During the War of Liberation, the Chinese Kuomintang army carried out a series of military reforms, and one of the important organizational adjustments was the establishment of a special unit called the "integrated division." The emergence of this establishment was not only a need for the internal restructuring of the Kuomintang army, but also reflected the influence of the complicated domestic and foreign political and military environment at that time. In the following, I will delve into the background and characteristics of the emergence of the "reorganization" and its differences from ordinary divisions, so as to reveal the deep meaning behind this organizational change.
The background of the birth of the integrator
After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan, although the Kuomintang army achieved the final victory, it also paid a huge price, the number of troops was huge but the quality was uneven, the establishment was chaotic, the equipment was old, and it was difficult to meet the needs of the upcoming civil war. On the other hand, the United States, as the main donor to the Kuomintang government, has also put forward requirements for the modernization of the armed forces while providing military assistance to the Kuomintang government. As a result, the Kuomintang army began to carry out military reorganization in order to increase its combat effectiveness and consolidate resources, while at the same time reducing expenses and dealing with potential conflicts with the Communists.
Characteristics of the Integrator
The establishment of the reorganization division was actually an attempt by the Kuomintang to reform the existing military system. It is not simply reducing the number of troops, but on the basis of retaining the original structure of the troops, it strives to streamline and modernize the troops through reintegrating resources and adjusting the establishment. Specifically, the integrator has the following characteristics:
Flexibility in staffing
Reorganized divisions are usually formed by compressing the original corps-level units, but in actual operation, they have not been substantially reduced, but have made some reorganized divisions have more troops and firepower than ordinary divisions through readjustment. The integrated division has 2-3 integrated brigades under its jurisdiction, and each integrated brigade has 2-3 integrated regiments under its jurisdiction, forming a more compact and combat-effective organizational structure.
Optimization of equipment and personnel
The Consolidated Division has received more U.S. Armament Replenishment, which means that they have more advanced weaponry and armored vehicles, and their equipment level is significantly higher than that of the Normal Division. In addition, the integrated divisions tend to retain the complete strength of the descendant troops, thus ensuring the morale and combat effectiveness of the troops.
Differences between the nominal "drawdown" and the actual operation**
On the surface, the establishment of the integrated division was to respond to international pressure and domestic public opinion and to achieve the downsizing of the army, but in reality, the Chiang Kai-shek government adopted the strategy of "changing the soup but not the medicine," and only changed the number of the troops, but did not really reduce the number of troops, and even the number of some integrated divisions exceeded the original army-level units.
The difference from ordinary divisions
Establishment size and structure
An ordinary division usually has three regiments under its jurisdiction, and the strength of the troops directly under the division is about 10,000. On the other hand, integrated divisions have a larger number of troops, generally between 20,000 and 30,000 troops, and the number of integrated brigades and regiments under their jurisdiction is larger, and the structure is more complex, which is convenient for concentrating superior forces for combat.
Equipment level
Because the integrated division has received more aid from the United States, its equipment level far exceeds that of ordinary divisions, and it not only has more heavy weapons and armored vehicles, but also includes communications equipment, means of transport, and other materials necessary for modern warfare, which makes the integrated division have stronger mobility and firepower coverage capabilities on the battlefield.
Combat effectiveness and strategic position
Because of their rational establishment, excellent equipment, and well-trained, integrated divisions are often deployed in key strategic positions to undertake more important combat missions. For example, the reorganized 74th Division, one of the "five main forces" of the Kuomintang, was known for its strong combat effectiveness and tactical flexibility, and became the focus of the War of Liberation.
The establishment of the reorganized division was an attempt by the Kuomintang army to carry out military modernization and reform under internal and external pressure, and it improved the combat effectiveness of the troops to a certain extent, but it also exposed the contradictions and predicaments within the Kuomintang. Although these units performed well in individual battles, due to the political corruption of the Kuomintang regime, strategic mistakes, and factional struggles within the army, the superiority of the integrated divisions did not translate into victory in the war. On the contrary, the defeat of the integrated division, especially the defeat of the integrated 74th Division in the Battle of Menglianggu, became an important symbol of the Kuomintang army's transition from prosperity to decline. From a long-term point of view, although the practice of the reorganized division has a certain exploratory value in military theory, it has failed to save the Kuomintang from defeat in the War of Liberation, but has become an important lesson in China's modern military history.