In 1951, just when the U.S. military was full of self-confidence and thought victory was in sight, the bold action of a Chinese division commander completely failed their plan. How did this division commander find a chance to break the situation in a desperate situation?
On the Korean battlefield, in May 1951, a crucial battle was quietly unfolding. The U.S. forces were commanded by General Ridgway, who succeeded MacArthur in a more delicate and precise way of dealing with the Chinese volunteers. Unlike MacArthur's high-profile and self-confidence, Ridgway paid more attention to practical tactical deployment, and he identified a potential weakness of the Volunteer Army—material replenishment.
At that time, the supply of materials for the Volunteer Army was indeed facing great challenges. Due to the fragility of the logistical line, many times the fighters can only rely on temporary supplies from the front line, which largely limits their ability to fight for a long time. Taking advantage of this, Ridgway began to plan his tactics – a roundabout war aimed at cutting off the supply lines of the Volunteer Army.
Near the Hwacheon Bridge on the Bukhan River, Li Qiwei gathered 30,000 elite troops and launched a fierce attack on the 12th and 27th armies of China. These two units had just experienced a major battle, and their morale and physical strength were exhausted, and it was really difficult to resist the all-out attack of the American army. To make matters worse, other volunteer units were quite far away from the battlefield and could not provide rapid support.
The situation seems to be extremely favorable to the US military, and once Hwacheon is lost, the overall strategic layout of the Volunteer Army will be dealt a fatal blow. At this critical juncture, Huang Chaotian, commander of the 58th Division, made a bold decision - he refused the order to withdraw and reunite, and decided to lead the remnants to stick to the battlefield.
Huang Chaotian knew that if he retreated, not only would the 12th Army and the 27th Army fall into an isolated situation, but the entire defense line of the North Han River might be broken through, which would bring immeasurable consequences to the Volunteer Army. His decision, though risky, showed great wisdom and courage in war.
In the ensuing battle, despite the dilemma of well-equipped US troops and lack of supplies, the officers and men of the 58th Division showed amazing resilience and tenacious will to fight. They took advantage of the terrain and temporarily adjusted tactics to effectively delay the offensive of the US army, and even took advantage of some small-scale firefights, gradually plunging the US army into a quagmire. Just when Li Qiwei thought that victory was in sight, the counterattack of the volunteers began to show its effect gradually.
Huang Chaotian's decision is not only a manifestation of courage, but also a reflection of his deep understanding of the war situation. He knew that only by persevering could it be possible to wait for the arrival of reinforcements and have a chance to turn the tide of the war. Sure enough, in the following days, other units of the Volunteer Army arrived on the battlefield one after another, forming an effective encirclement and suppression of the American army.
The U.S. Army originally planned to force the Volunteers to retreat through a rapid breakthrough, but they failed to anticipate Huang Chaotian's insistence and the high degree of unity of the Volunteers. The supply lines of the US army became longer and longer, the logistics became more and more unsustainable, and the volunteers' familiarity with the terrain and the flexible use of guerrilla tactics made the US offensive finally forced to stall and had to start thinking about retreat.
This battle is not only a contest of strength, but also a contest of will and strategy. Although the Volunteer Army did not have an advantage in equipment and materiel, it succeeded in turning a battle that was almost certain of defeat into victory through flexible tactics and firm will. This is not only a tactical blow to the enemy, but also a huge morale boost.
After the war, Huang Chaotian and his troops were known as the "Death Fighters", a name derived from their spirit of fearless and desperate on the battlefield. This spirit has become a valuable asset for the entire volunteer army, inspiring every soldier to exert extraordinary combat effectiveness in the subsequent battles.
The battle in 1951 was an important turning point for the Chinese volunteers on the Korean battlefield, which not only thwarted the offensive plan of the US army, but more importantly, demonstrated the indomitable and heroic courage of the Chinese soldiers. It is these ordinary and great soldiers who have written admirable heroic chapters with their flesh and blood.