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Japanese Army Strong Assault Luodian Town For three days and three nights, Hu Lian held on with less than fifteen hundred men.
“Tie Zhu! Go, head south, and for the next 24 hours, you are not allowed to let a single enemy in!”
“Yes!”
Tie Zhu was already a Company Commander. Under the fierce bombardment from Japanese planes and artillery, Hu Lian's troops suffered heavy casualties. On the second day of reinforcements, Tie Zhu became a Platoon Leader, and by the third day, he was promoted to Company Commander, with fewer than thirty men under his command!
Returning to the defense area of his company, Tie Zhu patted each soldier on the head: “Everyone get up, wake up, wake up, prepare for battle!”
“Company Commander, let us rest for a bit; I haven't slept for two days!” Zhou Wei groggily looked at Tie Zhu, waved his hand, and lay still on the ground.
“Get up! I know you’re all tired and exhausted, but if we rest and let the Little Devils through, what will happen to the people of Shanghai behind us? Get up, all of you!”
Tie Zhu continued calling out. After lying on the ground for a minute or two, the soldiers groggily got up.
Tie Zhu knew they were very tired but had no choice but to persist. After all, behind them was Shanghai; if they retreated, the city would immediately fall under the iron hooves of the Japanese.
Tie Zhu's mission was to guard a small courtyard located at the southern end of the town, directly facing a small bridge that was a crucial point for the Japanese Army's attack on Luodian.
After briefly setting up defensive positions with his company, Tie Zhu found a vantage point to prepare for shooting. He had now basically mastered the shooting techniques of a sniper rifle.
“Company Commander, the Little Devils are coming!”
About half an hour later, a group of Japanese Soldiers appeared across the river, stealthily making their way over step by step.
Tie Zhu looked through the sniper scope at the outside Japanese Soldier and waved his hand, "Don't shoot yet. Wait until these Japanese are in position before firing, understood?"
The soldiers nodded and lay still on the ground, slowly waiting for the Japanese Soldier to approach.
The Japanese walked with a swagger, crossing the small bridge step by step, slowly getting closer to the Small Building!
"Fire!"
Tie Zhu was the first to shoot, hitting the Japanese Officer squarely in the head, then quickly taking down a Japanese Soldier with another shot.
"Fire!" Tie Zhu's gunfire served as a signal, and the soldiers immediately sprang up, unleashing a barrage of bullets at the Japanese Soldier in front of them.
Caught off guard, the Japanese Soldier was suddenly overwhelmed by dozens of shots. The remaining Japanese Soldier scrambled to find cover, but with Tie Zhu and his men positioned above them, there was nowhere for them to hide. Additionally, as the Japanese Soldier was crossing the narrow bridge, they were unable to maneuver effectively.
Five minutes later, the Japanese abandoned dozens of corpses and retreated in panic.
"Everyone stop! Stop! Conserve ammunition! Don't shoot anymore! Clean up the battlefield! Clean up the battlefield!"
Seeing that the Japanese had retreated, Tie Zhu shouted loudly. The soldiers around him nodded and rushed out from their hiding spots to quickly clean up the battlefield.
In the following days, the Japanese Army launched even more frenzied attacks. Planes, tanks, and artillery bombarded Luodian time and again!
