In the Battle of Subei in December 1946, the East China and Shandong Field Armies joined forces to annihilate the enemy's integrated 69th Division and its reinforcements of more than 21,000 people in one battle, creating an example of the complete annihilation of an integrated division of the enemy since the Liberation War. To this end, Yan'an's "Liberation Daily" published an editorial, saying: "This is an unprecedented victory in the Liberated Areas of Suzhou and Anhui that has surpassed the previous 11 great victories, and it is also an unprecedented victory in the entire patriotic self-defense war since July this year." ”
However, what is less known is that this battle was full of dangers, and the number one ace of the East China Field Army was almost completely annihilated by the enemy ace Hu Lian's entire 11th Division.
How did this battle turn from defeat to victory?
It was inseparable from the great wisdom and courage of Ye Fei, the commander of the First Column.
Chen Yi's goal in this battle was to first annihilate the enemy's entire 69th Division, and then annihilate the enemy's entire 11th Division after winning the battle. The battle began with the enemy's entire 69th Division.
On the evening of the 16th, under the leadership of Ye Fei, the first column resolutely and bravely inserted into the enemy's depths, occupied the line of Gaojiawa and Fujiahu, and inserted the first column south of Xiaodianzi, occupied Santai Mountain, cut off the retreat route of the enemy's entire 69th Division in one fell swoop, and formed a frontal confrontation with the enemy's entire 11th Division.
As a result, the enemy's entire 69th Division fell under heavy siege by the People's Liberation Army.
Dai Zhiqi, the commander of the enemy division, was so anxious that he turned around and desperately asked for help.
On the 17th, two brigades of the enemy's 11th Division, the 11th Brigade and the 118th Brigade, under the cover of aircraft artillery, launched a fierce attack on the position of the first column in an attempt to relieve the danger of the 69th Division. A tenacious blockade. The battle was fierce. Hu Lian attacked all the way, and the entire 69th Division also fought back desperately, and soon formed a north-south attack on the first column.
At 1 p.m., in the fierce fighting, part of the position of the first column was first occupied by the 118th Brigade of the enemy's 11th Division. The enemy immediately made a large-scale attack towards a depth. Suddenly, the artillery vehicles, trucks and infantry on the Suxin Highway were in disarray, and the river flowed endlessly.
Who knew that at this critical juncture, Chen Yi pointed out a phone call to Ye Fei in front of the mountain: "The enemy's attack is too fierce, and the 8th Division's Fengshan position is difficult to resist and has retreated. I order your troops to evacuate quickly as well. ”
It turned out that the 8th Division of the Lunan Military Region, which was holding the commanding heights of Fengshan Mountain, could not withstand the enemy's attack and had already retreated, so it was no wonder that the enemy had poured into a column together!
"How to evacuate in the daytime?"
Ye Fei was like a thunderbolt on a sunny day, and asked a loud question.
Because at this time, a column is in the depth of the enemy and is attacked on all sides, how can more than 10,000 people retreat in broad daylight? Can't take it down! He immediately said: "The enemy 11th Division is attacking us, and artillery fire has blocked the rear road. We have been attacked on all sides and cannot retreat at this time. Once withdrawn, the entire campaign intention will be frustrated, and our losses will be unpredictable! ”
Annoyed, he gambled and said, "If possible, I hope that the leader of the former finger will direct it." ”
At this time, Su Yu took the phone from Chen Yi's hand and said, "The enemy blockade is very strong, and it is impossible to take a guard squad into it." ”
"If a squad can't get in, how can I withdraw from one column?"
Su Yu said, "The 8th Division has already withdrawn, and you must withdraw quickly." ”
"Not now!"
"Whoa!" Su Yu hung up the phone.
Ye Fei also dropped the phone.
Then, Ye Fei categorically said to Deputy Political Commissar Tan Qilong and Chief of Staff Zhang Yixiang: "We cannot withdraw during the day, and if we withdraw, the enemy on both sides will attack and the whole column will be finished." Only hold out until dusk, take advantage of the darkness to open the mouth with a charge, and make a breakthrough. ”
Ye Fei did not withdraw in defiance.
