[The content of this article is based on authoritative historical data, and there are citations at the end of the article, please be aware]
In the winter of 1950, the ice and snow of Changjin Lake covered the land, and a thrilling battle was being staged on this cold frontier. In the distant Beijing, in the Gongdelin prisoner of war camp, a dusty news shook the hearts of the high-ranking Kuomintang generals imprisoned here like thunder in the spring.
These generals, who once commanded thousands of troops on the battlefield, can now only learn about the hardships and fearlessness of those young soldiers on the front line through scarce information channels. Just a few days ago, they learned that the Chinese People's Volunteers were fighting fiercely with the US army at Changjin Lake.
In the bitter cold, the perseverance and sacrifice of the volunteer soldiers, together with the bravery of the "Ice Sculpture Company" mentioned in the story, were transmitted to the prisoner of war camp through the words of the newspaper. This made the feelings of these war criminals extremely complicated, and their eyes involuntarily moistened - what kind of tribulations and trials are these young people who have the same military status as them are going through?
1. Prisoners of war of high-ranking Kuomintang officers in Gongdelin
Gong Delin, the name may not be well known in history, but it had a special meaning in China in the mid-20th century. Located in an inconspicuous corner of downtown Beijing, it was once the detention ground of high-ranking Kuomintang officials. With the end of the Liberation War, many high-ranking Kuomintang generals became "regulars" of the place.
Many of them held important positions in the war and had a significant impact on the war, but now they are prisoners of the war. The exterior of this facility is unremarkable, and the walls are a little mottled by the erosion of time. The walls and power grids are the most visible symbols here, apparently to ensure that detainees do not escape easily.
Despite the harsh conditions, the administration was not entirely inhumane, and the prisoners of war were provided with basic livelihoods, being housed in relatively comfortable rooms and having three simple meals a day to meet their basic nutritional needs. Although the daily life of the officers was restricted, they still maintained a certain military demeanor.
In the morning, as the whistle blows, they are organized for simple gymnastics and walking to maintain the basic health of the body. Subsequently, they may be allowed to read some newspapers or books, although these materials are heavily censored to prevent information that could stir up insurgency.
Admiral Wang Lingji, the highest-ranking prisoner of war here, was sometimes placed in a slightly more spacious room. Like other generals, his daily life was strictly regulated, and every step of the way, from waking up to lights out, was carried out in an orderly manner. Although the scenery was once infinite, now Wang Lingji can only reminisce about his command on the battlefield in the past in the courtyard surrounded by high walls.
The original intention of imprisoning these Kuomintang generals was not just to imprison them, but also to make them understand the ideas of New China and the Communist Party through education and study, and to break off the criminal acts of the past.
2. Differences of viewpoint before the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea
In 1950, as the CCP leadership made the decision to participate in the Korean War, the KMT's top POWs in Gongdelin exhibited different reactions and behaviors. Some of these prisoners of war were former military strategists, while others were well versed in foreign policy.
They had their own interpretations and reactions to the major decisions made by the new Chinese government, and these views and attitudes caused quite a lot of fluctuations within the prisoner of war camps. Wen Qiang, a staunch Kuomintang diehard officer, was critical of the CCP's decision-making. He not only gave speeches among prisoners of war, but also wrote long articles detailing his views on the decision to resist the United States and aid Korea.
In the article, he cites a large number of historical examples to support his view that the military power of the U.S. military should not be underestimated, as a pessimistic prediction of a communist military intervention in North Korea. The article circulated inside the POW camps and resonated with a section of the POWs, who were equally skeptical that the CCP's military operations on the Korean Peninsula would be successful.
Completely different from Wen Qiang is the attitude of Du Yuming and Yang Botao and others. Although they had reservations about the final outcome of the war, they chose a more cooperative approach. Du Yuming was a high-ranking general of the Kuomintang and had an in-depth understanding of the strategy of the US military.
In the prisoner of war camp, he took the initiative to share his insights on the tactical characteristics of the US military with the administrators, including the advantages of the US army's mobility, firepower configuration, and tactical layout. His information was considered valuable military intelligence that helped the People's Liberation Army to better understand the enemy.
Yang Botao helped from another angle, focusing on the analysis of the U.S. military's combat behavior in the early days of the Korean War, especially the use of air superiority and the tactical impact of naval support. After these analyses were collated, they were also sent to the corresponding military departments as a reference for tactical adjustments.
3. The astonishing turning point of the Battle of Changjin Lake
On November 27, 1950, in the Changjin Lake area of the Korean Peninsula, a crucial battle was fought in extreme weather conditions. On this day, the conflict between the Chinese People's Volunteers and the US First Marine Division officially broke out, and the harsh environment and limited resources tested the limits of both sides.
The temperature in the Changjin Lake area is extremely low, often dropping to tens of degrees below zero, and the ice and snow cover the entire battlefield, and this extreme cold has brought unprecedented challenges to the operation. The Chinese People's Volunteers are facing a particularly serious shortage of materials. To meet this challenge, they employ a series of extreme survival strategies, including not lighting fire on the battlefield to avoid detection by enemy reconnaissance units.
Although this decision effectively reduces the risk of being targeted by the enemy, it also greatly increases the difficulty of survival for the soldiers. In the absence of flames, soldiers can only rely on cold foods such as frozen potatoes and fried noodles, which are prepared in advance and can be consumed quickly to maintain the soldiers' physical strength and combat effectiveness.
