Chapter 35 Chapter 34 Stalingrad in China

In terms of the serious depletion of national power and military power and the serious crisis of the Pacific War, the Japanese army basically lost the ability to launch large-scale offensive operations in a certain area, including the Chinese battlefield.This is also the fundamental reason why the Japanese base camp clearly stipulated that "the Chinese dispatched troops shall not conduct any offensive operations."The just-concluded battle in western Hubei also confirmed that the defensive situation of the Japanese invaders on the Chinese battlefield was irreversible.Therefore, when the Cairo Conference was going on, the Japanese invaders ignored the current situation of insufficient troops and supplies, and launched a large-scale offensive on the frontal battlefield in China, which was called the "Changde Annihilation War" by the Japanese side and the "Changde Battle" by the Chinese side. , its motives and purposes are puzzling.

The Eleventh Army of the Japanese Invading Army listed several reasons for fighting in Changde: First of all, an unprecedented "victory" can be used to weaken China's position and reputation at the Cairo Conference and spoil the atmosphere of the conference. Of course, it is best to destroy the alliance between China, the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union. ——Not to mention whether a large-scale offensive can win, even if it is a complete victory, how can it be possible to reverse the predictable outcome of the world war through a partial battle, especially the main purpose of the Cairo Conference is precisely to use tenacious and long-term The war ended with Japan's unconditional surrender.

Secondly, in order to annihilate the main force of the Chinese army, thereby weakening China's will to resist the war. —— Regarding this point, since the outbreak of the war, the Japanese army must mention it before every battle. Now I am afraid that even the headquarters can hardly be sure that this combat goal can be achieved.There is no objection to attacking the Chinese army and causing considerable consumption; however, combat will inevitably cause its own casualties and consumption.The Japanese army's domestic military resources were exhausted, and one died and one less.Although the Chinese army has suffered serious losses in battles, the number of troops is still increasing. Now the army under the command of the Nationalist Government alone has reached 5 million. Even if they are all troops made in Hanyang, such a large number is enough to continue with the Japanese army. Persevere. ——The Japanese have long understood a reality: China has never been short of people.

Thirdly, capturing Changde and the area west of Changde can directly threaten Chongqing. ——This is the continuation of the Japanese army's stance of "killing a bloody road" and "solving the incident in China".It has always been the dream of the Japanese invaders to push the frontier of the confrontation to Chongqing, and even directly into Sichuan. ——"Changde is the military, political, and economic center of the western part of Hunan Province. It is opposite to Changsha in the east and is the lifeblood of the Chongqing Army. If our army occupies this area, the southeast can monitor Changsha and Hengyang, and the west can take care of eastern Sichuan. and become a strategic hub capable of threatening Chongqing.” However, from 1942 onwards, the base camp no longer allowed the Japanese invaders to expand their occupied areas, and the Japanese invaders returned to their original starting points after several battles. This shows that the Japanese army is very clear that they have no ability to invade new areas.Moreover, in the combat plan submitted by the Eleventh Army to the base camp, it clearly stated that "once the combat objective is accomplished, the original situation will be restored."Therefore, this reason does not hold.

However, on September 27, 1943, the Japanese headquarters still approved the request of the Eleventh Army to launch the "Changde Annihilation War".The reason is another reason put forward by the Eleventh Army: this operation can restrain the main force of the Chinese army from investing in the direction of Burma to cooperate with the Southern Army.Given that the final decisive battle between the Allied forces and the Japanese army in the direction of Burma was on the verge of breaking out, the Japanese base camp was really worried that the Chinese army would intrude into Burma on a large scale from the direction of Yunnan.However, the senior staff officers of the General Command of the Chinese Expeditionary Army believe that this reason is really reluctant. The use of several divisions to launch an offensive operation cannot curb the Chinese army's attempt to counterattack Burma, and it may cause some hesitation in the transfer of the Chinese army to Burma. Not bad, let alone the premise that the Japanese army must be able to reach the west of Changde and occupy the area for a long time, and from there exert greater military pressure on Chongqing with a strong attack posture. ——Knowing that it is impossible to occupy the Changde area, you will definitely come back if you fight. How effective is the so-called "containment"? ——"The base camp only hopes that this containment can prevent the Chongqing Army in Kunming from using its mobile forces on the Burmese side, even if it is temporarily restricted."If "even the only one offensive operation against Changde is not agreed, it will have an extremely bad impact on the morale of the troops, and there is a legitimate reason to contain the enemy's counterattack from Burma, so there is no harm in agreeing."