The 36th Division finally arrived in Shanghai by train after a swift journey. The officers and soldiers had no time to wash off the dust of battle before they were thrown into fierce combat. They joined forces with the 87th and 88th Divisions to sweep through enemies in Hongkou and at Hui Mountain Dock. These three divisions were elite troops of the ***Central Army, known as the "Teaching Division", renowned for their combat effectiveness within ***the military. Both the 87th and 88th Divisions had participated in the previous "1.28" Soochow Resistance. Speaking of these three divisions inevitably brings up their commanders. The commander of the 87th Division, Wang Jingjiu, a graduate of Huangpu's first class, was known for his commanding skills. During the Central Plains War in 1930, he led his troops to defeat Feng Yuxiang's army multiple times, gaining fame. He participated in the "1.28" Soochow Resistance, serving as deputy commander of the 87th Division at that time. The commander of the 88th Division, Sun Yuanliang, also a graduate of Huangpu's first class, held various positions including company and battalion commander. During the "1.28" Resistance, he served as brigade commander of the 259th Brigade of the 87th Division and successfully defeated the Japanese Army, securing Miaoxing Town. He was praised by international opinion at that time as "the first victory of our army against the Japanese Army." The commander of the 36th Division, Song Xilian, was also well-known; he graduated from Huangpu's first class and had participated in encirclement campaigns against the Red Army while also fighting fiercely against Japanese Soldiers. During the "1.28" Resistance, he served as brigade commander of the 261st Brigade of the 87th Division and earned the nickname "Eagle Dog General" for his ability to attack and fight well. All three had participated in last year's Shanghai Resistance, now reuniting with their former superior, General Zhang Zhizhong, on Shanghai Beach (Zhang served as commander of the 5th Army and commander of the 87th Division during "1.28" Resistance). It can be said that it was a twist of fate.
Song Xilian set up his command post in a residential house west of Hujiang University. After inspecting positions, he convened battalion commanders for a meeting to deploy an offensive plan: The 211th Regiment would take the right flank; Chen Ruihe's 106th Brigade would take the left flank; and Peng Jiguang's 108th Brigade would be equipped with tanks from Company 1 and one artillery company as central forces, with Central Force's 216th Regiment leading the main attack. At midnight on August 20th, with a command from Commander-in-Chief Zhang Zhizhong, all units of the 36th Division launched a full-scale assault on Hui Mountain Dock. The 216th Regiment advanced along Beifeng Road and Gongping Road under heavy enemy fire; soldiers fought valiantly without regard for their lives. As they reached Tangshan Road and Huade Intersection, enemy fire intensified into a web that lasted over an hour. Commander Hu Jiajin led from the front; morale surged among soldiers as they charged across Huade Road and Broadway Road, closing in on Hui Mountain Dock. Unable to withstand it any longer, elements of the Japanese Army began to flee in panic while our forces pursued them into the dock. However, they could not destroy a sturdy iron gate; in desperation, Commander Hu Jiajin climbed over it while soldiers followed suit. At that moment, enemy artillery opened fire from both sides of the dock, resulting in heavy casualties for our troops. Song Xilian urgently ordered that regiment to withdraw from combat. Many officers and soldiers sacrificed heroically during this battle; over 570 were killed or wounded on our side while more than 400 casualties were reported among the Japanese Army. Other units engaged in fierce fighting throughout the night dealt blows to enemy forces but ultimately faced setbacks due to insufficient preparation for storming strongholds and lacking effective siege weapons; enemy fortifications remained intact and resistance continued unabated.
The next day, Song Xilian dispatched tanks to cover the infantry as they attacked Hui Mountain Dock again. By dawn, they were met with fierce fire from Japanese ships and had to retreat to the north side of Broadway Road. During the retreat, our tanks came under enemy fire, resulting in the destruction of two tank companies and total annihilation of our forces. The reasons for this disaster included not only the overwhelming enemy artillery but also the fact that our troops had never conducted joint operations or drills with the infantry. The infantry did not understand how to provide cover for the tanks, mistakenly believing that this massive armored vehicle was invincible, allowing it to charge forward like a target for Japanese artillery.
On August 22, both sides began fighting street by street and house by house. The enemy launched several attacks on the positions held by the 212th Regiment of the 36th Division at Fudan University Library but were repelled each time. During this period, the 36th Division briefly broke through enemy lines and captured Hui Mountain Dock, but due to enemy naval gunfire and harassment from enemy agents and traitors setting fires, our forces became isolated and lost command. In the ensuing chaos, over 200 officers and soldiers were killed or wounded, forcing a retreat back to their original positions on Tangshan Road. Yang Shupu was engulfed in flames for several days and nights. The attack on the Japanese Navy Marine Corps Headquarters and Gongda Textile Factory failed because the Chinese army lacked tactical demolition skills, resulting in a stalemate once again.
