Hello everyone, today I will tell you a story from the past, the time has returned to the cold February of 1946. At that time, Northeast China was turbulent and wars were raging. Shaling Town, a small town in the northeast of Panjin in Liaoning Province, has become a strategic location. A small town was suddenly garrisoned by more than 3,000 Kuomintang troops, many of whom were elite. Isn't this like a piece of fat placed in front of the wolves, attracting the wolves to watch? How is the Northeast Democratic Alliance responding to this challenge? Did they win easily, or did they go through twists and turns? Join me in exploring this little-known history!
On February 11, 1946, the 66th Regiment and the division training battalion of the New 22nd Division of the New Sixth Army, with a strength of about 3,000 troops, quietly occupied Shaling Town, Liaoning. Their purpose is very clear, that is, to open a road in the northeast, ensure the safety of the Bac Ninh Road, and expand their occupation area. This unit, because it went deep behind enemy lines, became the deepest contingent of the Kuomintang army in the northeast at that time.
The Northeast Democratic Alliance Army was unusually alert to this action. When they learned about the situation in Sand Ridge through intelligence, they immediately reacted. After all, this is a major event related to the situation in the Northeast. The Liaodong Military Region quickly mobilized the two main columns of the Third Column and the Fourth Column, preparing to give the Kuomintang army a head-on attack. The 3rd Column was responsible for reinforcements from afar, while the 4th Column was close to the enemy and surrounded the town of Shaling.
Over the next few days, the standoff between the two sides became increasingly tense. The Kuomintang army built strong fortifications in Shaling Town, using local civil materials, experienced troops and multiple layers of barbed wire, to build an impenetrable defensive line. Their plan seems seamless, but the Northeast Democratic Alliance Army is not an idle one.
On February 16, a major battle broke out. The main attacking force of the fourth column was already in position, and the artillery units on the east bank of the Liao River also began shelling. But the irony was that the shelling caused almost no substantial damage to the enemy. The New 22nd Division of the Kuomintang's New Sixth Army, as the ace army of the United States, was well-equipped and well-trained, and their response was quick and accurate.
The situation in the fighting was not as favorable to our army as expected. Despite our numerical superiority, Sandridge is not an easy fortress to conquer. The lack of available terrain around the town, combined with the stubborn resistance of the enemy, slowed the progress of the battle and increased losses.
The rest of the enemy's forces did not stop because of the fighting in the Sands. For example, a regiment of the 89th Division of the 13th Army also launched a sweep on the enemy's northern road, and although our army took advantage of this opportunity to launch a small-scale campaign and successfully annihilated five enemy battalions, the overall battle situation was still grim.
Just when the battle in Sand Ridge Town was at a stalemate, Dong Zong had to reassess his strategy. They began to think about more flexible tactics and how to use the resources and location they already had. Strategically, Dong Zong decided to launch small-scale, high-efficiency raids in other areas to distract the enemy's attention and forces in order to reduce the pressure on Sand Ridge Town.
Over the next few days, he planned several well-planned skirmishes, which were small in scale but were remarkable. For example, in the battle of Xiushui Hezi, our army, with a small number of troops, with the cover of terrain and night, raided the camp of one regiment of the enemy and successfully annihilated five battalions of the enemy. This battle not only broke the morale of the enemy, but also increased the confidence of our soldiers.
Although the victory of Xiushui Hezi did not change the overall situation strategically, it proved that the enemy was not invincible, and that even if he was inferior in equipment and training, with strategy and courage, he could achieve victory. This has provided valuable experience and confidence for the follow-up actions of the Northeast Democratic Alliance Army.
The battle at Shaling Town lasted for several weeks, and finally the Kuomintang army began to show signs of retreat under the continued pressure and tactical adjustment of our army. They found that in the ongoing confrontation, the consumption of resources and personnel was too great, and the severe cold weather and terrain in the northeast were also extremely unfavorable for them.
By the beginning of March 1946, the battle for the town of Sand Ridge ended in the victory of our troops. The Kuomintang forces were forced to withdraw from Shaling Town after heavy losses, while the Northeast Democratic Alliance Army succeeded in recapturing this key area. This battle was not only a military victory, but also a morale boost. In the months that followed, the actions of the Northeast Democratic Alliance Army became more and more bold and precise, gradually changing the tide of the war in the entire Northeast.
The battle in Shaling Town is a microcosm of the Northeast Liberation War. It shows how to use limited resources in a difficult situation, through flexible tactics and fearless determination, to face a seemingly formidable enemy. This historical event was not only a test of strategy and courage, but also a victory of strategic wisdom and teamwork. By reviewing these fragments of history, we can not only learn the knowledge at the tactical level, but also learn from them the spirit of not giving up in the face of difficulties.