In the smoke of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, a battle that was unknown to most people quietly took place. Thirty-nine heavy tanks of the American army rushed into our positions as if no one was there, but to their shock, none of these tanks were able to return intact. What kind of unit is this that can allow the well-equipped US tanks to be completely annihilated? After investigation, the US side learned that the other side was the legendary "stinky tofu unit" -- the 39th Army. But why did they have such a nickname? What is the origin of this unit? Can their legendary story enlighten us today? As the page of history turns the page, we try to explore this dusty past and uncover the truth behind the "stinky tofu force".
Xu Haidong: From "stinky tofu" to a legendary general
Xu Haidong, the general who was later known as "stinky tofu", did not come from a prominent background. He was born in an ordinary farming family in Huangpi, Hubei, with a poor family and most of his ancestors were potters. Xu Haidong's childhood was full of hardships, and his family's poverty prevented him from having enough clothing to cover his body like other children, and he often ran shirtless in the village, covered in mud. When his sisters-in-law saw him like this, they jokingly called him "stinky tofu", a nickname that accompanied him for many years, even on the battlefield.
Despite his poor family, Xu Haidong has extraordinary ambitions in his heart. In 1925, he joined the Chinese Communist Party and quickly demonstrated his military talent. After joining the army in Guangdong, he joined Ye Ting's New Fourth Army, and soon shined in the Battle of Tingsi Bridge, winning him Zhang Fakui's appreciation and promotion. Xu Haidong's military career began with this, and his command skills and courage were further tempered and demonstrated during the Northern Expedition.
However, after the "April 12" counter-revolutionary coup d'état in 1927, Xu Haidong resolutely left the Kuomintang troops and returned to his hometown of Huangpi to begin his revolutionary career. With a pistol and a few bullets, he organized a peasant self-defense army and waged a struggle against the Kuomintang reactionaries. During this period, Xu Haidong's military talent and revolutionary spirit were fully developed, and the troops he led repeatedly defeated the Kuomintang army, which made Chiang Kai-shek hate him to the core.
Xu Haidong's family suffered great persecution for their activity in the revolution. In 1928, his family was killed by the Kuomintang, an incident that deeply pierced Xu Haidong's heart and strengthened his determination to resist the Kuomintang and fight for the victory of the revolution. During the Long March, Xu Haidong's family sacrificed 66 people, all of which made his position more prominent among the revolutionary fighters.
During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation, Xu Haidong's military talent was further demonstrated. He not only performed many miraculous feats on the battlefield, but also played an important role in post-war peacebuilding. Especially in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, the 39th Army led by him performed well and became a nightmare for the US military, which is also the origin of the name "Stinky Tofu Force".
Xu Haidong's life is a legendary transformation from a poor peasant child to a great general. His story is not only a history of personal struggle, but also a microcosm of the history of the Chinese revolution. In him, we see the enthusiasm and responsibility of an era, and the persistence of a revolutionary in his beliefs and ideals.
The Thirty-Ninth Army: The birth of the iron-blooded elite
In the fiery years of the Chinese revolution, the 39th Army created a legend with its indestructible combat effectiveness and indomitable revolutionary spirit. The predecessor of this army, which fused Xu Haidong's 15th Army (formerly the 25th Army) and Liu Zhidan's 26th and 27th Armies, was an iron-blooded elite forged on the battlefield filled with gunpowder.
The formation of the 39th Army was accomplished in the flames of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression under the wise policy decisions of the Communist Party and the strong leadership of the revolutionary generals. This unit inherited the glorious tradition and revolutionary spirit of Xu Haidong's old unit, and their performance on the battlefield all reflected the heroism and tenacity of the Red Army. Under the cruel circumstances of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the soldiers of the 39th Army braved hardships and dangers and waged desperate battles with the enemy again and again.
When the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea broke out, the 39th Army was once again called to the front. In this contest between justice and aggression, courage and atrocity, the 39th Army displayed shocking combat effectiveness. Their heroic deeds on the battlefield were like dazzling stars, illuminating the night sky of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. In that famous tank battle, the 39th Army, with its superb tactical layout and strong will, caused 39 tanks of the US army to survive, and since then the name of the "stinky tofu unit" has been well-known in the world.
However, the glory of the 39th Army was not limited to victory on the battlefield. After the war, they also played an important role in peacebuilding. The officers and men of this unit have transformed their courage and wisdom on the battlefield into a powerful driving force for building New China. They have made great contributions to industrial restoration, transportation construction, education and training, and have laid a solid foundation for the prosperity and stability of New China.
In the history of the 39th Army, there is another little-known chapter, that is, they used the tactics of psychological warfare and information warfare in their campaigns. The use of these tactics greatly enhanced the combat effectiveness of the troops, making the enemy fearful before they even clashed. The officers and men of the 39th Army not only competed with the enemy on the physical battlefield, but also had an advantage on the psychological level, which was an extremely advanced tactic in the war at that time.