On August 22, Song Jing Shigen led the Shanghai Expeditionary Force's advance units from the 3rd and 11th Divisions, along with an Aircraft Carrier Battle Group. After several days of sailing, they arrived in Shanghai that evening. On the morning of the 23rd, the Japanese Army defeated our river defense forces at Lion Grove and Wusongkou, successfully landing troops who advanced into Huangpu River to rescue trapped Japanese forces. Subsequently, with heavy artillery and tank units, the Japanese Army continued to land and pushed forward towards Wusong, Baoshan, Luodian, and Liuhe lines, causing a sudden reversal of the battlefield situation in Soochow.
Zhang Zhizhong learned of the unfavorable news regarding the Japanese Army's landing that morning because communication lines between command and various units had been severed. Anxious, he snatched a bicycle from a messenger and rode to Jiangwan's 87th Division Headquarters. Ignoring his sweat-soaked appearance, he quickly deployed anti-landing operations. He ordered the 36th, 87th, and 88th Divisions, Independent 20th Brigade, Shanghai Security Corps, and Training Corps' 2nd Regiment to be unified under Commander Wang Jingjiu of the 87th Division to continue besieging Hongkou and facing enemies at Yang Shupu. The 87th Division dispatched one brigade to support Wusong while the 98th Division and 11th Division rushed to Baoshan, Yangxing, Liu Xing, and Luodian areas to resolutely block the landing Japanese Army.
The Japanese Army's heavy artillery bombarded continuously while aircraft circled above in coordination with their assault. Our troops found it nearly impossible to move. Commander Peng Shan of the 11th Division called: "Commander-in-Chief, we are being bombed so heavily we can't even lift our heads; how can our troops move in broad daylight?" Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhizhong became furious: "Even if you can't lift your heads, you must move! I can rush from Nanxiang through bombardment to Jiangwan; can't you get from Jiangwan to Luodian? Get your troops moving immediately!" Under strict orders, Peng Shan had no choice but to act; Brigade 33 launched an assault on Luodian amidst enemy air raids and managed to defeat 500 Japanese soldiers while recapturing Luodian.
At this time, reinforcements arrived for the Chinese army as well; a newly formed 15th Group Army arrived under Deputy Minister of Military Affairs Chen Cheng as commander (also serving as Commander of the Frontline of the Third Theater). This group army gathered several absolute main forces from Central Army including Chen Cheng's own 18th Army (led by General Luo Zhuoying), Hu Zongnan's renowned First Army known as "the best army in the world," and Yu Jishi's 74th Army (which would later become part of the annihilated reorganized 74th Division during the Menglianggu Campaign). Liu Heding's 39th Army had slightly less combat effectiveness. Chiang Kai-shek was willing to spend his resources; it must be said that he was now determined to fight against the Japanese. Since seeking a "peaceful" resolution to "conflicts" after September 18th meant yielding time after time while being pressured by relentless Japanese advances—like a cornered rabbit biting back—how could he let himself be bullied?
At 6 PM on August 24th, Luo Zhuoying issued an attack order to units under the 18th Army: First, Luodian must be recaptured tonight; after occupying Luodian, field fortifications should be constructed nearby while establishing strongpoints at Shuli Bridge, Nanchang Ditch, and Fengjia Ditch; Second, both the 11th Division and 98th Division should continue their advance toward predetermined targets; Third, one regiment from the 14th Division should remain at Taicang while another should construct fortifications at Fushan Kou; meanwhile their main force should advance towards Jiading and Luodian tonight.
The 61st Division hurriedly constructed fortifications in the areas of Dazhang and Yangxing.
