Text|Historical Curiosity.
The article was first published by the Headline of the Institute of Historical Knowledge.
In the land of China in the 30s of the 20th century, the sound of the iron hooves of the Japanese invaders was approaching day by day. At the same time, China's domestic political forces are playing and internal conflicts are complex.
At this critical juncture in history, the Battle of Songhu erupted in connection with a little-known feud between Dai Li, the head of China's intelligence agency, and Chiang Kai-shek, the country's leader at the time.
Chiang Kai-shek, as president of the Chinese Kuomintang, was at the center of power, but he was undecided whether to declare war on Japan.
Dai Li, one of the most controversial figures in modern Chinese history, was not only Chiang Kai-shek's protégé, but also his right-hand man and confidantIt is not only relied on by Jiang, but also suspicious by Jiang.
Because of his special status and power, he is known as the "godfather" of China's intelligence community. Since the "77" Lugou Bridge Incident, a huge anti-Japanese upsurge has been set off on the land of China. This anti-Japanese upsurge swept through the whole of China like a torrent.
Both in the cities and in the countryside, people threw themselves into this great struggle for national liberation. The students walked out of the classroom, the workers laid down their tools, and the peasants put down their hoes, and worked together to resist the Japanese invaders.
However, as the supreme leader of the Kuomintang, Chiang Kai-shek put forward the viewpoint that the outside world must first be at home, and pursued a reactionary policy of compromising with Japan and going all out to "suppress the Communists".
This was first seen on July 23, 1931, when Chiang Kai-shek issued a telegram to the compatriots across the country at the Nanchang camp. After the September 18 Incident, Chiang Kai-shek adopted the doctrine of non-resistance, which caused the Northeast region to be occupied by the Japanese army within four months.
In June 1932, Chiang Kai-shek officially announced the "policy of first securing the interior of the country before attacking the outside world" at the "clean-up" conference of the five provinces of Lushan, believing that Japanese aggression was secondary, and that the primary task of the Kuomintang was to stabilize the domestic situation, concentrate on "exterminating" the workers' and peasants' Red Army under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and only by reunifying could it resist insults.
This policy has further fueled the arrogance of Japanese aggression and aroused strong opposition from the people of the whole country. However, Chiang Kai-shek, before and after the Xi'an Incident and the July 7 Incident, finally gave up the erroneous policy of fighting against Japan and embarked on the road of resistance against Japan.
This was a historic change, and leading and directing the Battle of Songhu was also the most important and concentrated manifestation of Chiang Kai-shek's historic change in the early days of the Anti-Japanese War.
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In this battle, the Chinese side showed an active posture of resistance against Japan, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent victory of the war of resistance.
However, the unfolding of the Battle of Songhu was not as simple as the historical materials in front of us today, and there was always a debate within the Kuomintang about whether to start a war against Japan.
Between 11 July and 12 August, the Kuomintang Nanjing High Command convened a total of 33 military briefings aimed at in-depth discussions on the operational policy against Japan.
The national ** is nominally unified, but its actual dispersion cannot be concealed. This ** is more like a coalition of large and small warlords from all over the world, and it is only the leader of the new warlords who represent the interests of Britain and the United States.
In the process of leading the anti-Japanese resistance, there were many contradictions and obstacles for the people, both subjectively and objectively.
As the leader of the new warlords of the Kuomintang, how to safeguard the major political and economic interests and military strength of his own class and group was also a question that Chiang Kai-shek had to ponder.
However, in the face of the Japanese imperialists' step-by-step temptation and aggression, Chiang Kai-shek had no choice but to make a decision as soon as possible. In order to coordinate the positions of all parties, the people specially invited representatives of the Communist Party of China and others to attend the Supreme National Defense Conference in Nanjing.
On August 7, 1937, important military and political officials from all walks of life of the Kuomintang gathered in Nanjing and convened a joint conference on national defense. Li Zongren and Bai Chongxi of the Guangxi Gui lineage, Feng Yuxiang, a warlord of the northwest lineage, and Yan Xishan of the Jin lineage also arrived in Nanjing one after another.
However, at the critical moment of the nation's life and death, the mentality of some generals in the Kuomintang made people feel sad. They take chances, fantasize about negotiating a solution, and even vacillate between war and peace.
This mentality is rooted in the fear of war and the desire for peace, as well as an excessive focus on self-interest. In fact, negotiation and compromise are not an effective way to solve problems.