The US military's evaluation and reflection on the 39th Army is also a topic worthy of in-depth study. In the post-war analysis report, the US military expressed high respect for the combat effectiveness of the 39th Army and made a deep reflection on its own tactics and tactics. They realized that in the face of such a tough opponent, traditional tactics could no longer work, and tactical innovation and adjustment had to be made.
The story of the 39th Army is a good story in the history of the Chinese revolution. Their bravery and wisdom not only won victories on the battlefield, but also contributed to the development of the country in peacetime. The history of this unit will forever be engraved in the memory of the Chinese people.
Tank Battles: A Nightmare for the American Army
In the dense fog of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, the name of the 39th Army was like a lightning bolt, piercing the night sky and making the world look sideways. In particular, the tank battle that shocked the world pushed the prestige of the 39th Army to the peak. This battle was not only an ordinary military confrontation, but a contest of tactics and wisdom, showing the superb skills of the 39th Army in tactical layout.
The battle took place in a typical mountainous area of the Korean Peninsula, with complex and foggy terrain. All 39 U.S. tanks were destroyed in an attempt to break through the 39th Army's defensive line. The victory in this battle was not only because of the strong firepower, but also because of the 39th Army's accurate grasp of the terrain and clever use of tactics.
During the planning phase of the campaign, the commanders of the 39th Army took full advantage of the terrain. They chose to set up an ambush in a valley where they could maximize the coverage of their fire net, a location that would both hide their fire points and ensure that each shot would be used to its fullest potential. In addition, they placed a large number of mines and explosive devices on the paths through which the tank could pass, and these preparations played a decisive role in the battle.
During the campaign, the 39th Army also demonstrated its superb skills in psychological warfare and information warfare. Before the war, information about the complex terrain and the instability of mines was disseminated through various channels, which succeeded in influencing the psychology of the enemy troops, causing them to hesitate and fear before the attack. In addition, the 39th Army also took advantage of the night and morning fog to mislead through radio and other means of communication, further deepening the confusion and panic of the enemy troops.
The U.S. military conducted an in-depth analysis and reflection on the campaign after the war. They believed that their own serious deficiencies in intelligence gathering and pre-war preparations, and that their underestimation of the enemy's tactical capabilities, especially the use of terrain and the neglect of psychological tactics, were the main reasons for this fiasco. The U.S. military's report mentions that the 39th Army's tactical layout and combat execution are among the most difficult challenges they have encountered.
This battle was not only a glorious chapter in the history of the 39th Army, but also left a strong mark in the international military history. It proves that in modern warfare, technological superiority and firepower alone are not enough to achieve ultimate victory, and the importance of terrain, tactical use, and psychological warfare cannot be overlooked. Through this battle, the 39th Army not only consolidated its heroic image, but also demonstrated the wisdom and courage of the Chinese army in the international community.
Xu Haidong's later years: perseverance and inheritance
Xu Haidong, a general who once galloped on the battlefield full of flames, in his later life, although he was tortured by illness, he still maintained his loyalty to the revolutionary cause and his love for military scholarship. In his later years, he was a profound reflection on the meaning of life and an unremitting pursuit of the inheritance of the revolutionary spirit.
Xu Haidong's illness in his later years stemmed from years of battlefield career and overwork. His health began to deteriorate rapidly in 1940, and a lung disease made him almost unable to take care of himself. However, even on the sickbed, his heart was still concerned about the battlefield and his comrades, and his spirit remained unwavering.
In the midst of his illness, Xu Haidong did not give up his study of military academics. He insisted on compiling a history of the war, and recorded his military experience and combat memories with his pen. His writings not only provided valuable first-hand information for later military research, but also became an important part of revolutionary history.
Xu Haidong's later years were also the period of his contribution to the study of revolutionary wars. In his memoirs, he recorded in detail his combat experience during the Red Army and his profound insights into the Chinese Revolutionary War. These words are not only a review of his military career, but also an education and enlightenment for those who come after him.
In Xu Haidong's body, we see a revolutionary general's adherence to his beliefs and his responsibility. Even in his later years, when he was full of illness, he still insisted on contributing his wisdom and strength to the revolutionary cause. Although his life is no longer the smoke of the battlefield, his heart and spirit are still fighting.
The legacy of General Xu Haidong is not only his heroic deeds on the battlefield, but also his profound influence on the military education and culture of later generations. His writings and ideas have become a model for the new generation of soldiers to learn, and his spirit has become a force that inspires people to keep moving forward.
In Xu Haidong's later years, we saw the other side of a great general - a wise man who was indomitable and had the courage to persevere. His life was an unremitting pursuit of revolutionary ideals, an infinite love for the military cause, and a valuable education and inheritance for future generations.