To resist US aggression and aid Korea, many people may think of those fierce battle scenes at first, but few people will notice the unknown bitterness and hardships behind it. Between 1950 and 1951, the logistical support of our volunteers in Korea was extremely challenging. This is not only because of the indiscriminate bombardment of the enemy, but also because of our own internal problems. For example, on one occasion, a logistics warehouse was suddenly destroyed, resulting in a severe shortage of supplies.
In the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, every Chinese volunteer who participated in the war was an out-and-out hero. Not only did they have to face a well-armed enemy, but they also had to fight in extremely difficult conditions. You must know that war is not just a rain of bullets, but also logistics support is also related to the success or failure of the entire war situation.
In October 1950, the Chinese People's Volunteers gloriously crossed the Yalu River and rushed to the Korean battlefield. At the beginning, everyone's morale was high, but no one expected that what was really difficult was actually the invisible logistics line.
Logistics support is not as simple as simply sending food and ammunition. From food, clothing, shelter and transportation to ammunition supply, every link must be in order, and there must be no mistakes. However, the cruelty of the war is far beyond our imagination, and the air superiority of the US military has always put the logistics line of the volunteer army on the cusp. Their B-29 bombers, which are veritable "flying fortresses", are often targeted by the logistics line of the Volunteer Army.
Originally, the Volunteer Army planned to use the existing railways and roads in North Korea to quickly mobilize supplies, but these infrastructures were severely damaged during the war. The sabotage of the lines of communication by the US military can be said to be premeditated, and they not only blew up the railroads, but also the trucks used for transportation. It is said that when the volunteers first arrived in North Korea, most of the cars used for front-line supplies were lost within a month.
Moreover, the situation on the battlefield is ever-changing, and our logistics personnel often need to deliver supplies to front-line soldiers in the dead of night through the most primitive means of manpower transportation. Think of it, what a dangerous and daunting task it was!
Especially in 1951, the situation took a turn for the worse. Once, an important logistics warehouse was suddenly bombed, and a large amount of supplies were wiped out. This not only directly affects the supply of front-line battles, but also makes the logistics command feel like a pins and needles. After investigation, it was found that someone inside had leaked the information! Such an internal ghost problem deeply shocked the top brass of the Volunteer Army.
As a result, Deputy Commander Hong Xuezhi made an important decision: resolutely no longer use any employees from the DPRK region to participate in logistics and transportation. Is this fair, you may ask? This is war, and fairness is often not the first consideration, security is. Although Hong Xuezhi's decision was harsh, it was also out of responsibility for the entire war.
So what was the reaction of the North Korean side at this time? They are actually very understanding and supportive. After all, it's about winning or losing the entire war. The North Koreans also know that if they can't even ensure their security, the fighters on the front line will find themselves in an even more difficult situation.
However, the logistical difficulties go far beyond that. Do you know? In order to avoid being discovered by the enemy, the logistics units of the Volunteer Army even sometimes had to change the transport route, take long detours, and even go on night trips. In this case, every transport is almost a brush of death.
Moreover, the lack of logistics materials also forces the volunteers to exert their extreme survivability in extreme environments. It is recorded that the soldiers of the Volunteer Army sometimes had to stuff newspapers into their clothes in order to keep warm. These are details that will not be shown in those TV dramas, but they are the most realistic portrayal of war.
Our volunteer army is not without the power to fight back. In the war, they also learned to use the enemy's bombers to make corresponding countermeasures according to the laws of time and place. Sometimes, they will take advantage of the gap between enemy bombardments to quickly replenish supplies and transfer personnel.
Although these measures are difficult, they have greatly ensured the safety and efficiency of logistics. It can be said that it is these unknown hardships and wisdom that supported the smooth progress of the entire war.
Looking back at the history of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, we should not only remember those heroes who were in the smoke of gunpowder, but also remember those unsung heroes who silently contributed to the logistics line. With their sweat and even their lives, they silently contributed to the victory at the front. Perhaps, it is precisely because of their perseverance and sacrifice that our history can write exciting chapters again and again.