The 74th Division of the 74th Army of the National Revolutionary Army was a top force in the Chinese Kuomintang army, commanded by the famous general Zhang Lingfu. In the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, this unit won the reputation of the "Anti-Japanese Iron Army" for its brave, tenacious, fearless and sacrificial fighting style. However, in the War of Liberation, especially in the famous Battle of Menglianggu, the division was completely annihilated by the People's Liberation Army, and the causes of this outcome were extremely diverse and profound.
From the perspective of actual combat, the combat effectiveness of the 74th Division is not as outstanding as traditionally believed. As a key pillar of the Kuomintang army, the unit relied too much on artillery equipment, lacked sufficient attention to the fighting spirit of infantry in hand-to-hand combat, and lacked commanders with superior leadership skills and decision-making skills. At the time of the Menglianggu Campaign, the combat effectiveness of the 74th Division was actually not as good as it seemed on the surface. In the early days of the Battle of Fuyang, the troops led by Qiu Weida were in trouble.
Problems of coordination within the Kuomintang army and differences in combat effectiveness between different ranks were also among the factors that contributed to the defeat. The final destruction of the Battle of Menglianggu was unbearable for Chiang Kai-shek, so he appointed Wang Yaowu, the former deputy commander of the second appeasement zone, to reorganize. Wang Yaowu strongly recommended Qiu Weida as the division commander, and Qiu Weida's unique experience had a certain impact on the combat effectiveness of the reorganized 74th Division.
The combat strength of the PLA is also an important factor that cannot be ignored. Under the careful tutelage of Su Yu, commander-in-chief and political commissar of the East China Field Army, the PLA has demonstrated outstanding strategic thinking and outstanding fighting qualities. Under the guidance of specific tactics and strategies, and relying on the active support of the general public, the East China Field Army successfully targeted the 74th Division and completely destroyed it in a fierce battle.
We can conclude that the failure of the reorganized 74th Division was mainly due to the multifaceted problems that existed within the unit, and was also limited by the inconsistencies and differences in combat effectiveness between factions within the Kuomintang army, as well as the powerful threat of the 3rd Field Army of the PLA. This struggle was exceptionally difficult and brutal, showing us the brutality and complexity of military struggle.