If we look into the operational purpose of the Japanese Eleventh Army, the narrative in the Japanese military history may have some truth: "The Eleventh Army was heavily surrounded by more than 100 enemy divisions and was in an extremely difficult situation. Self-living, and fighting in order to complete various tasks including the Sichuan operation, the combat intention is to annihilate the surrounding enemies as much as possible." - "Self-preservation, self-defense and self-living", this is the real situation of the Japanese invaders. The most effective means of defense is active offense.

Fighting to the death is better than waiting to die on the spot. If you want to survive, you must actively seek combat. In the final analysis, the Changde operation planned by the Japanese invaders was still a local offensive with a limited battlefield area and withdrew after the battle was over. On the second day after the base camp approved the operation, the Japanese dispatched troops to China issued a combat order: The commander of the Eleventh Army launched this operation in early November to attack the vicinity of Changde and destroy the enemy's combat power.Once the combat objective is accomplished, the original situation is restored.Regarding its timing, order separately.

The commander of the 3rd Flying Division has the main force of the reconnaissance force to cooperate with the operations in the preceding paragraph. 1. Combat policy Attack the enemy's political and strategic center near Changde, track down the enemy's central army, and give them severe blows, so as to promote the gradual decline of the enemy's attempt to continue the war of resistance; 2. Combat essentials (1) The main force of the 11th Army (including thirty-five infantry brigades transferred from other areas) advanced from Dongshi and the vicinity of Shishou, defeated the enemies everywhere, and captured the vicinity of Changde.

(2) Then track down the enemies who gathered in Changde for counterattack and annihilate them. (3) Once the operational purpose is achieved, depending on the situation such as the enemy's counterattack in Burma at that time, return at the right time, wipe out the remnants of the enemy, and restore the original situation. After receiving the order, Yokoyama Isamu, commander of the Japanese Eleventh Army, immediately drew up a battle plan to attack Changde.It is planned to use the 39th Division commanded by Lieutenant General Sumita Reishiro, the 13th Division commanded by Lieutenant General Akaga Ri, the 3rd Division commanded by Lieutenant General Yamamoto Sano, and the 116th Division commanded by Lieutenant General Iwanagao In addition to the 68th Division commanded by Lieutenant General Sakuma, there are five divisions in total; plus the Sasaki Detachment transferred from the 34th Division, and the Palace Division transferred from the 17th Independent Brigade The Waki ​​detachment and the Karada detachment transferred from the 65th Division, with a total strength of about 100,000 troops, were divided into several lines to carry out three phases of operations, with Changde as the axis for simultaneous assaults:

Phase one (1) The 68th Division (including the affiliated Toda troops) launched an attack from the front line of Jiudu Dahe near Nianyuxu, and wiped out the enemies near Nanxian, Anxiang, and Sanxianhu City. (2) The Thirteenth Division launched an attack from the southwest area of ​​Shashi, annihilating the enemies near Nuanshui Street first, and then mopping up the enemies west of the area. (3) The Third Division launched an attack from the area east of Gong'an, first annihilating the enemies near Wangjiachang, and then sweeping up the enemies in the southwestern area of ​​the area.

