Devil's Army

The Japanese and puppet troops from Anqing and Tongling arrived in Chaoxian County and, in coordination with the Japanese troops surrounding Chaoxian, launched a fierce attack on the county.

At that time, the troops stationed in Chaoxian included the directly subordinate troops of the 1st Regiment of the 5th Brigade, three battalions of the 3rd Regiment of the 5th Brigade, and the Chaohu Detachment of the 7th Division of the New Fourth Army.

This time, the Japanese army assembled a force of 50,000 Japanese and puppet troops and marched straight towards Chaoxian from Hefei, Wuhu, Tongling, and Anqing.

Moreover, the air force and navy were deployed to participate in the battle.

It would be difficult to stop them with just the 10,000-strong Fifth Brigade and the New Fourth Army around Chaoxian County.

Meanwhile, after the First Army's Independent Brigade assisted in clearing out the Japanese and puppet troops' strongholds in the towns and villages surrounding Chuzhou City, it was launching a full-scale attack on Hefei from the east and north.

After crossing the Huai River through the Nanjing government's defense zone in Fuyang, the 15th Brigade is now attacking Lu'an.

Commander-in-Chief Zhang wanted to transfer two regiments each from the Independent Brigade and the 15th Brigade to assist the 5th Brigade Commander in defending Chaoxian County.

They could slow down their advance on Hefei and Lu'an. But the Fifth Brigade Commander did not agree.

He deployed troops along the routes of the advancing Japanese forces, and with the assistance of local New Fourth Army units and guerrillas, they blocked the Japanese advance layer by layer, making it difficult for the various Japanese forces to complete the encirclement of Chaoxian County.

Then, the Qingdao naval fleet and the 1st naval squadron of the Qingdao naval forces severely damaged the Japanese fleets in Wuhu and Southeast Asia.

After several days of fierce fighting, the First Air Force also defeated the Japanese air force regiments in Anhui and Hubei.

This greatly boosted the confidence of the Fifth Brigade Commander.

While the Japanese troops in Tongling and Anqing launched a fierce attack on Chaoxian, the Third Regiment of the Fifth Brigade, the Jiangbei Guerrilla Column of the New Fourth Army, and the main force of the Seventh Division of the New Fourth Army, which were responsible for blocking the attack, also rushed to Chaoxian from Wuwei County and Yinping Mountain area.

After the 4th Regiment of the 5th Brigade captured Dangtu County, He County, and Hanshan County, some troops and the New Fourth Army were left behind to defend these counties.

Two battalions of troops also marched urgently to Chaoxian County to provide reinforcements.

During their attack on Chaoxian County, the Japanese troops in Tongling and Anqing were constantly attacked and obstructed by the New Fourth Army and the "Devil's Force".

They vented their anger on the devilish troops and the New Fourth Army in Chaoxian County, launching wave after wave of fierce attacks.

With the support of the artillery of the Fifth Brigade, the troops stationed in Chaoxian County tenaciously resisted the Japanese army's frenzied attack.

Due to the fierce artillery fire of the Japanese army, many sections of the south gate city wall of Chaoxian County were bombed and collapsed by the Japanese army in Anqing.

The commander of the 3rd Regiment of the 5th Brigade ordered rocket troops to be used as artillery on the city wall, and they fiercely bombarded the attacking Japanese troops.

The soldiers took the opportunity to use sandbags and debris to plug up the collapsed city wall again.

After lunch, the Japanese troops in Anqing launched another fierce attack on Chaoxian County. The south gate of Chaoxian County was in imminent danger.

The Fifth Brigade Commander transferred the First Regiment's directly subordinate troops to reinforce them. They were determined to hold off the Japanese attack for two days. Within two days, the troops responsible for blocking the Japanese outside Chaoxian County would be able to return to reinforce them.

At this time, the Japanese army in Tongling also launched a fierce attack on the west gate of Chaoxian County. The west gate of Chaoxian County was also in dire need of repairs.

The Fifth Brigade Commander personally led the Fifth Brigade's directly subordinate troops to the West Gate for reinforcement.

The Fifth Brigade Commander knew that even if he sent a telegram to Commander Zhang requesting the Independent Brigade and the 15th Brigade to come and reinforce him, it would be of no use.

He is now pinning his hopes on their outer blocking forces returning as soon as possible to provide reinforcements.

Fortunately, on this day, the First Army's air force repelled the Japanese air force regiments in Anhui and Hubei.

After they replenished their ammunition, two squadrons of fighter-bombers rushed to Chaoxian County to provide support.

Under the intense bombing and strafing by the First Army Air Force, the Japanese artillery in Tongling and Anqing was unable to exert its power.