Devil's Army

Chapter 1963 Battle of the Three Towns of Wuhan 2

At that time, the setting sun was like blood, staining the rolling waves at the confluence of the Yangtze and Han Rivers.

One army marched south and the other army assembled on the northern outskirts of Wuhan, aiming at this central hub of China that had been occupied by the Japanese invaders for five years.

A portion of the Southern Independent Division of the First Army assembled south of the three towns of Wuhan, waiting for an opportunity to attack.

The three towns of Wuhan stand in a triangular formation across the Yangtze River. Wuchang is nestled against Snake Mountain and borders East Lake, giving it a commanding position.

Hankou, situated on the banks of the Yangtze River and controlling the Pinghan Railway, is a vital transportation hub for both land and water.

Hanyang is situated at the foot of Turtle Mountain. Although the former arsenal site is in ruins, it still serves as a natural barrier for the western part of the city.

Relying on the city's fortifications and the natural barriers of the rivers, the Japanese army constructed a cluster of visible and hidden bunkers on Snake Mountain and Turtle Mountain, and laid mines and barbed wire along the river, attempting to resist stubbornly by taking advantage of the strategic position of the three towns.

The First Army, which was mainly responsible for attacking Hankou, advanced southward in two routes along the Pinghan Railway and the Xiang River.

The vanguard avoided the Japanese frontal fire and, under cover of darkness, infiltrated to the flank of the Daijiashan defense line.

This is the gateway to the northern suburbs of Hankou, with rolling hills and crisscrossing ditches, making it an ideal battlefield for ambushes and assaults.

The soldiers carried ladders and crept along the muddy field ridges, launching a surprise attack in the early hours of the morning.

The fire from light and heavy machine guns tore through the night as demolition experts, carrying explosives, rushed toward the bunker. With a deafening roar, the Japanese army's first line of defense was breached.

Subsequent troops poured in like a tide, engaging the Japanese army in street fighting. In the narrow streets and alleys, gunfire, grenade explosions, and shouts of battle mingled as the soldiers cleared out the remaining enemy from street to street and house to house.

On the broken walls and ruins, there are everywhere traces of the fierce clash of blades.

The battle in the Wuchang direction revolved around the high ground of Snake Hill.

The Japanese army reinforced the gun emplacements on the main peak of Snake Hill as the core fortifications, and their artillery fire could cover the entire city of Wuchang and the river waterway.

The army adopted the tactic of "encircling the point and attacking the reinforcements," with a part of its forces feigning an attack on the front of Snake Mountain to draw Japanese fire.

The main force then detoured from the west bank of East Lake and climbed the steep rock face on the southeast slope of Snake Mountain.

The cliff face was slippery and overgrown with thorns. The soldiers used both their hands and feet, some sliding down with ropes around their waists, and others climbing up by stepping on their comrades' shoulders.

As dawn broke through the clouds, the bugle call suddenly sounded, and the hidden troops broke into the Japanese positions from the flank.

Bayonets gleamed coldly, and battle cries echoed through the valley. The Japanese troops hastily responded and were eventually annihilated one by one.

The moment the military flag was planted on the main peak of Snake Mountain, the long whistle of a naval fleet sounded across the river, its echo reverberating throughout the land.

The recapture of Hanyang further demonstrated the brilliance of the combined land and sea tactics.

Guishan and the former site of the Hanyang Arsenal formed the western defense line of the city, where the Japanese army stockpiled a large amount of ammunition.

The artillery positions of the First Army were deployed on the south bank of the Han River, and concentrated artillery fire suppressed the Guishan firing point.

The First Army Air Force suppressed Japanese artillery positions with artillery fire.

Meanwhile, the troops crossing the river used wooden boats and motorboats to brave the suppressed artillery fire of the Japanese army and forcefully crossed the Han River.

As they approached the Hanyang Wharf, the soldiers jumped into the river, swam ashore, and engaged in close combat with the defending enemy.

Inside the arsenal, gunfire erupted intermittently. Japanese soldiers resisted stubbornly behind the wreckage of machinery, and the soldiers used grenades to blast open gaps and clear the way piece by piece. When the Japanese flag atop Guishan Mountain was torn down, the gunfire in the three towns of Wuhan finally subsided.

As the sun sets, banners flutter in the wind at the confluence of the Yangtze and Han rivers. After several days of bloody fighting, the three towns of Wuhan have finally been recaptured by a single army.

This battle to recapture the city was not only a crucial battle in the War of Resistance against Japan in Central China, but also a testament to how the Japanese invaders' dream of occupying Central China was shattered with their own flesh and blood. It left an indelible mark of iron-blooded glory on the land of Wuhan.