Bright Sword: Construction starts from southeastern Shanxi

Japanese Background: At the end of 1940, Japan adjusted its war strategy against China, stating that the "Chinese Incident must be resolved quickly." Believing that Chiang Kai-shek's direct clique was stationed in the Zhongtiao Mountains of southern Shanxi in northern China, the Japanese army formulated a plan to launch a campaign there in 1941.

Pre-War Department

- Japanese forces: Utilizing 63 battalions, the Japanese blockaded China's southeastern coast and launched the Southern Henan and Shanggao Campaigns on the front lines. The main force of the 1st Army was deployed along the Zhangma-Yuanqu line, operating in eastern and western sectors, with a focus on the western sector. Utilizing the Yellow River and established positions, the Japanese advanced forces drove in a wedge to cut off the Chinese army's retreat, deploying a double encirclement and forming an advance force to seize key points on the north bank of the Yellow River.

-China: The Military Committee of the Nationalist Government in Chongqing determined the principle of "strengthening fortifications in Zhongtiao Mountain and Tongluo, and actively conducting training." On April 28, it decided on a plan to "strengthen position fortifications, destroy the roads blocking the main position, and strike first to break the enemy's offensive." However, due to the complexity of the command system and Wei Lihuang's absence, none of the strategies had been implemented as of May 5.

War process

Phase One: On the evening of May 7, 1941, the Japanese army, supported by air support, launched a full-scale offensive from the east, west, and north. On the eastern front, the 35th Division, comprising approximately 25,000 troops, with the support of puppet troops, attacked Jiyuan and Mengxian. Pei Changhui's troops of the Chinese 9th Army retreated westward, and the Fengmenkou position was breached on the 10th. On the western front, the 37th Division, comprising approximately 25,000 troops, attacked Zhangdian Town. In the early morning of May 8, the defenses of the Chinese 80th and 27th Divisions were breached. On the northern front, the 41st Division, comprising approximately 30,000 troops, launched a fierce attack from Hengling Pass, seizing the Shibaping position east of Yuanqu on May 8. They then deployed poison gas to force the Chinese defenders to abandon their positions, and captured Yuanqu at dusk. On the northeastern front, the 33rd Division, comprising approximately 10,000 troops, attacked Dongfeng Town from Yangcheng. The Chinese 98th Army engaged in fierce fighting, and the Dongfeng position was breached.

Phase Two: After the Japanese forces from the east and west opened up the Jiyuan-Yuanqu Highway, they advanced on the Chinese forces north of the Jiangxian-Yuanqu Highway, encircling and annihilating them. The Chinese defenders fought a tough battle. The commander-in-chief of the First War Zone ordered the main force to split up and break out, with some remaining in the Zhongtiao Mountains to conduct guerrilla warfare. On May 19, the KMT's 3rd and 17th Armies arrived in Jishan and Xiangning, respectively, for rest and recuperation. Parts of the 98th Army broke out to the north of Qinshui, while parts of the 15th Army moved north of Jiyuan-Yuanqu to conduct guerrilla warfare.

war result

The Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain lasted for twenty days. Japanese statistics showed that "approximately 35000 Chinese soldiers were captured, with 42000 bodies abandoned; 670 Japanese soldiers were killed and 2292 wounded." Public records from the Nationalist government show that the Chinese side killed and wounded 9900 Japanese soldiers, while 13751 Chinese soldiers were killed, wounded, poisoned, or missing. The battle ended in defeat for the Chinese army, and the Japanese completely occupied southern Shanxi north of the Yellow River.

The general situation of the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain is as follows:

Basic Information

The Zhongtiaoshan Campaign, also known as the "Southern Shanxi Campaign" and the "Central Plains Campaign" by the Japanese, was a large-scale frontal campaign launched by the Kuomintang army against the Japanese in Shanxi Province after the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression entered a stalemate phase. It took place from May 7 to May 27, 1941.

Forces of both sides

-China: The commander-in-chief of the First War Zone led seven Central Army armies, a total of 16 divisions, and nearly 200,000 troops.

-Japanese side: Commanded by Lieutenant General Yoshio Iwamatsu, commander of the 1st Army of the Japanese North China Front Army, with a total of about 100,000 troops.

war history

- Eastern Front: The Japanese 35th Division and about 25,000 others, in cooperation with the puppet army, attacked Jiyuan and Mengxian. The Chinese 9th Army's Pei Changhui troops retreated westwards, and the Fengmenkou position was breached on May 10. Later, the Japanese army occupied all the ferry crossings along the Yellow River, achieving an inner encirclement of the Kuomintang 14th Army.

-Western Front: The Japanese 37th Division and about 25,000 others attacked Zhangdian Town. In the early morning of May 8, the defense line of the Chinese defenders, the 80th Division and the 27th Division, was breached. The 80th Army suffered heavy casualties and many officers were killed.

-Northern Front: The Japanese 41st Division and about 30,000 troops launched a fierce attack from Hengling Pass and occupied the Shibaping position east of Yuanqu on May 8. They then released poison gas to force the Chinese defenders to abandon their positions. They occupied Yuanqu at dusk, and the defenders of Zhongtiao Mountain were cut in two.