(4) The Sixth Division launched an attack from the area near Yanglin City and wiped out the enemies near Hongmiao (seven kilometers southeast of Jin City).Initially, a force was used to guarantee the smooth advance of the 68th Division to Anxiang. (5) The Sasaki detachment launched an attack from the northeast area of ​​Gong'an after the Third Division, advancing roughly in the middle of the Third Division and the Thirteenth Division, and entering the southwest area of ​​Wangjiachang. (6) For the sake of secrecy, ground troops are prohibited from moving to the south bank of the Lishui River. the second term (1) The 68th Division crossed Dongting Lake near Yukou, captured Hanshou (Longyang), and then fought with the main force near Changde. The division wiped out the enemies fleeing south in the southern area of ​​Changde, Or annihilate the enemy troops reinforced from Changsha. (2) The 13th Division launched an attack near Xinmen Temple, annihilated the enemy there, and entered the vicinity of Huangshi City through the vicinity of Cili; later, while the main force was fighting near Changde, pursued the enemy in the area around Qijiahe, Annihilate it and cover the right (west) side of the main force of the army. (3) The 3rd Division launched an attack from the southern area of ​​Wangjiachang, annihilated the enemy there, passed through the vicinity of Xin'an and Shimen, entered the vicinity of Qijiahe and Tianjiahe, and then entered the southern area of ​​Changde via the vicinity of Taoyuan, and pursued the people who fled south. The enemy or the enemy who comes to aid from the south, capture and annihilate them. (4) The 116th Division launched an attack near Lixian County, annihilated the enemy there, and entered the vicinity of Zoushi and Heqiu via the vicinity of Linli, and then captured Changde. (5) The Sasaki detachment (which was attached to a brigade of the Miyawaki detachment near Wangjiachang) passed through the vicinity of Cili and entered the vicinity of the Longtan River. When the main force of the army was fighting near Changde, it covered its right side. Phase III According to another command line.Roughly starting from the area between Changde and Qijiahe, passing through the area between Shimen and Lixian County, the original situation is restored. Throughout the battle: (1) The 39th Division (attached to the Koga Detachment) ensured the main line in the southwest of Yidu, and the Miyawaki Detachment secured the main line near Nuansui Street to cover the right back of the main force and ensure the smooth return of the main force. (2) Regarding the Karada detachment, it will be decided separately according to the timing of its arrival on the battlefield. Military Depot: The main roads have all been destroyed.In view of past experience, even if a military depot is set up in this situation, it cannot meet the needs of operational development due to the need to repair roads.In addition, this combat area is a grain-producing area, which is easy to obtain food from the enemy.For these reasons, depots may not be established.However, ammunition must be replenished at the front line of Lishui River and Changde. The army combat command post advanced to Guanyin Temple (ten kilometers south of Shashi) at the end of October. Wang Jingwei's 5th, 11th, 12th, and 13th Divisions of the puppet army also joined the Japanese attack. Yokoyama Isamu planned to start the battle on November 1st. After the Battle of Western Hubei, the two warring parties once again confronted each other in this area: the Japanese army confronting the troops of the Ninth Theater of China was the main force of the 40th Division, the 17th Brigade, the 68th Division and the 30th Division. The four divisions, the Japanese troops confronting the troops of China's Fifth Theater are the 58th Division, the 39th Division and the Sixth Division, and the Japanese troops confronting the troops of China's Sixth Theater are the 39th Division, Thirteenth Division and part of the Fortieth Division. The Changde operation planned by the Japanese army was mainly located in the defense area of ​​China's sixth theater. China's sixth war zone has twelve armies and thirty-five infantry divisions, with a total strength of more than 200,000 troops.As of late October 1943, the theater's defensive configuration was: Feng Zhi'an's 33rd Group Army was responsible for defending the frontline positions from Zhuandouwan to Dashuiling, with its headquarters in Nanzhang.Under the jurisdiction: Liu Zhensan's 59th Army, temporarily organized as the 53rd and 38th Divisions, is deployed on the front line of defense, and the army headquarters is located in Lizhong City; He Jifeng's 77th Army, with The 179th Division and the 37th Division are equipped on the first line of defense, and the army headquarters is located in the south of Nanzhang.The 