Devil's Army

When the Japanese troops in Hebi City entered Changzhi, Shanxi Province from Xiangtangpu, Hebei Province, they were blocked by the 16th Regiment of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army.

Xiangtangpu is located west of She County, Hebei Province and east of Dongyangguan, Licheng County, Shanxi Province.

The terrain here is dangerous, with mountains over a thousand meters above sea level on both the north and south sides.

In 1938, the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army successfully carried out the Xiangtangpu ambush here.

This time, the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army repeated its old tricks and ambushed the Japanese here. However, the Japanese troops attacking Changzhi, Shanxi this time were much larger in number and had stronger firepower than the previous one.

Although the First Army's air force was ordered to rush over to reinforce and bomb the Japanese attacking forces, the Japanese arranged mortars to continuously bomb the positions of the 386th Brigade during the intervals between the air force bombings.

Light and heavy machine gun bullets were fired at the positions of the 386th Brigade as if they were free.

While the Japanese air force was returning, the Japanese artillery launched a covering bombing on the Xiangtangpu position of the 386th Brigade.

The 386th Brigade resisted the Japanese army's desperate attack for half a day, suffered heavy casualties, and was finally ordered to retreat to Changzhi, Shanxi.

The Japanese army then passed through Xiangtangpu and entered Shentouling, southeast of Changzhi.

Shentouling is located in the Taihang Mountains, 25 kilometers northeast of Lucheng District, Changzhi City.

The terrain here is dangerous, with narrow ridges and deep ravines, making it difficult for the enemy's vehicles and cavalry to move around. There are also old fortifications and grass.

The 4th Regiment of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Army ambushed here and launched a surprise attack on the Japanese army.

The Japanese army repelled the arrogant 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army. The vanguard troops advanced alone and were ambushed by the 4th Regiment at Shentouling.

When the reinforcements came, they were blocked by the First Army Air Force.

The soldiers of the Fourth Regiment on Shentouling continuously fired mortars and rockets at the Japanese vanguard troops on the narrow road.

In less than an hour, the Japanese vanguard was completely wiped out by the Fourth Regiment.

The Japanese commander was furious when he saw his vanguard destroyed, but he could do nothing as they were under air attack from the Devil Force Air Force.

When the First Army Air Force returned, the Japanese commander roared wildly and ordered his soldiers to fire at the soldiers of the Fourth Regiment of Shentouling.

At the same time, the Japanese army urgently called for more artillery support.

Soon, shells fell like raindrops around Shentouling, and dust and smoke filled the air.

The soldiers of the Fourth Regiment hid in old fortifications and bushes, responding calmly and calmly. They took advantage of the terrain and flexibly moved positions to avoid Japanese artillery fire.

When the Japanese artillery fire paused for a moment, the soldiers launched another attack, and bullets flew towards the Japanese army like locusts.

At this time, the First Army's air force quickly arrived and circled in the air, looking for the best opportunity to attack. They targeted the Japanese artillery positions and dropped bombs one after another, instantly blowing the Japanese artillery positions to pieces.

The 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army took the opportunity to launch an attack on the Japanese army from the flank.

The soldiers of the Fourth Battalion of the Fourth Regiment also launched a frontal rebellion against the Japanese army.

Caught between the Devil Army and the Eighth Route Army, the Japanese army fell into chaos.

They ran around like headless flies, suffering heavy casualties.

The soldiers of the Fourth Regiment seized the opportunity and launched a general attack, shouting loud slogans and rushing towards the Japanese army like a tiger descending from the mountain.

After a fierce battle, the Japanese reinforcements were successfully repelled, and Shentouling once again became the burial place of the Japanese army.