Devil's Army

In order to support the infantry's advance into Chaoxian, the Japanese army in Anqing continued to bombard the fortifications of the "Devil Unit" on the walls of Chaoxian, despite the bombing by the "Devil Unit" air force.

But his move was tantamount to killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Although their infantry, under the cover of artillery, once stormed into the city and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the devil's troops.

However, their artillery was completely destroyed under the fierce bombing of the Devil Forces' air force.

After destroying their artillery positions, the Devil Force air force launched a frenzied strafing and bombing raid on the attacking Japanese infantry.

Japanese infantry reinforcements to the city were blown away along with the soil by a barrage of aerial bombs.

The Japanese troops that stormed into the city were quickly wiped out by the First Army and the New Fourth Army due to a lack of reinforcements.

This fierce attack by the Japanese army in Anqing was repelled with the support of the First Army Air Force.

The soldiers immediately began repairing the destroyed fortifications and city walls. However, they were met with fierce bombardment from Japanese mortars and grenade launchers.

In order to capture Chaoxian, the Japanese and puppet troops in Anqing, Tongling, and the remaining Japanese and puppet troops in Chaoxian split into three routes and launched a continuous and fierce attack on Chaoxian again, braving the bombing of the devilish air force.

The Japanese army broke through the defense lines at the south and west gates of Chaoxian County one after another.

The Japanese troops were entangled with the First Army and the New Fourth Army in the city, making it impossible for the air force to carry out bombing. They could only launch fierce bombing and strafing attacks on the Japanese reinforcements to slow down the Japanese advance on Chaoxian.

When Chaoxian was in imminent danger, soldiers from the 3rd and 4th Regiments of the 5th Brigade rushed back to Chaoxian and launched an attack on the Japanese army from the rear.

The Japanese follow-up troops were attacked and unable to fully support the Japanese troops that had entered Chaoxian County.

Commander Kumagai urgently ordered the Japanese and puppet troops in Hefei and Wuhu to rush to Chaoxian County and defeat the devilish troops and the New Fourth Army outside Chaoxian County.

The Japanese army in Hefei intensified its attack on the positions in Sanbingzhen.

The 1st Battalion of the 1st Regiment of the 5th Brigade and the 22nd Regiment of the 7th Division of the New Fourth Army suffered heavy casualties while resisting the Japanese army's attack on Hefei for many days.

Now, Major Hefei Kawada is launching a full-scale attack on Sanbing Town, and the battalion commander has also transferred all the logistics soldiers to participate in the battle.

The 22nd Regiment of the New Fourth Army also requested support from the 7th Division through the radio of the 1st Battalion.

The 7th Division of the New Fourth Army urgently dispatched the 23rd Regiment, which was holding back the Japanese army in Chaoxian County at Jiangjiahekou, to Sanbingzhen as reinforcements.

Just as the battle was raging, Major Kawada received a telegram.

Originally, the First Army Independent Brigade, which had replaced the Fifth Brigade from the direction of Chuzhou, launched a three-pronged attack on Hefei. They had already broken through the city wall defenses and were advancing deeper into Hefei County.

Hefei County is just as important as Chaoxian County.

Hefei is located on the watershed between the Yangtze and Huai Rivers, and guards major transportation lines such as the Huainan Railway (connecting Bengbu and Wuhu) and the Hefei-Lu'an Highway. It was a necessary route for the Japanese army to open up the connection between Central and Eastern China and plunder the resources of Anhui.

Hefei County has always been an important town in the military struggle between China and Japan.

Therefore, Division Commander Kumagai agreed to allow Major Kawada to lead his troops back to Hefei as quickly as possible.

This led to a scene that surprised both the battalion commander and the commander of the 22nd Regiment of the New Fourth Army:

Just as the two sides were locked in fierce fighting, the Japanese army suddenly withdrew without warning.

In order to relieve the pressure on the Fifth Brigade in Chaoxian County, Brigade Commander Zhang of the Independent Brigade ordered all units to intensify their attack on Hefei, and at the same time arranged for the Fourth Regiment to march quickly to Chaoxian County to provide support.

Brigade Commander Zhang received a telegram from the Fifth Brigade Commander informing him that the Japanese troops attacking Sanbing Town in Hefei were returning to reinforce Hefei.

Immediately arrange for the three regiments to set up defenses in Feidong County, which has already been recaptured, to block the Japanese army from returning to Hefei.