180th Division of the 59th Army and the 132nd Division of the 77th Army were the second-line troops, assembled in Anjiaji, Baoxinpo and other places.The artillery regiment was on standby for training in Lijiagang. Zhou Bi's 26th Army is responsible for defending the Jiangbei position in western Hubei, and its headquarters is located in Shuitianba.Under the jurisdiction: Liu Jiming's 75th Army, the 6th Division and the Reserve 4th Division confronted the Japanese army on the line from Dashuiling to Baishuiping, the 16th Division was training near Shuitianba, and the army headquarters was located in Ma Liangping ; the 32nd Army of Song Kentang, with the 141st Division, the 34th Division and the 139th Division were stationed near Tiefosi, Paijieya and Hejiawan respectively. In Paijieya. Wu Qiwei's Yangtze River Defense Army on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River is responsible for defending the front of the Yangtze River, and its headquarters is located in Zigui.Under the jurisdiction: the 30th Army of Chifeng City, with the 31st Division guarding the Shipai Fortress, the 30th Division guarding the front line from Yidu to Shipai, facing the Japanese across the river, and the 27th Division stationed at Longfeng Mountain The army headquarters is located in Huangling Temple; Luo Guangwen's 18th Army, with its 18th, 11th, and 55th divisions, is stationed near Chenjiatuo, Rongjiadian, and Yushan for training. It is located in Taipingxi; Zhu Dingqing's 86th Army, with the 67th Division, the 32nd Division and the 13th Division, are training near Touwan and Yaowan River respectively. Wang Jingjiu's Tenth Army was responsible for defending the Jiangnan position in western Hubei, and its headquarters was located on Taiping Street.Under the jurisdiction: Fang Jing's 66th Army, the 185th Division confronted the Japanese army across the river from Yidu to Songzi; the main force of the 199th Division was in Liujiachang, and a regiment guarded Yuyang Pass; The army headquarters is located in Sanxikou.Wang Jiaben's Seventy-ninth Army confronted the Japanese with the temporarily organized Sixth and Ninety-eighth Divisions at Xinjiangkou, Shenjindu, and Ganjiachang. The 194th Division was training near Wangjiachang. Located in Bianshanhe. Wang Yanxu's 29th Group Army is responsible for defending the west of Hunan, and its headquarters is located in Taoyuan.Under the jurisdiction: Wang Zejun's 44th Army, the 150th Division and the 162nd Division confronted the Japanese army on the line from Ganjiachang, Guankai, Meitian Lake to Nanxian, and the 161st Division defended Jinshi, In Li County and the south bank of the Lishui River, the Army Headquarters is located at Hongmiao; Wang Zhibin's 73rd Army, temporarily organized into the 5th Division, 77th Division, and 15th Division, is stationed near Xinguan, Xin'an, and Cili. The army headquarters is located in Shimen. Li Shilin's 43rd Division, Sheng Fengyao's new 23rd Division and Wang Yan's 118th Division controlled the areas of Xiushan, Qianjiang, Pengshui and Laifeng; Li Zefen's Fifth Division, Dai Zhiqi's 121st Division and Lao Guanying's provisional 35th Division were training near Jianshi. Wang Yaowu's 74th Army, which is under the direct control of the Chongqing Military Commission, was under the temporary command of the Sixth War Zone, and the 51st, 57th, and 58th Divisions under its jurisdiction were on standby for training in Changde and Taoyuan. Shi Zhongcheng's 100th Army, which is under the direct control of the Chongqing Military Commission, is the Sixth Theater Reserve Corps, and the 63rd and 19th Divisions under its jurisdiction are stationed in Liuyang. The deployment of China's sixth war zone starts from near Jianli at the junction of Hunan and Hubei, extends northwest to Shipai in the north of Yichang, and then turns east to Hanshui, forming a huge V-shape.Facing the frontal defense line about 270 kilometers wide, the troops in the theater appeared to be very weak.In particular, due to the failure to regain Huarong and Shishou along the Yangtze River during the Battle of Western Hubei, the Japanese army not only occupied a good bridgehead position for westward advance, but also made the troops defending the south bank of the Yangtze River lose the opportunity to take advantage of the natural danger of the Yangtze River. A defensive position can be established by relying on a series of river branches from south to north east of the Songzi River.In addition, as a theater, the reserve corps of only one army was obviously unable to cope with the complicated situation; while the 74th Army of Wang Yaowu, an elite unit of the Central Army, was under the command of the theater in name, but the actual command was still in the hands of Chiang Kai-shek. From the end of October 1943, there was an influx of information about