To resist US aggression and aid Korea, those veteran units with explosive hard-core combat effectiveness, such as the 38th Army and the 39th Army, are well-known. There is such a unit, although it has not been established for a long time, its qualifications are relatively "young", and its combat effectiveness is not top-notch, but it was also selected as one of the first batch of volunteers to enter the DPRK. This is the 66th Army that is not much mentioned. How did a unit that seemed to be a "weak chicken" suddenly become one of the main forces to resist US aggression and aid Korea?
The 66th Army, the predecessor of this army, was originally known as the 1st Column under the 3rd Corps of the North China Field Army. Speaking of which, some people may ask, why can this unit participate in such an important battle because it was established late, lacks experience, and is not at the top of its strength?
At the beginning of 1948, this unit participated in the Battle of Laishui, although it was still a "rookie" at that time, but its performance was not bad, causing a lot of losses to Fu Zuoyi's ace 35th Army. Later, in the Battle of Chanan Suidong, this unit once again proved its ability. In May of the same year, he moved to Shanxi and participated in the campaign to attack Yingxian and other places, and achieved a lot of results.
In 1949, this unit was reorganized into the 20th Army of the 66th Corps, which was subordinate to the North China Military Region. In April, a number of liberation fighters from the national army were also replenished, and the strength was further strengthened. In the battle of crossing the river, the 66th Army was mainly responsible for guarding the Beijing-Tianjin-Tang defense line, although it did not participate in too many front-line battles, but it was also a solid performance.
is such a unit that seems to be just "decent", but it was selected as the first batch of volunteers to resist US aggression and aid Korea. Why? There are two main reasons for this. Time was pressing, and Peng Dehuai faced the fierce situation on the Korean battlefield in 1950 and urgently needed to replenish his troops. At that time, the 66th Corps, where the 20th Army was located, happened to be the closest unit to the border and could reach the battlefield the fastest.
Don't look at the short time and lack of experience of the 66th Army, but its combat effectiveness and rapid reaction ability have been recognized. In previous campaigns, the 66th Army had already demonstrated good combat effectiveness and high flexibility, which was invaluable in an emergency. Besides, war is always the best tempering. Through actual combat, this unit is expected to grow rapidly and improve its combat effectiveness.
The geographical location of the 66th Army was also an important factor. At that time, several other possible options, such as the Sanye troops in the south, lacked sufficient equipment to protect themselves from the cold because they were too optimistic about winter, which caused serious attrition in the bloody battle of Changjin Lake. In the North China region where the 66th Army is located, the army has a certain degree of adaptability to the severe cold environment, which is particularly critical for the winter battle to resist US aggression and aid Korea. In addition, the discipline of the troops and the ability to quickly carry out the orders of their superiors are self-evident in their importance on the battlefield.
After entering the Korean battlefield, the performance of the 66th Army was indeed unexpected. In the early days of their entry into Korea, they were involved in a number of important battles, including countering the offensive of the United Nations forces and covering the task of strategic shifts. Especially in some key battles in the middle of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, the 66th Army displayed strong combat effectiveness and excellent tactical flexibility, winning valuable time and strategic advantages for the Volunteers.
The 66th Army suffered heavy losses in the battle, but their spirit of sacrifice and indomitable will to fight won the respect of their comrades. This spirit was also one of the reasons why the Military Commission chose them at that time. War, sometimes not only depends on who has good marksmanship, but also on who can persevere in the face of adversity.
The performance of the 66th Army in the war also earned them the reputation of "hard-headed 66th Army". Their various performances on the Korean battlefield undoubtedly proved that the initial choice was correct. From a new army that is regarded as a "weak chicken" to an important force on the battlefield to resist US aggression and aid Korea, the transformation of the 66th Army can be described as a legend.
Through these battles, the 66th Army not only tempered itself, but also set an example for the entire contingent of volunteers. It is also a reminder that the potential of any force should not be underestimated, given enough trust and opportunities, they may create incredible achievements.
Looking back at the history of the 66th Army, every seemingly ordinary choice may have hidden extraordinary significance behind it. The 66th Army grew from an underestimated recruit to a warrior on the battlefield to resist US aggression and aid Korea, which was not only a proof of their own ability, but also an affirmation of the military strategic decisions of that era.