Devil's Army

In early spring, the forests on the southern slopes of Changbai Mountain are covered with a thin layer of ice, and the north wind whips up snowflakes that cut like noodles.

The second column of Japanese troops, numbering nearly 10,000, advanced in a mighty force. Their steel helmets gleamed coldly, and grenade launchers and mortars followed closely behind the infantry. Their iron hooves crushed the barren grass and frozen soil of the Hengshan Plateau, and the dust and smoke reached all the way to Malugou Town.

The soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment, 2nd Border Defense Brigade had already built three lines of defense, relying on the ravines, hills, and houses at the town entrance. Light and heavy machine guns were set up behind cover, riflemen lay prone in the snow gullies, and hand grenades were placed at hand. They set up defenses layer by layer and waited for the enemy to come.

When the Japanese vanguard approached within 100 meters, the battalion commander gave the order, and the first line of defense suddenly opened fire.

The fire from light and heavy machine guns tore through the silence, and grenades exploded in the enemy ranks, creating a snowy mist.

The Japanese vanguard fell to the ground in response, and the follow-up troops hurriedly lay down to return fire. Mortars and grenade launchers then bombarded our bunkers.

The shells blasted up a sky full of frozen soil and snow, and the bunkers collapsed one after another. Many soldiers were buried but still fired desperately.

After repelling three Japanese attacks, the first line of defense of the company suffered two-thirds casualties. The remaining troops retreated while fighting, according to the pre-arranged plan, and joined the second line of defense to continue the blocking action by relying on the streets and alleys of Malugou Town.

The Japanese army quickly surrounded Malugou Town and launched a fierce artillery bombardment.

At this time, the Japanese field artillery units also arrived and launched another artillery bombardment of Malugou Town.

Under the combined bombardment of Japanese mortars and field guns, all the surface fortifications of Malugou Town were destroyed.

Before the Japanese troops even launched their attack, the Second Company had already suffered nearly half casualties.

When the Japanese launched their attack, the remaining soldiers of the Second Company joined forces with the soldiers of the First Company to launch a fierce counterattack against the Japanese.

After nearly an hour of fierce fighting, the Japanese army stormed into Malugou Town through the collapsed city walls and gates.

Soldiers from the First and Second Companies used the walls of civilian houses, corners of walls, and alleyways to resist step by step, constantly harassing the Japanese army with sniper fire and sniper bullets.

Relying on its superior numbers, the Japanese army advanced street by street, using flamethrowers to sweep across the houses where our troops were hiding, the flames turning half the sky red.

The town was filled with smoke, shouts of battle, gunfire, and the sound of collapsing buildings.

At this time, the third and fourth companies of the second battalion also rushed over to provide reinforcements.

The defensive line, which was about to be breached by the Japanese army, was temporarily stabilized thanks to the efforts of the Third and Fourth Companies.

The Japanese artillery then launched a fierce bombardment of the Second Battalion's positions, and houses collapsed one after another under the Japanese artillery fire.

Fortunately, the city's residents had been evacuated to Changbai City before the war; otherwise, they would have suffered considerable casualties during the Japanese artillery's relentless bombardment.

After the shelling, the soldiers of the First Battalion crawled out of the ruins and put up a stubborn resistance.

In order to save time, the Japanese army did not stop their attack at night. This gave the soldiers of the First Battalion no chance to catch their breath.

Despite their fierce fighting, the soldiers of the First Battalion were outnumbered and their defensive line was repeatedly torn apart by Japanese artillery and machine gun fire. The companies and platoons suffered heavy casualties, and the entire battalion lost more than half its men.

The battle raged until the morning of the next day. The Second Battalion was broken up, but it continued to fight independently, holding back the enemy's advance and buying time for the subsequent deployment of defenses in the city.

In the afternoon, the delay mission was completed, and the Second Battalion was in danger of being surrounded and annihilated by the Japanese army.

The regimental headquarters issued a retreat order, and the remaining soldiers covered each other, taking advantage of the dust and darkness of the streets, and retreated towards Changbai City while fighting.

The Japanese troops pursued relentlessly, but were met with successive resistance from the rearguard forces under Nisuga. Furthermore, the continuous resistance resulted in significant casualties and greatly slowed their advance.

Ultimately, the remaining troops of the First Battalion withdrew into Changbai City and joined forces with the Fourth Regiment of the Second Border Defense Brigade, preparing to continue fighting the Japanese army to the death in the city.