This battle was called "the greatest shame in the history of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression" by Chiang Kai-shek, and it was the only large-scale battle fought against the Japanese army in Shanxi on the frontal battlefield of the War of Resistance Against Japan. Its defeat had an extremely bad impact on the Northern War of Resistance, causing the base areas behind enemy lines to fall into the most arduous period.
Zhongtiao Mountain, located in the south of Shanxi, on the north bank of the Yellow River, is high in the northeast and low in the southwest. From the east to The Northern Jiyuan and Mengxian counties of Henan are connected to the Taihang Mountains, the South is bordered by the Yellow River, the west is facing Shaanxi, and the North is adjacent to the Yuncheng Basin, known as the "Granary of Shanxi". The territory overlaps, the mountains are undulating, and the terrain is dangerous. It is of great strategic significance to the three mountains of Taiyue, Taihang and Lüliang.
After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the main passes in Shanxi were lost one after another, making the strategic position of the Zhongjo War even more important. As far as the Chinese side is concerned, after occupation, it can use this as a base area, disrupt the enemy's rear, and contain the enemy's troops. Retreat can rely on danger to defend and actively cooperate with the entire anti-Japanese battlefield. Therefore, Mt. Nakajō is regarded as "an important place related to the security of the country." Mt. Nakajō is equally significant to Japan. As a result, the Japanese army besieged Nakajō Mountain 13 times, but all of them ended in failure.
In 1941, the Japanese mobilized four divisions to encircle the Chinese army. On 7 May, the Japanese attacked. More than a month later, 35,000 Chinese troops were captured and 42,000 were killed. The number of Japanese casualties, according to the Japanese side, was only more than 2,900. The Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain ended in a crushing defeat for the Chinese army. The Chinese army occupies geographical advantages, people, and people, so why did it lose this important place after suffering heavy casualties?
First, the Japanese army was determined to capture Mount Nakajō, and the Chinese lacked a clear understanding and assessment of the forces of both sides. Before the start of the war, the Wei Lihuang Department was stationed at Zhongtiao Mountain, with a strength of 260,000 troops. However, the old Chiang Kai-shek actually dispatched the "iron pillar of Zhongtiao Mountain",—the Fourth Army," to fight our army, which reduced the number of troops stationed here to about 180,000. Although the Japanese army has only 100,000 people, their combat effectiveness is far higher than that of the Chinese army, and with the air force as a cover, and the Japanese army's spies have long been mixed into the headquarters of the Chinese army, it is not surprising that the Chinese army will lose.
Second, the Japanese army has been planning for a long time and is fully prepared, while the Chinese army is in a hurry to fight. In order to ensure the victory of this battle, according to the terrain of The Nakajō Mountains, the Japanese army conducted intensive training in mountain warfare for the main forces. On the Chinese side, the command class is unaware of the danger, let alone the lower troops. Not only has the fortifications of the crossing not been strengthened, but even enough food has not been stored, which is incredible. People are iron, rice is steel, and the Chinese army without grain has greatly reduced its combat effectiveness, and the troops are about to collapse at a touch.
Third, the Chinese army lacks unified command, while the Japanese army commands properly and has a clear division of labor. After the battle began, the Japanese troops attacked and surrounded the Chinese troops decisively and quickly according to the previous plan. However, the Chinese army never had a specific combat plan, and soon lost its unified command, and the troops fought for themselves. Some troops stubbornly resisted, but most of them ignored friendly and neighboring troops, fled the battlefield, or easily surrendered their weapons.
Under various factors, tens of thousands of soldiers died in vain on the battlefield, and the Chinese army suffered a disastrous defeat, which brought great obstacles to the War of Resistance Against Japan.