On the Chinese battlefield in 1945, facing a Japanese army of nearly 1.8 million, was the Nationalist army really capable of defeating it in one fell swoop? Wars in history are always a topic of excitement, especially those hypothetical questions about "what ifs". Without the Soviet Union's entry into the war and the fall of the atomic bomb, how would Chiang's Nationalist Army and Chairman Mao's Red Army have written their war chapters?
In 1945, the global war gradually stopped, but on the land of China, the smoke of war continued. That year, in the face of the Japanese army that had invaded the mainland for many years, the Kuomintang National Army and the Communist Red Army each launched their decisive battle plans. But here, our main concern is whether the Nationalist army will be able to defeat the Japanese army in the Chinese theater.
We need to know what is going on both sides. According to historical records, the total strength of the Japanese army in the Chinese battlefield was as high as 1.8 million, including the Kwantung Army and the Chinese Dispatch Army. The Kwantung Army was once Japan's elite force, but as the war dragged on, it was much less powerful than before. Especially under the strong invasion of the Soviet Red Army, the strength and equipment of the Kwantung Army rapidly declined. By 1945, the actual strength of the Kwantung Army had dropped to more than 500,000.
On the other hand, China's troops are mainly distributed in North and Central China, with a strength of about 1 million. Although their forces are huge, their equipment and combat effectiveness have been greatly reduced by the long war. Many heavy weapons and elite troops have been deployed in the South Seas and the Pacific Theater, and most of the people who remain in China are old, weak, sick, disabled, and new soldiers.
Let's take a look at the situation of the national army. By 1945, the national army had about 5 million troops, and it had an absolute advantage in numbers. The problem, however, is that the uneven quality of equipment and training of the national army, coupled with internal corruption and inefficiency, has prevented this huge army from performing as well as it should be.
However, having said that, the national army still has its own uniqueness. For example, with the support of the US military, the national army has been equipped with a lot of modern weapons and equipment, and the strength of its air force and artillery has been significantly improved. In terms of strategic resources, the national army also has more options, unlike the Japanese army, which lacks resources.
If there is a real fight, how will the battle unfold? With the Nationalist Army's manpower tactics and increasing fire support, the Nationalist Army is fully capable of launching a large-scale offensive on multiple fronts. Although the Japanese army has quite a set of defensive battles, it may not be able to last long in the face of the double pressure of lack of materials and weak troops.
In terms of tactical choices, the Nationalist Army could use its air superiority and artillery fire suppression to carry out sustained strikes against the Japanese army and gradually weaken its combat effectiveness. In ground battles, although the infantry units of the Nationalist Army may be inferior to Japanese veterans in experience and combat effectiveness, it is entirely possible to achieve victory on a local battlefield through large-scale man-sea tactics, as well as making full use of terrain and guerrilla tactics.
What cannot be ignored is that there are also many brave and skilled elite troops in the national army, who have accumulated rich combat experience in the war of resistance for many years. If these forces can be used rationally and with an adequate supply of strategic materials, they will be a force to be reckoned with against the Japanese army.
The outcome of the war depends not only on the number and equipment of the army, but also on the influence of many factors such as strategic command, morale, and logistical support. Although the national army has many shortcomings in these aspects, under the long-term tempering of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, its commanders have also gained a deeper understanding and understanding of how to strategize on the complex and changeable battlefield.
Let's think about another scenario - without the participation of the Soviet army and the dropping of the atomic bomb, the battle between the Nationalist and Japanese armies could have turned into a protracted war. In this case, the material and manpower superiority of the national army will gradually show its strategic value. As time passes, due to the lack of supplies and personnel replenishment, the combat effectiveness of the Japanese army will gradually decline, and it may eventually be defeated in a protracted attrition.
Will the Nationalist Army be able to defeat the Japanese army in one fell swoop? Although this question has been impossible to verify in the long course of history, by analyzing the military strength and wartime situation of both sides, we can infer that under favorable conditions, it is entirely possible for the national army to achieve a key victory on the battlefield. However, such a victory is by no means an easy task, and it can only be achieved through careful strategic planning and the heroic struggle of countless soldiers.
Through the analysis of the military strength and strategic situation of the Nationalist Army and the Japanese Army in 1945, it can be seen that although the Nationalist Army had certain advantages in equipment and the number of personnel, it still had to overcome many difficulties in order to completely defeat the Japanese army. The assumption of history cannot change the past, but it can help us better understand history and give us a deeper respect for the heroes who gave their lives for our country.