At the critical juncture of the nation's survival, any concession and compromise may lead to the humiliation of the country and the nation. History has proven countless times that it is only through resolute resistance and heroic struggle that national dignity and national independence can be won.
You must know that war is not a child's play, it is related to the life and death of the nation. Each of their decisions could affect the fate of the entire country.
And at this critical moment, Dai Li firmly expressed his position again and again:"We have to prepare in advance to be prepared. ”His words were resounding, showing his determination and courage.
And Chiang Kai-shek expressed the same concern:"We must cultivate both internally and externally, and we must not act rashly. ”His words are calm and objective, showing his thoughtfulness and strategic vision.
Although the two men have different views, they are both working towards the same goal – to defend national independence, peace and security.
At this secret military meeting, Dai Lia raised his concerns, while Chiang Kai-shek expressed his caution and calmness. The atmosphere was tense, and both sides tried to persuade the other to accept their views.
Another meeting was deadlocked for a long time, and then Dai Li suddenly stood up and said"We have to fight this battle!”
However, Kuomintang veteran Wu Zhihui asked him:"Our ** and the economy are so far apart, what to fight?”
Dai Lisa replied categorically"The mourning soldiers will win!If we don't stand up, we will only be eaten by others. ”
At that tense moment, the differences between Dai Li and Chiang Kai-shek were like ice and fire, and the atmosphere instantly became tense. But these three sentences were like water dripping into a pot of oil, Chiang Kai-shek was silent for a long time, and the ice in his eyes began to melt.
Despite the huge differences in their views, they both understand that if they do not come together to deal with the current crisis, the consequences will be dire.
Dai Li, who had always been Chiang Kai-shek's leader, did not give up his position this time. He emphasized Japan's ambitions and the need for us to prepare in advance.
His words were filled with concern for *** and a desire for victory. Finally, after synthesizing the realities at home and abroad, Chiang Kai-shek decided to embark on the road of resistance against Japan.
He believes that although the domestic political situation is complicated, if we do not rise up to fight back and allow the Japanese aggressors to wreak havoc, it will bring even greater disasters to the country and the people.
Therefore, on August 7, after the national defense conference was held in Nanjing, the people decided to adopt the strategy of "resisting to the end", that is, no matter how difficult the war was, they would resolutely resist to the end.
In order to implement this strategy, the 87th and 88th Divisions were ordered to assemble in the vicinity of Suzhou and Wuxi to prepare for possible war.
In just a few days after the National Defense Conference, the National ** Military Council sprang into action. They ordered General Zhang Zhizhong to lead the 87th and 88th Divisions to advance towards the Songhu area.
In order to ensure smooth communication during the war, the navy destroyed all the navigation beacons in the Yangtze River below Jiangyin and built a blocking line on the Jiangyin River to prevent the Japanese navy from entering the Yangtze River.
In the early morning of the 13th, General Zhang Zhizhong issued a warning order for the Hongkou area, which meant that the squadron was ready for a fierce battle with the Japanese army. At the same time, the main force of the Chinese Air Force also fought in the south to provide air support to the ground forces.
With the assembly and preparation of the squadron, the citizens of Shanghai also began to feel the tense atmosphere of the war. Many people have fled urban areas to seek refuge in the suburbs or in the interior.
The citizens who remained in Shanghai began to stock up on the necessities of life and kept an eye on the progress of the war. At this time, the squadron was ready for a long-term war of resistance against the Japanese army, and was fully prepared in terms of manpower, material resources and combat effectiveness.
However, the challenges they face remain daunting. Compared with the Japanese army, which has modern equipment, there is a significant gap in the level of equipment and training of the squadron.
With Chiang Kai-shek's decision, the Battle of Songhu officially began. As an important battle in the history of China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Battle of Shanghai on August 1 had far-reaching influence.
The scale of the battle was huge, the mobilization was extensive, the arms involved in the battle were diverse, the duration was long, the battle was fierce and brutal, and the battlefield was vast.
In addition, its influence at home and abroad is extremely widespread. Compared with China's more than 20 important battles, it is unique in many aspects, and it is undoubtedly an important battle in the history of China's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression that shocked China and the rest of the world.
