What is the North Myanmar Counter-offensive?

After nearly a year's efforts and Stilwell's mediation, Chiang Kai-shek finally agreed to command Indian troops in China to fight in Myanmar. 194365438+February 2 1 day, Stilwell left Chongqing happily and rushed to Lido, India with the "full power" warrant granted by Chiang Kai-shek. Regardless of the fatigue of the journey, he immediately called a meeting of Indian generals in China to study the counterattack plan of North.

On March 30th, Stilwell flew directly from Chongqing to Mengguan, where an airport has been established. At this time, Stilwell was faced with a very difficult choice: the face-to-face enemy was hit hard, and he retreated hastily, which was a good opportunity to pursue and surround the enemy; However, the Japanese troops stationed in Impal have seriously threatened the rear of the battlefield in northern Myanmar. If the British defense fails, the Japanese army will cut off the retreat and rear supply line of the Sino-American joint forces, and it will undoubtedly take great risks to move forward. Stilwell must first find out whether the British have the determination and strength to stick to Impal. He immediately called mountbatten and asked for a military meeting in Assam to study the current situation and the actions of the allied forces.

On April 3rd, Stilwell met with mountbatten and Slim at the American Air Force Base in Assam. He first proposed that Sun Liren of the new 38th Division of the British Army could be transferred from the Northern Combat Command to assist the British Army in defending Impal. In fact, Stilwell didn't want the British to accept this reinforcement. He just wanted to test the British determination to defend Impal. Mountbatten thought that letting China's army help defend Impal was as unfortunate as throwing Impal to the Japanese. Slim made it clear that the British would never retreat from Impal. At the same time, the British side proposed that General Wengert's long-range assault troops behind enemy lines in northern Myanmar could be given Stilwell's command to expand the offensive in northern Myanmar.

Wengert's long-range commandos * * * more than 9000 people, dropped to Mohan area between Myitkyina and Yingduo on March 5, and foiled the Japanese army's attempt to reinforce the north, and were independently incorporated into the 24th Brigade. This unit is of great significance to ensure the flank safety of the Northern Combat Command's counterattack in northern Myanmar.

Stilwell was "surprised" by the British attitude, which somewhat relieved his worries. On April 4, Stilwell returned to the front and immediately ordered Chinese and American troops to attack the fleeing Japanese army.

However, after the main forces of Japanese 18 divisions retreated to Meng Gong Valley, more than 2,000 soldiers returned from the rear hospitals and were reinforced by the main forces of the 56th and 53rd divisions, which greatly enhanced their resistance. However, after continuous operations and long-distance raids, the Sino-American joint forces were very tired, so their progress was slow.

On April 2 1, Stilwell gave full play to his tactical imagination and made the boldest operational deployment. He ordered the new 22nd Division to attack in Gamai direction; The new 38th Division detoured to Meng Gong along the left side of Gamai; On the other hand, the German Army of Galahad and the 88th Regiment of the New 30th Division and the 50th Regiment150th Regiment, which just left for the front, bypassed the northern mountainous area and inserted into Myitkyina, a strategic place behind enemy lines. Divide and surround the Japanese forces in Myitkyina, Meng Gong and Gamai, and annihilate them.

This deployment will completely smash Japan's defense system and tear the Japanese defense line into pieces, making it impossible for them to take care of each other. Of course, this kind of deployment will also take great risks, especially driving all the way to Myitkyina and going deep behind enemy lines. The situation is complicated and the result is unpredictable. However, it is difficult to "win" without "surprise victory", and the greatest risk also means the greatest success. It is this bold and unexpected deployment that takes great risks that fully embodies Stilwell's outstanding imagination and creativity in tactical command.

On April 24th, Stilwell ordered the new 22nd Division and the new 38th Division to "attack with all their might". On the 28th, Sino-American joint assault troops secretly marched to Myitkyina.

The new 22 nd Division and the new 38 th Division were stubbornly resisted by the Japanese army and their progress was blocked. On May 5th, Stilwell had a long talk with Liao Yaoxiang, introduced his tactical command experience and encouraged him to fight bravely. On May 8th, Stilwell, accompanied by Sun Liren, inspected the command posts of 1 13 and 1 14 regiments.

Stilwell is 6 1 years old. He is an old man over sixty. Continuous running, fighting, nervousness and insomnia made him exhausted and skinny, and the wrinkles on his face became deeper and deeper. He nicknamed himself "the old turkey face", and some soldiers thought he was 70 years old. On one occasion, an American black soldier looked at Stilwell with no rank carefully, then shook his head piteously and said to him, "Those people in the conscription bureau can do anything." How can they let such an old man do such a thing? " However, Stilwell's fighting spirit, work enthusiasm and tenacious perseverance are even higher than those of young people.

On May 14, Stilwell finally received the signal from the Sino-US joint commando, which was still 48 hours away from Myitkyina. Two days later, the army approached the periphery of Myitkyina in a hidden way.

