack, let alone the Xuebing Army almost all the time.
Without the aviation unit, even the artillery of Li Tieshu's department could not pass the test.
In Wuhu, Takashi Sakai once organized a counterattack. At that time, the main force of the Xuebing Army was blocked in Fanchang County, and the 22nd Xuexian Brigade defended Gugao Town alone. Sakai Takashi dispatched one division after another independent brigade from the northeast
Two fronts attacked Gugao. Seeing that they had broken through Gugao's frontline position, suddenly a thunderous sound of artillery sounded. A rocket launcher regiment assigned by Li Tieshu to the 22nd Xue Brigade showed its power. There were three rounds of salvos in total, and the Japanese charging
The two brigades were completely wiped out. Major General Yamashita Takeshiro, who commanded this group, did not believe in evil and launched another attack. Again, just as a breakthrough was about to be formed, the thunderous sound of artillery sounded again, and the Japanese army ordered two more troops to move in.
Brigade.
More than 30,000 people attacked a small town garrisoned by less than 5,000 soldiers. As a result, they fought for five days and suffered more than 10,000 casualties without making any progress. After the battle, the Japanese army lost all morale and no longer had the courage to attack the enemy.
In other words, the original offensive and defensive battle has become a complete defensive battle.
The continuous defeats on the battlefield sapped the determination of the Japanese military officers, making the atmosphere of the meeting very dull from the beginning. Sakai Takashi waited for a long time after Chief of Staff Tadamichi Kuribayashi introduced the battle situation, but did not wait for anyone to take the initiative to speak. After coughing,
Asked: "What? Don't you guys have any good suggestions?"
Kojima, the head of the 23rd Army Operations Section, looked around and stood up and said: "Sir, I think we should feel lucky - the 13th Division of the China Army went to Zhenjiang and then attacked Baohua. This was actually a mistake made by General China.
If it were me, I would choose to attack directly to cut off our army's retreat."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yamamotomo, the commander of the fifth division, stood up and shouted: "Hachi! Fortunately? Mr. Kojima, please pay attention to your wording! Do you think the China Army has the ability to surround us and annihilate us?"
?I think you are scared out of your wits by the Chinese people! Why the imperial army was in such a predicament on the battlefield in China has to do with the fact that you cowardly people have seized high positions!"
There is a reason for Yamamoto's sudden rage. Among the Japanese troops in Nanjing, this division has the heaviest combat missions and suffered the greatest losses. Even after two blood replenishments, the current strength of the troops is only one-half of the normal period.
His combat effectiveness has dropped sharply, and his status in the army has also been affected. In the past, Takashi Sakai would discuss with him first when making any major decisions, but now that this special treatment for him has been cancelled, he has long been feeling depressed.
Evil fire.
Kojima's face flushed red, and he sat down in embarrassment without uttering a word. Sakai Takashi gave him a comforting look, frowned and turned to Yamamoto: "Yamamoto-kun, the war is not going well, and it is time for us to unite and work together."
If it affects the feelings of colleagues, don’t say anything at military meetings in the future.” After saying that, he glanced at everyone and said: “I just had a phone call with Commander Ishihara before the meeting, and he mentioned the Thirteenth Division of the China Army. We think
, with the loss of air supremacy and the lack of weapons to target China's tank troops, we might as well retreat in order to gain strategic space. The Thirteenth Division of the China Army went to Zhenjiang to attack Baohua without cutting off our retreat. I thought
This is because the Chinese want to encircle the Three Gorges. Obviously, they do not have the courage to fight a decisive battle with our army. Commander Ishihara believes that the Chinese army is currently strong in the East China battlefield and it is unrealistic for our army to protect Nanjing and Shanghai at the same time.
, instead of consuming too many effective forces in Nanjing, it is better to gather forces to defend Shanghai. If Shanghai is not lost, then we have the possibility of conquering Nanjing and even Jiangnan again..."
Before Takashi Sakai finished speaking, he, the Japs in the audience, and the senior officers of the North Korean Co-Glory Army and the Peace Army looked at each other, some were surprised and some were thoughtful. No wonder they had such a big reaction, because just the day before, Sakai
When Long held a military meeting, he also conveyed the order from the base camp, saying that he would defend Nanjing at all costs. It has only been one day, how could the situation of holding on to Nanjing turn into retreating in order to advance? After all, the Tokyo base camp has often made such changes from day to day.
However, because Nanjing's status is so special, their first reaction was that they heard wrongly.
(Old Poison: I am starting to speed up my journey into the city... I hope to finish this book before the end of the year... I believe that the Pacific Naval War will not disappoint my brothers)