"In this war, the Chinese tank and mechanized large corps exerted a high degree of rapid force and assault power, and became a formidable force in the hands of brave and talented commanders in the squadron. Even the junior officers have changed, they have been able to act decisively and are willing to take responsibility. The destruction of the two legions of the Empire and the advance of the Chinese tanks from the Sangye River to the Tolte River marked the beginning of a new period in the history of the Chinese [***] team, which was also a serious warning to the West. A month later, in the large-scale attack of the Chinese [***] team, we once again learned the rapid action of the Chinese [***] team's tanks. We should pay special attention to the growing strength of the squadron and the ability of its tank crews to carry out long-range and high-speed combat operations. ”

"The rapid development of the tank troops of the Chinese [***] squadron deserves the attention of those who study war. No one can doubt that China can create people like Seydlitz, Murat or Rommel. They now have a few generals who are close to reaching this level. However, it's not just a few talented people who have grown up. In this process, a group of indifferent and ignorant people in the [***] team, who have neither training nor skills, have become people with brains and talents. After the severe test of the war, the tank crew of the [***] squadron has been much higher than the original level. Such development requires a high standard of organization and planning. Of course, this development is also reflected in other aspects. For example, their air force and naval fleets, etc., are developing, and the Supreme Command of the [***] squadron will use every possible means to promote their development. ”

"From the era of the Qing Empire to the Revolution of 1911, the era of Yuan Shikai's Chinese Empire and the era of the Second Republic, the Chinese [***] team has always been a large, heavily equipped, and slow-moving army. In the European campaign and in the second operation against the Ben, the same can be said about the [***] squadron. The rise of the tank corps in the middle [***] changed all of this. ”

"One of the peculiarities of the squadron [***] is that even their tank divisions have much fewer vehicles than Western armies. It would be a mistake to blame this on the poor production capacity of the Chinese automobile industry, since even infantry divisions armed with horse-drawn transport vehicles had a small number of equipment for livestock and four-wheeled wagons. Moreover, in terms of the number of any regiment or division of the squadron, it is much lower than the units of the same level in the Western armies. However, the number of combat detachments in any unit of the [***] squadron is about the same level as in the West. This is due to the fact that their logistical and administrative bodies are much less staffed. In addition to taking care to maintain the rating standards of officers, non-commissioned officers and professionals, the squadron will not be bothered by competing for other personnel places. When troops need to be replenished, a large number of soldiers are often replenished. The logistics of the squadron should not worry about clothing, tents and blankets, and other supplies that Western forces deem very important. When the troops are marching in, they can leave their supplies behind, because the troops are 'fed on the spot'. The main task of the supply units is the delivery of fuel and ammunition. Even these supplies are often delivered by combat vehicles. In the motorized division of the squadron, the soldier had no baggage other than what he carried. Soldiers, however, often crowded into trucks carrying fuel or ammunition to get around. ”

"The lack of transport vehicles has a twofold impact: tactical and mental. Since the motorized division has far fewer vehicles than Western armies, it is more agile in its movements, and it is convenient for command, camouflage, and rail transport [Note: The ability of the Chinese [***] squadron to transport troops by rail is very strong, they do not have a 'rail transport map', nor do they have as precise calculations as the Western army commands, but they always have no time delay when they move troops from one place to another. ]。 The spiritual effects are also noteworthy. Every Western soldier has a stake in logistics, because logistics can bring them food and comfort so that their hard life can be carried by. If an army is annihilated in battle, survivors often gather around a picnic car or a train carrying a heavy load, taking refuge and finding some comfort. Even deserters and people suffering from bullet shock usually appear in these places under some pretext. This is not the same as the soldiers of the [***] squadron. The soldier of the squadron only has his weapons, there is no attraction in the rear, there is no picnic cart, there is no luggage cart, only his artillery, tank or machine gun can protect him, and if he loses these, he will lose everything. If he is wounded and goes to the rear, sooner or later he will have to be called to the battlefield again."

"This is the important benefit that the [***] team has less equipment and vehicles to bring them. The High Command of the Squadron is well aware of the psychology of its soldiers and is trying to turn their weaknesses into strengths. ”

"In this battle, the air force of the Chinese [***] squadron played an important role, although they began to lose a lot of money in the battle, because many planes were secretly sold to the Americans and the British by the Chinese political axe. However, this catastrophe was accompanied by an unexpected, large-scale revival that was only possible with the inexhaustible resources of a vast country. ”

"The Chinese Air Force has never been defeated by the Chinese Air Force, and it has also carried out several effective surprise attacks, causing great losses to the Chinese Air Force, but the Chinese Air Force still has air supremacy, but they cannot control all parts of the vast battlefield, and the [***] squadron often has partial air supremacy. So far, the situation has begun to have new changes, in the autumn, there are 1,500 first-line aircraft of the [***] team, but there are 14,000 in the middle [***] team, and the later number comparison is even more unfavorable to the [***] team. ”

"It should be noted that the combat effectiveness of the Air Force of the Medium [***] is somewhat disproportionate to the number of its troops. In the early months of the war, they lost a lot of aircrew, and although they were quickly replenished, these losses were actually very unnecessary. In addition, their aircraft, which are produced in batches, are much inferior to ours. It seems that the senior officers have not yet mastered well the principles of air force operations in modern conditions. ”

