Bright Sword: Construction starts from southeastern Shanxi

-Northeast Front Battlefield: The Japanese 33rd Division and about 5 troops attacked Dongfeng Town from Yangcheng. The Chinese defending 98th Army fought fiercely with the Japanese, causing heavy casualties to the Japanese. However, on May 13, the Dongfeng position was breached and the 98th Army broke through.

war result

The Chinese army suffered heavy losses. Public records from the Nationalist government show that 13751 Chinese soldiers were killed, wounded, poisoned, or missing. Japanese statistics show that "approximately 35000 Chinese soldiers were captured, and 42000 bodies were abandoned." The Japanese suffered 670 killed and 2292 wounded. The Japanese completely occupied southern Shanxi north of the Yellow River.

Battle impact

From a military and strategic perspective, the Chinese military's defenses in North China were impacted, easing the military pressure on the Japanese in the region and making the battle in North China more arduous. Politically, the battle sparked domestic public concern and reflection, fostering greater unity among various domestic forces. Internationally, it allowed the international community to witness the Chinese people's resolve and courage in the war of resistance, strengthening international support and sympathy for China's war. Economically, the Zhongtiao Mountain region suffered massive economic damage, leaving farmland barren and factories destroyed. On a national spiritual level, the heroic performance of the Chinese military and civilians during the battle galvanized the nation's patriotic enthusiasm and will to resist the Japanese.

The Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain: A Contest of Blood and Fire

Zhongtiao Mountain, located in southern Shanxi, is a natural barrier stretching north of the Yellow River. Its strategic location is crucial, and it was considered a key line of defense during China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. In May 1941, a fierce battle, known as the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, broke out there. This battle not only directly clashed the military forces of China and Japan, but also profoundly impacted the course of China's war.

In 1941, Japan, seeking to quickly resolve the China Incident, set its sights on the Zhongtiao Mountains. Conceived as an obstacle to further expansion of their aggression, the Japanese army meticulously planned a large-scale offensive, attempting to destroy the Chinese defenses in the mountains and open up a strategic route. The Japanese assembled the 33rd, 35th, 37th, and 41st Divisions, totaling over 10 troops, under the command of Lieutenant General Yoshio Iwamatsu, commander of the First Army of the North China Front.

Faced with the threat of the Japanese army, the Chinese army deployed nearly 20 troops in the Zhongtiao Mountains, commanded by Wei Lihuang, commander-in-chief of the First War Zone. However, due to various reasons, the Chinese army's pre-war preparations were insufficient, and the command system was relatively chaotic, which laid the hidden dangers for the defeat of the battle.

On the evening of May 7, 1941, the Japanese army launched a full-scale offensive. On the eastern front, approximately 25,000 Japanese troops, including the 35th Division, with the support of puppet troops, attacked Jiyuan and Mengxian counties in multiple directions. Pei Changhui's 9th Army, a Chinese defender, put up a fierce resistance but was forced to retreat westward due to the fierce Japanese offensive. Fengmenkou was a crucial defensive line, where fierce fighting ensued. Leveraging superior firepower, the Japanese launched continuous assaults, finally breaching the Fengmenkou position on May 10. The Japanese quickly seized various ferry crossings along the Yellow River, effectively encircling the Kuomintang's 14th Army.

The battle on the western front was equally intense. The Japanese 37th Division, including approximately 25,000 men, advanced toward Zhangdian Town. In the early morning of May 8th, taking advantage of darkness, the Japanese army stealthily approached the defensive lines of the Chinese 80th and 27th Divisions. Then, the Japanese launched a surprise attack, bombarding the Chinese positions with heavy artillery. The 80th and 27th Divisions put up a staunch resistance, but the Japanese continued to reinforce their forces, gradually breaking through the defenses. The 80th Army suffered heavy casualties in the battle, with several officers losing their lives.

On the northern front, the Japanese 41st Division, including approximately 30,000 troops, launched a fierce attack from the direction of Hengling Pass. Utilizing advanced weaponry and powerful artillery support, the Japanese army bombarded the Chinese defenders' positions relentlessly. On May 8, the Japanese army occupied the Shibaping position east of Yuanqu. In a blatant violation of international conventions, the Japanese army deployed poison gas to break through Chinese resistance. Under the attack of the poison gas, the Chinese defenders suffered heavy casualties and were forced to abandon their positions. By dusk, the Japanese army had captured Yuanqu, dividing the Zhongtiaoshan defenders into eastern and western ends, throwing the Chinese defense system into disarray.

On the Northeast Front, the Japanese 33rd Division, including approximately 5 troops, attacked Dongfeng Town from Yangcheng. The Chinese defending 98th Army engaged in a fierce battle for the position. The 98th Army fought bravely, inflicting heavy casualties on the Japanese. However, the Japanese constantly adjusted their tactics and deployed additional troops. On May 13, the Dongfeng position was breached, and the 98th Army was forced to break out.

Under fierce Japanese attacks, the Chinese army was in dire straits. Wei Lihuang, commander-in-chief of the First War Zone, ordered the main force to split off and break out, leaving some troops to conduct guerrilla warfare in the Zhongtiao Mountains. During the breakout, these units encountered pursuit and interception by the Japanese, inflicting heavy losses. Some units fought desperate battles and ultimately broke through; others, outnumbered, were surrounded and killed or captured.

Despite a valiant resistance at the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, the Chinese army ultimately suffered a crushing defeat due to insufficient pre-war preparation, a disorganized command system, and disparate equipment. The Chinese army suffered tens of thousands of casualties, poisonings, and missing persons, while the Japanese achieved their strategic objective of capturing Zhongtiao Mountain at a fraction of the cost. The defeat at Zhongtiao Mountain further expanded Japanese influence in North China, posing a more severe challenge to China's war of resistance. However, the battle also instilled in the Chinese military and civilians a profound understanding of the arduous nature of the war and galvanized the nation's resolve to fight.