1In the early morning of July 5th, the U.S. military dispatched a large number of planes for a long and intensive bombing of Myitkyina. At 10 a.m., the Sino-American joint commandos stormed the airport about 1 km west of Myitkyina. The Japanese army was at a loss to the sudden Chinese and American troops and rushed to resist. After four hours of fighting, the allies completely wiped out the enemy at the airport. In the afternoon, a transport plane and a towed glider loaded with weapons, ammunition, supplies and reinforcements landed at Myitkyina airport.

The next morning, Stilwell led 12 war reporters to Myitkyina. He inspected the Sino-American joint assault troops and encouraged them to continue fighting and seize Myitkyina. Reporters with cameras kept pressing the shutter for Stilwell and the heroes who attacked Myitkyina. Immediately, the news that "the allies suddenly attacked and occupied Myitkyina" quickly spread to the allies.

Mountbatten sent a congratulatory message to Stilwell in the name of Commander-in-Chief of Southeast Asia Theater, and wrote: "Under your heroic command, the American and Chinese armies fought bravely and captured Myitkyina airport in one fell swoop, and achieved brilliant results. The action of crossing Guling has written a glorious page in military history. " In fact, mountbatten's heart is not a taste. 10 days ago, he also called Churchill and asserted that Stilwell could not occupy Myitkyina, so he demanded the so-called "maritime strategy". When Churchill learned that Chinese and American troops suddenly occupied Myitkyina airport, he immediately asked mountbatten: "How did Americans fall from the sky beautifully in Myitkyina? What do you think of this? "

The initial victory in Myitkyina cut off the logistics supply lines of Meng Gong and Gamai enemies, and greatly encouraged the new 22nd Division and the new 38th Division to attack the Japanese army. At the end of May, the new 38th Division surrounded Varan's enemies, and the main force quickly advanced in the direction of Meng Gong. On June 1 day, the newly-made 22nd Division conquered Malan Highland and immediately attacked Gamai. On June 16, Kamai was occupied and most of the enemies were wiped out. 18 division leader Tanaka Shinichi led more than 3,000 down archers and fled south with the help of the main force of the 53rd division. On June 25th, the new 38th Division occupied Meng Gong and wiped out more than 600 people.

However, the battle to capture Myitkyina was very difficult. After the Sino-American joint commandos occupied Myitkyina airport, the Japanese army rushed to send troops to reinforce Myitkyina, which quickly increased the number of Japanese troops in Myitkyina from more than 3,000 to more than 5,000. Stilwell continuously airlifted 4 1 Regiment and 42 Regiments of 14 Division, 89/90 Regiments of the new 30 Division and 149 Regiments of the 50 Division to Myitkyina, and all the troops constantly launched onslaught on the Japanese army. However, the Japanese army relied on solid fortifications and tenacious resistance, which repeatedly frustrated the Sino-American joint forces.

After July, the enemies of Meng Gong and Gamai were annihilated, and Myitkyina became an isolated city. However, according to the order of "defending Myitkyina", the Japanese commander Major General Shui Yuan Zang still stubbornly resisted and fought for the trapped animals. Stilwell flew to the front of Myitkyina for the fourth time, and he had to replace the commander, Brigadier General Botner. "Bertner was blamed, and he protested loudly. "A month ago, he replaced his beloved Meryl. The new commander is Wilsel. The troops retrained siege tactics and adjusted their deployment. The 50th Division, the new 30th Division and galahad troops besieged Myitkyina from three sides.

On July 13, the Sino-American joint forces launched a general attack on Myitkyina, quickly cleared the peripheral positions and entered the urban area, and then began to fight against the Japanese army house by house and street by street. After 20 days of fierce fighting, the remnants of Myitkyina were finally eliminated on August 3, and the whole city was occupied. On August 1 day, Japanese commander Major General Shui Yuan saw that the tide was running out and committed suicide with a pistol. Only a few remnants of the enemy sneaked into the Irrawaddy River and fled to Ba Maw. The battle of Myitkyina annihilated more than 3,000 Japanese troops and recovered the core of North Myanmar. Stilwell's operational goal of counterattack against North Myanmar was basically achieved.

Through this stage of North Myanmar counterattack, although the Sino-Indian highway has not been finally opened, the air transport to China has been greatly improved. Since May, Assam's air transport headquarters has started direct flights to Kunming via northern Myanmar without bypassing the hump route, and the air transport volume has greatly increased. In May, 6.5438+0.3 million tons of aid materials arrived in Kunming, which increased to 6.5438+0.8 million tons in June and more than 25,000 tons in July.

The counterattack in northern Myanmar caused a devastating blow to the Japanese ace 18 divisions and other departments, annihilated more than 20,000 Japanese troops, and erased the shame of defeating Myanmar two years ago. Immediately after the victory, Liao Yaoxiang called Chiang Kai-shek and talked excitedly: "The enemy suffered huge losses in heavy weapons and military vehicles, and the casualties and diseases were transferred to the ravine, which was more serious than the transfer of the national army to savage mountain two years ago. Looking back and seeing the present, the officers and men are ashamed. "