On August 14, 1937, the Nationalists issued the "Declaration of Self-Defense and War of Resistance": "China's territorial integrity has been invaded by Japan. China will never give up any part of its territorial ......In the event of aggression, the only way to deal with it is to exercise the natural right of self-defense. ”It was after the issuance of this statement that China's all-out War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression began, and the magnificent picture of China's all-round unity in the War of Resistance against Japanese aggression officially began, marking the beginning of the whole nation's unity to resist Japanese aggression.
The expansion of the battlefield made it clear that the aggressive ambitions of the Japanese imperialists could not be revealed, so why did the Japanese invaders in Northeast China and North China at that time shift their attention to South China?This is because the Shanghai-Hangzhou region is strategically significant.
First, as one of the largest cities in China, Shanghai has an important economic position and strategic value. Second, the area around Shanghai is an important base for grain, cotton and energy in China. Third, the Shanghai-Hangzhou region connects China's eastern coastal areas with the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and is one of China's transportation hubs.
It can be seen that the Shanghai-Hangzhou region undertakes the important task of defending Shanghai and its surrounding areas, protecting China's economy and war production, and protecting China's transportation hubs. Therefore, it is important not to be unprecious.
Therefore, this battle was first commanded by Feng Yuxiang, and soon after by Chiang Kai-shek, all the elite divisions of the country were assembled to: sweep the Japanese naval base in Songhu, prevent the subsequent enemy landing, and ensure the political and economic center of Beijing and Shanghai.
In the 12 days before and after the Battle of Songhu, the top management of the squadron and the Songhu Theater Command formulated and established the operational policy of "striking first against the enemy." The aim is to gain an advantage by being the first to attack, thus defeating the enemy.
Although Chiang Kai-shek briefly adjusted the pace of the offensive from August 12 to 18 due to diplomatic and political considerations, this strategy was still one of the important guiding ideologies of the squadron in the Battle of Songhu.
The strategy of exchanging time for space also played a role, and various factors in the battle made the battle of the Kuomintang army extremely difficult.
Therefore, the delaying tactics of using the vast hinterland of the territory to delay the Japanese army's strength and make it difficult for the Japanese army to manage the vast Chinese territory and at the same time reduce the number of troops that Japan could use to open up new battlefields became a helpless move.
At the same time, the national ** did not sit still, and the regular army behind enemy lines was reorganized on the battlefield to eliminate the living forces of the Japanese army as much as possible.
Outside the battlefield, they have won international approval and support diplomatically, and have waited for the United States and Japan to turn against each other because of competing interests in the Pacific.
Although the squadron showed stubborn resistance and high morale in the initial battle, and achieved some victories, it gradually fell into a passive situation in the subsequent battles.
This result is not accidental, but a historical necessity. Judging from the military forces invested by both sides, the scale of the Battle of Songhu was unprecedented. A total of about 1 million troops from both China and Japan were engaged in the battle.
In terms of equipment, the Japanese army has more advanced equipment and equipment, which gives them a certain advantage in fire support and equipment performance. The squadron mainly relies on the more backward ** and equipment to fight.
In addition, from a strategic point of view, the Japanese army adopted the strategy of active offensive, trying to quickly defeat the squadron with a quick attack and a surprise attack.
The squadron, on the other hand, adopted a defensive strategy, trying to gain time by holding positions and depleting the enemy's strength. This difference in strategy also had a profound impact on the outcome of the war.
In terms of tactical use, the Japanese army adopted a dense formation and group charge to attack, which gave them a certain advantage in the war.
Due to the complexity of the Kuomintang army and the large number of departments, the transmission of information was often hindered, resulting in slow decision-making and the inability to respond to changes on the battlefield in a timely manner.
In addition, some military leaders have problems such as corruption and nepotism, which have seriously affected the morale and combat effectiveness of the armed forces.
The outcome of the battle was tragic, with many soldiers and generals sacrificing their lives. At the cost of 60% of the elite troops, the squadron broke the arrogant rhetoric of the Japanese army's destruction of China in three months.
However, this victory also won the squadron an international reputation and laid the foundation for the future War of Resistance Against Japan.
This war not only laid the foundation for China's protracted war of resistance, but also had a profound impact on the development of Chinese history. At the same time, it also became an important contribution to the world anti-fascist war.
It proves the courage and indomitable spirit of the Chinese people, and also demonstrates the determination of China and its people to safeguard national independence and dignity.
And the starting point of all this is the fierce dispute and Dai Li's three sentences. History is like this, sometimes a word from a historical figure can change the fate of a country.