The commanders of the Volunteer Army fully realized the importance of maintaining morale and combat effectiveness in such a harsh environment. They motivate their soldiers in a variety of ways, emphasizing the need for sacrifice and patience, while also adapting as much as possible to the twin pressures of cold and food shortages through tactical adjustments.
In terms of tactics, the Volunteer Army adopted flexible and mobile guerrilla tactics, taking advantage of the terrain and weather conditions to launch surprise attacks, which to a large extent weakened the firepower superiority of the US military and the effectiveness of its technical equipment. In this battle, the equipment and clothing of the volunteers were far less advanced than those of the American army, and many soldiers could only rely on heavy cotton clothes and hand-sewn cotton shoes to withstand the cold.
Even in such conditions, the soldiers showed great endurance and will to fight, marching and fighting in snowy mountains and frozen rivers, often maneuvering quickly under heavy enemy fire, compensating for the lack of equipment by night actions.
As the battle deepened, both sides suffered heavy losses, but the persistence and high fighting spirit of the Chinese volunteers gradually showed themselves in the test of ice and snow. Despite the many difficulties and challenges they faced, the sacrifice and desire for victory of the volunteer soldiers pushed them to overcome one obstacle after another.
IV. The Shock and Reflection of the POWs
When news of the Battle of Changjin Lake reached the Gongdelin POW camp in Beijing, the air here was almost frozen. These high-ranking Kuomintang generals were all shocked when they heard the news that the People's Volunteers had made progress in the battle under such difficult conditions.
The news was conveyed through the battalion's radio and management personnel, and every detail of the battle was carefully interpreted, followed by a lively discussion among the prisoners of war. The prisoners of war were particularly shocked by the tenacity and strategic execution of the People's Volunteers at Changjin Lake.
They learned through the battalion's newspapers and a small number of military briefings that the volunteers were able to effectively confront the superior American forces in technology and equipment, despite the harsh weather and material shortages. What impressed the POWs even more was that the non-fire strategy adopted by the volunteers and the method of survival in extremely low temperatures demonstrated a high level of adaptability and sacrifice.
Especially when they heard the story of the "Ice Sculpture Company" - a company that was trapped in the icy environment in the Battle of Changjin Lake, and the soldiers almost became ice sculptures, but still insisted on fighting, these originally pessimistic prisoners of war felt strongly touched, and some were even moved to tears.
The soldiers of this company did not have enough warm equipment, relied on each other's body temperature and strong will to resist the cold, but still held their positions and successfully resisted the repeated attacks of the American army. This news gave some POWs a strong desire to beg the camp administrators to allow them to rejoin the fighting.
These requests come mainly from senior generals who have distinguished themselves on the battlefield and want to be able to return to the front lines and use their experience and abilities to serve their country again. They believed that their military experience and tactical knowledge could add some advantages to the battles of the Volunteer Army.
However, these requests were ultimately denied. Managers and policymakers believe there are significant risks associated with resending these former KMT senior generals back to the front, including security concerns and political loyalty. Therefore, despite the strong will shown by the prisoners to return to combat, their request was not granted.
5. People's support for the volunteers
As the Korean War deepened in 1950, the Chinese Volunteers continued to fight hostile forces on the icy front. Domestically, support for the front lines is turning into a nationwide operation, with people looking for ways to provide the necessary support to their soldiers. In this context, chow mein has become one of the main materials for civilian support for volunteers because of its easy storage and carrying.
People across the country began making chow mein on a large scale, a dry, easy-to-preserve food that would ensure that soldiers could still be supplied with energy in harsh battlefield conditions.
Housewives, school teachers and students, factory workers are all involved, and temporary chow mein making stations have been set up in communities and villages, where volunteers are busy cooking, drying, and stir-frying large quantities of noodles until they are firm to ensure that the food can withstand long distances.
At the same time, senior Kuomintang generals in the Gongdelin prisoner of war camp in Beijing joined the national support campaign. Despite being in a prisoner of war camp, they did not passively wait for the war to end. Instead, they decided to contribute in their own way and began collecting their usual snacks and dried fruits to incorporate into the chow mein they made.
These snacks and dried fruits, which were originally a small comfort in the lives of the POWs, are now choosing to use these extra foods to increase the nutrition and taste of the front-line soldiers to boost morale.
This small but symbolic gesture shows the initial suspicion and dissatisfaction of the POWs, and now their support and involvement. In this way, the prisoners of war also expressed their support for the fight against foreign enemies. Mixed packages of fried noodles and snacks, which were collected uniformly, were sent to the front line by military transport vehicles and trains.
When these packages arrived at the front line, they became a source of solace for the soldiers in the midst of hard fighting. The soldiers who faced the cold and enemy fire received support from all over the motherland, even the prisoner of war camps, and felt the love and support from the Chinese people. This solidarity across the front and rear greatly boosted the morale of the soldiers and strengthened their confidence in victory.
#头条创作挑战赛#
Resources:
- Li Qing, edited by Huang Kaihong, edited by Zhang Haipeng, edited by Liu Guoxin. Learning the history of the party, the ideal student series, high school edition[M]. 2021
2. Lin Yuhui. We have never forgotten the story behind the "heroic face"[M]. 2021