"The [***] squadron actually does not have a strategic air force. The surprise attack carried out by the long-range aviation unit of the [***] squadron did not cause the side to suffer greater losses. Sometimes, reconnaissance planes can fly 30 to 60 miles over the defense line of the Japanese army, but it is rare for bombers and fighters to fly more than 20 miles over the defense line of the Japanese army, and this is very beneficial to the defense line of the Japanese army, because even in the most difficult stage of the war, our troops and logistical supply units can smoothly move in the rear area. ”

"The aircraft of the squadron [***] perform only tactical tasks on the battlefield. Since the summer, their flocks of aircraft have flown over the battlefield from morning to night. Their heavily armored strike aircraft were designed for low-altitude attacks, and their pilots were all very heroic. Their night bombers usually come out alone, and their main purpose is to disturb the rest of their troops. Their ground-air coordination is constantly improving, their technical disadvantage is gradually disappearing, and in terms of tactics, they are always at an advantage, because the pilots of the book are not comparable to their pilots. ”

"China was the first country to attempt large-scale airborne and parachute operations. They trained thousands of paratroopers before the war. Despite the favorable timing, in this battle they did not make a large-scale airborne landing, but often used aircraft to replenish and reinforce the partisans. ”

"The role of the Chinese Air Force in future wars is difficult to predict. It seems that ground operations are still the main one, and a prominent feature of ground operations is the conduct of anti-tank operations. In any case, it would be unwise to underestimate their air power. Now their air force is constantly improving. Judging by the quality of the aircraft used by the Chinese in North Korea and Siberia, the Chinese Air Force still has great potential. At present, they have focused their attention on the development of the strategic air force, and their long-range bombers must not be taken lightly. ”

"The results achieved by the Bendi [***] team in China clearly prove that the [***] team is not invincible. Despite China's vast territory, muddy land and half-melted ice and snow in winter, and the lack of equipment and the number of troops, the victory of the Emperor [***] was indeed in sight. Even during the most critical period, the soldiers of the book never felt worse than the middle [***] team. However, the weakened team of Emperor Ben [***] was like a reef in the ocean, surrounded by endless waves of Chinese soldiers and tanks, rushing and colliding, and finally being drowned by them. Naturally, we cannot underestimate the Chinese team, and we must carefully and calmly analyze their strengths and weaknesses. As far as their combat capability is concerned, it is wrong to think that the [***] team is invincible due to the huge disparity in strength. The experience of the war shows that the [***] team of the Emperor Bendi has won some victories with a superior force of 1 to 5, and of course the troops they participate in the battle must be close to full strength. Sometimes, when the disparity in strength was even greater, they also emerged victorious. In this respect, the armies of other Western countries may not be stronger than those of Ben. ”

"The ground combat capability of the [***] squadron is the strongest, and the navy and air force are not very strong. Despite some post-war achievements, it is not so easy for the Chinese Air Force to reach the level of the air forces of Western countries. There is no doubt that the Chinese Navy has a lot to learn. In a future war, China's main forces will still be the ground forces, especially the largest number of tank forces. We expect them to launch a far-reaching offensive at lightning speed, and China's vast territory and the secret shield that conceals its activities will make China a formidable adversary of the West. ”

"No matter how powerful the air force is, it cannot stop the advance of the [***] squadron. The most urgent need for the armies of the Western world is the infantry that is born to the death, and they should be prepared to stop the assault of the [***] squadron with anti-tank weapons, and the West also needs to have strong tank and mechanized units to carry out a counterattack against the invading squadron [***] and repel it [Note: Although I have served in the tank unit almost all the time during the war years, I still emphasize the need for infantry. ]。 ”

"The soldiers of the German [***] squad should be carefully and systematically trained for this fateful battle. Not only tactical, but also physical training was arranged and planned so that our troops could meet the Chinese [***] team under equal conditions. We must take into account the peculiarities of the combat methods of the squadron and prepare accordingly. It is important to have courage, to act decisively, and to be prepared to take on great responsibilities. Strict discipline is also very important in fighting a war with the Chinese. And the physical training that is being strengthened is not enough to enable the soldiers to cope with the fierce struggle. ”

"The most important factor is the mental factor. We need to have an indomitable will to protect Western civilization from being undermined by the Chinese. ”

When Officer De [***] wrote this, a loud explosion was heard from nowhere, the ceiling above his head was shaken to the point of a rattling sound, and large clouds of dust fell and fell on his head, on his military uniform, and on his notebook. The German officer raised his head, looked at the top of his head, reached out and dusted off his body, shook the notebook, flicked the dust to the ground, and then continued his work, ignoring the panicked faces of the people not far away.

On December 24, 1942, General Zhong Liwei, commander of the Northern Group Army of the Chinese National Defense Forces, was interviewed by war correspondents of "Battlefield Daily" and "Every News" in his underground shelter at the foot of Mount Humart, and at the same time met with visiting famous writers and photojournalists at home and abroad.

