Devil's Army

The Japanese army once again launched a fierce attack on the defense line of the 200th Division in Tonggu. However, the morale of the officers and soldiers of the 200th Division in Tonggu had greatly increased, and they stubbornly blocked the attack of the Japanese army.

The Japanese army launched two large-scale attacks in succession, both of which were repelled by the soldiers of the 200th Division.

The Japanese army had no choice but to retreat and wait for the artillery units to arrive tomorrow before continuing the attack.

At about nine o'clock the next morning, the Japanese artillery reinforcements arrived and soon launched a fierce bombardment on the positions of the 200th Division.

Before the Japanese infantry launched an attack, Captain Yi arrived with an army and an air force.

With the previous experience of the destruction of the previous artillery unit, the Japanese artillery immediately stopped bombing and hid.

The First Army's air force then launched a fierce bombing and strafing attack on the exposed Japanese infantry.

In order to break the siege of the 200th Division in the Battle of Tonggu, the newly formed 22nd Division of the Chinese Expeditionary Force encountered the Japanese army at Yongkegang north of Tonggu when it was reinforced and was stubbornly blocked by the Japanese army.

Although there were reinforcements from the First Anti-Japanese Army Air Force, the Japanese ground forces and artillery took advantage of the First Anti-Japanese Army Air Force's return to intensify the bombing and attack on the Tonggu position.

Commander Dai led all the officers and soldiers of the division in a bloody battle with the Japanese army for 12 days, but the newly formed 22nd Division still failed to break through the Japanese army's blockade and come to reinforce.

Commander Dai had no choice but to lead the officers and soldiers of the 200th Division to abandon the Tonggu position and retreat!

It is sad that General Dai, a famous anti-Japanese general, was ambushed by the Japanese army on his retreat and died of his injuries, sacrificing his life for his country.

The first battle of the Chinese Expeditionary Force in Burma ended in failure.

Subsequently, the Japanese 55th Division continued to move north and fought fiercely with the Chinese Expeditionary Force's 200th Division, 96th Division, New 22nd Division, an artillery regiment and an armored corps in Pingmanna.

Under the leadership of Captain Yin, the Second Air Force of the First Army intensified its air strikes against the Japanese 55th and 18th Divisions.

This resulted in the Japanese artillery being unable to effectively support infantry operations.

During the battle, the 5th Army originally planned to use the 96th Division to meet the Japanese army in Pingmanna, and after the Japanese army was exhausted, the 200th Division and the new 22nd Division would launch a pincer attack from the outside.

96师在平满纳至塔泽之间成功阻击日军18、55两个师团达8天，击毙日军1300多人。

However, due to the rapid retreat of the British Army on the western front, the Chinese Expeditionary Force's defense line on the eastern front was in crisis, and the 5th Army in the center was in danger of being surrounded by the Japanese Army. It was finally forced to abandon the Pingmanna Battle plan on April 1942, 4 and retreat northward.

At this time, Leng Feng and Huilang also knew that the Chinese Expeditionary Force was defeated in Pingmanna and the tragic migration to the Wild Man Mountain was about to take place.

Leng Feng implicitly suggested to the leader that the road back to China from the Wild Man Mountain was not feasible, and that they should retreat to India with General Shi. However, Commander Du of the Chinese Expeditionary Force was unwilling to live under someone else's roof, and believed that he would rather die on Chinese soil.

Thus, the most tragic strategic shift in history took place.

The 5th Army Headquarters and the new 22nd Division went from Wenzuo, Banmao, and Manxi to the Wuyou River, a tributary of the Chindwin River, and then went up the river to Hangba, then to Mengguan in the Hukawng Valley, crossed the Kumen Ridge through Sunbulabang to Putao, and finally crossed the Gaoligong Mountains to the east to reach Fugong, Yunnan. However, they encountered many unimaginable difficulties and obstacles during the retreat (Wild Man Mountain).

The main force of the 96th Division went from Menggong via the Menggong Valley to Mengguan. After replenishing food in Mengguan, it crossed the Kumen Ridge and passed Sunbulabeng, arriving at Putao on June 6, and finally crossed the Gaoligong Mountains to the east, arriving at Fugong, Yunnan on August 4.

After the new 38th Division assumed the cover mission, it refused the order of Army Commander Du and headed west from Wenzuo on May 5, passing Pinglebu, crossing the Chindwin River in Pangbin on the 13th, and arriving at Imphal South on the 18th. Liu Fangwu's troops evacuated Kasa on May 27 and crossed the Chindwin River from Nanxianqing on June 5, following the retreat route of the commander's troops.