Lead:
In 1946, the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party was tense, and the Kuomintang army launched an ambitious military operation in an attempt to annihilate the Jin-Hebei Field Army. At this difficult moment, Liu Bocheng, the commander of the Jin-Hebei Field Army, faced a great challenge, but he resolutely decided to face the enemy. This article will delve into the background, strategy, and heroic soldiers of this battle to show the perseverance and tenacity of the Jin-Hebei Field Army.
Part I: Background and Decision Making
In September 1946, the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party became increasingly tense, and the Kuomintang army gathered strong forces and prepared to attack the Jin-Hebei base area. At this time, the Jin-Hebei Field Army had just won the Battle of Longhai Road, and although it was victorious, it was costly and the soldiers were exhausted. Faced with the 300,000 troops of the Kuomintang, the situation of the Jin-Hebei Field Army was very difficult.
Liu Bocheng faced a dilemma: avoid the enemy and preserve his strength, but he might lose the Dabie Mountain advance plan and the fall of the Central Plains; Or resolutely face the battle, but our army has only 50,000 people, backward equipment and low morale. In contrast, the Kuomintang had absolute superiority in forces and advanced weaponry, including tanks, aircraft and howitzers. In addition, the Kuomintang was clearly divided and difficult to cooperate, which laid out a path of hope for the Jin-Hebei Field Army.
Part II: Make a plan
Liu Bocheng and his staff calmly drew up a battle plan. Although the enemy army is 300,000, it needs to be dispersed to multiple areas, and only 100,000 people can really confront the Jin-Hebei field army, and these 100,000 people still need to be divided into six routes. Although our army has only 4 columns, if each column fights against a division alone, it will be in an advantageous position to divide the enemy and finally achieve victory. At the same time, divisions within the Kuomintang made it difficult for the various units to cooperate with each other, and even if they received a signal for help, they did not necessarily come to support. This strategy seemed risky, but it paved the way to victory.
Part III: Campaign Strategy
After careful analysis, Liu Bocheng decided to attack the 3rd Reorganized Division first, which was in poor condition and demoralized. The 3rd Reorganized Division and the 47th Division were separated by about 10 km, and the two units were at odds with each other and would not support each other. If the Jin-Hebei Field Army can quickly defeat the reorganized 3rd Division, it will occupy the strategic initiative and will have a major impact on future operations. However, the 3rd Division was not an easy opponent to deal with, and victory in this battle would determine the fate of the Jin-Hebei Field Army.
At the pre-war mobilization meeting, the generals were under pressure, but Liu Bocheng still firmly asked the question: "Which column is willing to serve as the main attacker?" Who wants to fight this first position? Wang Jinshan, a young general known for fighting vicious battles, stood up. Wang Jinshan was proud of his bravery and leadership, and he vowed to lead the Six Columns into battle. The 31-year-old general was actively involved in the War of Resistance and was known for his courage to sacrifice. His decision won applause from the generals present and paved the way for the decisive battle of the Jin-Hebei Field Army.
Part IV: Outsmart the 3rd Reorganized Division
In order to ensure victory, the Jin-Hebei Field Army decided to adopt a strategy of outwitting it. They voluntarily abandoned some base areas and lured the 3rd Reorganized Division to pursue the Dayanghu area. This area with unique terrain is ideal for encirclement and annihilation battles. On the evening of September 3, 1946, Liu Bocheng ordered our army to launch an attack on the 3rd Reorganized Division from multiple directions. Various columns quickly surrounded the enemy, trapping him in the Dayang Lake area.
Although the 3rd Reorganized Division had tanks and other heavy weapons, our army finally annihilated the strength of the enemy's 3 battalions after two days of fierce fighting, but our army also paid a heavy price. At the same time, the enemy's 41st and 11th divisions were about to come to reinforcements. If our army could not annihilate the reorganized 3rd division in two days, it would fall into the encirclement of the enemy.
Part V: Triumph and Reflection
However, Liu Bocheng did not give up, and he proposed to occupy Dayang Lake first,
Annihilate the enemy 59th regiment stationed there. On the night of September 5, the various columns of our army launched a general attack, determined to capture Dayang Lake. In the course of the offensive, the enemy's tanks launched a stubborn counterattack, and the battle situation fell into a stalemate.
Just when the situation seemed to be deadlocked, a phone call broke the silence, and Wang Jinshan's voice sounded through the phone line: "Hold on for another 15 minutes!" We have just deciphered the enemy's telegram, they say that if reinforcements do not come within 15 minutes, they will commit suicide! This news inspired the fighting spirit of the soldiers, and at the same time, Wang Jinshan immediately sent a reserve team to support. At dawn on September 6, our troops finally captured Dayang Lake and annihilated the enemy's 59th and 20th brigades.
Zhao Xitian, the commander of the enemy's 3rd Division, fell into despair at this time. He tried to lead his army to break through the encirclement, but there was nowhere to escape in the encirclement of our army. Soon, he was captured by our army. This battle, known as the Battle of Dingtao, became a landmark victory in the early days of the Liberation War. Chairman Mao himself also informed the whole army of this good news. Despite the great price paid by the Six Columns, they successfully completed their task, and their great spirit will forever go down in history.
Epilogue:
The Battle of Dingtao demonstrated the perseverance, wisdom and tenacity of the Jin-Hebei Field Army. In the face of a formidable enemy, generals such as Liu Bocheng and Wang Jinshan did not flinch, determined to defend their homeland. The victory in this battle proves the importance of unity, wisdom and perseverance. However, we should also reflect on the terrible cost of war, where every valiant soldier paid a heavy price for victory. This victory not only brought the joy of victory, but also left painful memories. We should cherish and remember those heroes who gave their lives for freedom and peace, at the same time