On August 27, the situation became even more dire. That night, Luo Zhuoying mobilized troops from Yuepu, New Town, Luodian, and Pu Family Temple to continue their assault on the landing Japanese Army. The main force of the Japanese Army, the 11th Division, responded with artillery, aircraft, and tanks. The small town of Luodian was once again drowned in the sounds of cannon fire and death as both sides engaged in a back-and-forth struggle. During the day, it was the Japanese Army's time to show their might; planes, artillery, and tanks turned the area in front of the Chinese army's positions into a sea of fire, forcing the defenders to retreat. At night, however, it was an excellent opportunity for our army to counterattack. Taking advantage of the enemy's superior equipment being unable to exert its power, they launched fierce assaults to drive out the enemy and reclaim positions lost during the day. The Japanese Army often began their attacks at dawn with aerial bombardments as a prelude, followed by a retreat, then launched manned observation balloons from their own positions to guide naval and artillery forces for secondary bombardments, ultimately using tanks to cover infantry advances. Our troops hid during the day in cotton fields and controlled roads at night, laying landmines and bundling grenades to set up obstacles on both sides. When enemy tanks became hindered by these obstacles, they engaged in close combat with the infantry that followed behind. This tactic proved clever and yielded surprising results.
The battle for Luodian weighed heavily on Chiang Kai-shek's mind. He understood that although Luodian was a small town by the river with an area of only 2 square kilometers, it was a crucial intersection and hub for several roads leading to Baoshan, Shanghai Urban Area, Jiading, and Songshan. If Luodian were lost, it would inevitably shake the entire situation. Thus, Chiang Kai-shek repeatedly ordered that Luodian was of great importance and must be captured within a set timeframe; all soldiers were to advance without retreating—there were enemies but no allies; failure meant death. Chen Cheng vowed to spare no effort to ensure mission completion.
The main force of our army confronting the enemy's 11th Division consisted of Peng Shan's 11th Division and Li Shusen's 67th Division. The two divisions fought together in shifts and had held their ground for five days and nights, repelling countless Japanese Army assaults. While inflicting heavy damage on the enemy, both divisions suffered tremendous casualties themselves; numbers reached alarming levels. Among those killed were one brigade commander and two commanders; officers at battalion, company, and platoon levels fell in great numbers. General Li Shusen of the 67th Division was also severely wounded and could no longer command; Huang Wei, who had been urgently summoned back from Germany, took over command.
The battle continued as the Japanese Army launched even fiercer offensives after reinforcements arrived. Shells rained down on the defending positions like a torrential downpour; wherever artillery struck, flames soared high into the sky amid carnage. The Chinese defenders fought desperately; when ammunition ran out, they charged out of their trenches to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy. As tanks approached, they strapped grenades to themselves and rushed forward for mutual destruction. Both sides suffered heavy casualties; every step forward by the Japanese Army came at a steep price.
On the 28th, after days of fierce fighting against the enemy while holding Luodian, the Chinese troops suffered too many casualties and their positions were breached by the enemy. On the 29th, Huang Wei led the 67th Division to retake it but was met with overwhelming enemy firepower; before they could stabilize their position, they were forced to withdraw again. Luodian ultimately fell into enemy hands. Afterward, both sides shifted their focus to fighting around Luodian's periphery—attacking when one side defended and vice versa—intensifying without pause in a stalemate.
"Tie Zhu Brother, what are you looking at?" Outside Luodian Town, Tie Zhu gazed at Luodian—the place he had fought for so many days—and slowly stepped out of the town.
"One day I will take back Luodian! I swear!"
On April 7, 1945, Commander Tie Zhu found himself trapped on an unknown hilltop after repeated failed breakout attempts with his unit. After coming back to life time and again and charging forward repeatedly without wanting to see his comrades die on the battlefield anymore, he took out his sidearm and committed suicide—never able to come back again!
(End of Book)
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