Then he called the three brigade commanders over to the meeting and said, "Let's hold out for another 4 hours." Life and death are here — lift. Everyone must fight together and must stick to it. ”
The 8th Division withdrew, and the enemy general Hu Lian concentrated the entire division's forces and attacked in a column, which was very fierce. Most of the fortifications of the first column were damaged by enemy artillery fire, and the officers and men suffered heavy casualties. At the same time, the enemy's 69th Division in the north also fought desperately in an attempt to open an escape route, and the enemy 3rd Brigade at Xiaodianzi also attacked a column. In this way, the first column fell into the danger of being attacked on three sides.
The fighting is getting more and more critical.
Hu Lian personally took command. The enemy launched the first onslaught against the most critical position of the first column, Gaojiawa, and the 7th Regiment of the first column, which was garrisoned here, lost 1 battalion of positions and withdrew with only 6 men; then, the enemy launched a second attack, all of which were dense group charges, and a battalion position in the middle of the 7 regiments was lost and only 7 people ran back.
At 15:30, the 7th Regiment had only one last position left. But there are still two hours to go before the breakout time, and if you persist, the consequences will be unimaginable. Ye Fei immediately made a decision and slammed his fist on the table: "Withdraw! ”
At the first command, the 4th and 2nd Brigades lined up in a company with bayonets in their hands, and immediately launched a fierce attack on the flank of the enemy wing of the attacking 7th Regiment's position. Rushing to the front was a column of commandos, each one sharp, with one to ten, killing the enemy position.
The enemy's entire 11th Division was suddenly counterattacked by an unexpectedly fierce counterattack, caught off guard, and was completely defeated. A column chased after the victory, and the shouts of killing were everywhere, all the way to the shore of the Suqian Canal.
At this time, the 8th Division, which had retreated here, heard the news and immediately turned to launch a counterattack against Xiaodianzi. Under the cover of artillery fire, they broke through the defensive positions of the enemy's 3rd Brigade in 25 minutes.
As a result, the entire battlefield was completely chaotic. The enemy 69th Division to the north of the first column began to be in chaos. Ye Fei only left 1 battalion to guard and block the enemy's 69th Division, covering the transfer of the entire column. At this moment, they had no heavy weapons in their hands, and they could not stop the entire officers and men of the 69th Division who were pouring in like a tide. However, the enemy soldiers were completely confused and fled in all directions. In the confusion, the enemy's entire 69th Division retreated to the vicinity of a column command post. Ye Fei saw this and immediately ordered all the nearby troops to attack.
As a result, the guard troops, cadres of the organs, and former migrant workers formed a huge commando team and rushed towards the enemy group.
Ye Fei then ordered the 1st and 2nd Brigades to stop pursuing the enemy's entire 11th Division, and instead to encircle the entire 69th Division, quickly annihilating it in the field.
In this way, Ye Fei turned defeat into victory. When Chen Yi received Ye Fei's phone report, his face was full of surprise and he said happily, "I am really worried about your safety!" The situation was so unexpected. ”
Ye Fei said, "Thank goodness, I finally rushed out!" ”
The 8th Division was still engaged in a fierce battle with the Pre-3rd Brigade, annihilating the entire brigade three hours later. The remnants of the enemy's 69th Division, the 60th Brigade, cowered in the three villages of Renhe and Wei, and Hu Lian tried to turn around and come to the rescue, but unexpectedly bumped into a column again, and finally did not dare to advance.
On the second day, the enemy's 60th Brigade, led by the deputy division commander, broke through again, and was completely annihilated halfway through. The enemy division commander Dai Zhiqi saw that there was no way to escape, dropped a letter of Cheng Ren and killed himself.
In this way, the entire 69th Division was completely annihilated.
Ye Fei's disobedient breakout battle turned into a quick decisive battle against the enemy. Chen Yi happily wrote a poem:
Enemy to the canal song, try to see the peak under the mountain.
Why should the Juju fighter be suspicious? Buried Dai Zhiqi.