Zhong Liwei, who had a sturdy body, broad chest, a big head and a round face, had just returned from his early morning bath, his cheeks were red and his face was radiant. His mood was particularly good, and he told reporters:

"On the first day of the offensive, Army Group North achieved the greatest success, with the 6th Tank Brigade and the 8th Mechanized Infantry Brigade encircling the flank of the Army. By December 21, it had occupied the rear area of the Syrian Army on the Southern Front, destroyed the tactical reserves close to the Japanese Army, and occupied several artillery positions. The army was tenacious, and every point of fire needed to be captured by storm, sometimes even with flamethrower tanks. Our air force fleet actively supported the ground forces, and on 21 December alone, more than 90 tons of bombs were dropped on the positions of the troops. ”

"On December 20, Army Group North, having occupied the positions of the Siberian garrison, reached the fortified heights of Serantura, but after a fierce battle, our troops were again beaten back. Therefore, the reserves of the army group were used, and the 9th Panzer Brigade and the 212th Paratrooper Brigade were thrown into the northern battle. In the early hours of this morning, the resistance of the Japanese army was crushed and the heights of Serantula were seized. In the fierce fighting of the flesh, 6,000 soldiers were killed, the trenches and shelters were full of corpses, and 52 heavy armored vehicles and 28 artillery pieces were destroyed. The plan to outflank and encircle the two flanks of the army group was completed in only 3 days. Our army formed a double encirclement network against the Japanese army, and the inner line was composed of infantry divisions, which were responsible for the attack; The outer line consisted of cavalry and chariots, and the task was mainly to blockade the border in order to close the door and fight the dogs. ”

Zhong Liwei introduced to the reporters while getting dressed. Suddenly, two reconnaissance staff officers came in and reported that they were concentrating a large number of troops, apparently preparing for a powerful counteroffensive. The reporters nervous, expecting the commander to be shocked. Zhong Liwei was calm. He judged that, according to what we had learned and aerial reconnaissance, the large forces of the Chinese army had not yet moved to the front line, and it was impossible for the existing strength of the 6th Army Corps on the frontline battlefield to carry out an effective counteroffensive, but on the contrary, it would make the strength of the defensive positions even weaker, and the counteroffensive of the Chinese army could only accelerate the early completion of the plan of the Chinese army to encircle and annihilate the Chinese army. Later battles proved that what had happened was exactly what he had judged.

On December 26, the attack of Major General Morita on the left flank of the Japanese Army was repulsed by the 6th Tank Brigade of the Central [***] Team. On December 27, the 23rd Division's attempt to break out of the encirclement failed. The Chinese Army Aviation Unit successfully prevented the 6th Army Corps from transferring the new reserve 14th Brigade into the combat area.

There are 1,500 meters of silt on both sides of the Errust River, where tanks are difficult to move, so it became a natural barrier for the army to defend the Babshetu Heights. However, General Zhong Liwei ordered the engineer troops to reinforce the beaches on both sides of the riverbed with sand and soil at night, and sent tanks to attack from this direction by surprise, which greatly alarmed the Japanese army. On the night of December 28, the 6th Tank Brigade and the L1st Tank Brigade of the Chinese [***] Brigade passed through the reinforced riverbed and besieged the 64th Infantry Wing and the 13th Field Artillery Wing.

On December 27, Zhong Liwei's Northern Group Army launched a campaign to encircle and annihilate the Haishan Heights Army. The defenders on the highlands of the sea and mountains were Yamada Daisa's 9th National Border Garrison, which numbered 20,000 infantry, 235 machine guns, 74 mortars, 67 rapid-fire guns, and 84 mountain guns. After a day and a night of fierce fighting, the Chinese [***] team completely annihilated the 8th National Border Garrison of Yamadabe. The Nagakigawa Brigade of the 28th Infantry Wing, which cooperated with Yamadabe's defense, was also annihilated at the same time. Zhong Liwei was already confident. It's no wonder that he was able to take a comfortable bath and meet reporters and writers happily.

Contrary to Zhong Liwei's relaxed and relaxed mood, Lieutenant General Ogizhou Libing, the commander of the 6th Army Corps of the Japanese Army, was borrowing wine to kill his sorrows.

Ogisu is a veritable drunkard, especially a whiskey drinker, drinking it when he is happy and even more so when he is sad.

Before the Battle of the Mulberry River, the soldiers of Ogizhou drank happy wine. He once said proudly: "None of the generals in the army are as lucky as me, I used to be just a division commander, but I didn't expect that here, there are four divisions and regiments called me to command." He was as happy as he had won the Golden Rooster Medal, and drank the whiskey in his glass in one gulp.

On December 25, when the army was surrounded, he drank whiskey. On December 29, the counteroffensive organized by the headquarters of the 6th Army Corps failed, and almost all the infantry and artillery wings on the front line were annihilated, and some of the commanders of the Osa level were killed in battle or some committed suicide, leaving only Lieutenant General Komatsubara, commander of the 23rd Division, and 6,000 remnants of the remaining troops of each wing, trapped in the positions of the division headquarters. Outside the position, the central [***] team was surrounded by layers, and the situation was extremely critical.

(To be continued)