the frequent transfers of Japanese troops in the Sixth Theater of China.Intelligence also shows that on the river between Jianli and Shashi on the Yangtze River, more than 30 Japanese ships of various types have gathered, and there are also thousands of Japanese motorboats and civilian ships gathered in the Binhu River. There are more than 400 Japanese vehicles parked on the highway between them. ——All signs show that the Japanese army is about to launch a large-scale offensive operation. The Chongqing Military Commission's judgment on the enemy's situation was that the Japanese army would launch an attack on the corner between the Yangtze River and Dongting Lake, with the aim of depleting the Chinese army's strength and plundering food and other strategic materials.The steps are to press the Chinese defenders to the west of Nuanshui Street, then turn left and advance towards Shimen and Lixian on the banks of the Lishui River. If the battle goes well, they will cross the Lishui River to the south to attack Changde.Based on this judgment, the Chongqing Military Commission drew up a combat plan: use the first-line defensive troops to stop the attack, continuously consume the Japanese army, and try to cooperate with the reserve corps between Shimen and Lixian County when the Japanese army assaults Nuanshui Street and turns left. Annihilate it.If the Shimen line falls and the Japanese army goes south to attack Changde, they will fight the Japanese army in a decisive battle near Changde. On October 28, the Chongqing Military Commission sent a telegram to the Fifth, Sixth, and Ninth War Zones: 1. In the Sixth War Zone, each part of the 29th Army and the Tenth Army stopped the enemy in the lakeside area. The main force of each group army used the mountains of Lishui and Nuanshui Street to flank the enemy. 2. The 57th Division of the 74th Army firmly defends Changde, and the main force of the army (the 51st and 58th Divisions) is located near Taifu Mountain, preparing for maneuver. 3. The 100th Army is a reserve corps (formerly stationed in Liuyang), and gradually advances to Yiyang. 4. Registered Corps A. The 26th and 33rd armies of the sixth war zone, each with two to three divisions, will attack in depth the weak points of the enemy facing them. B. The Ninth War Zone uses two divisions to attack the enemy's weak points in the area east of Yuezhou. C. The fifth war zone attacks Jingshan and Zaoshi with two divisions. D. The corps should be moved to the vicinity of the front line before November 4, and be on standby to start attacking. E. The Chinese and U.S. air forces immediately bombed the enemy planes in Jianli, Huarong, Shishou, and Shashi, and the enemy planes between Yuezhou and Shashi. In the area where the war is about to take place, several rivers such as the Yangtze River, Qingjiang River, Lishui River, and Yuanjiang River run through it. The paddy fields are scattered, and there are very few trees except for the thatch on the ridges of the lakeside. Not only is it difficult for mechanized troops to move in the lake, but also the movement of large troops is easy to be exposed because there is no concealment.In this battlefield area, there are also several steep mountains, Wushan, Jingshan, Wulingshan, Xuefengshan and other mountain ranges, which are rugged and steep, forming a natural barrier to cover Sichuan. Changde is located in the lower reaches of the Yuan River in northwestern Hunan.To the east is Dongting Lake, to the west is the Wuling Mountains, to the south is the Xuefeng Mountains, and to the north is the Lishui Plain where the Sun Mountain and Taifu Mountain suddenly stand.As a well-known land and water transportation hub in Hunan, the Hunan-Guizhou Highway connects Changde to Changsha in the east, Sichuan and Guizhou in the west, and Jingzhou in the north; the waterways radiating from Changde extend in all directions, and you can reach Taoyuan by going up the Yuan River, and you can reach Guizhou by wooden boats. Tongren, ships of all sizes going down the river can sail with heavy loads when they enter Dongting Lake and leave the Yangtze River.Changde is also a well-known fish and rice barn in China, and it was the main supplier of Chinese military rations during the Anti-Japanese War. According to the vision of the Chongqing Military Commission, the decisive battle area should be limited to the banks of the Lishui River north of Changde, so that the Chinese army can use the continuous mountains and rivers to deal with the Japanese army, and retreat to the mountains if they cannot win.As for the offensive and defensive battle of Changde City, unless it is absolutely necessary. ——Chongqing called it "the decisive battle near Changde".From the basic common sense of military science, if the Japanese army broke through the defense lines of the Chinese defenders from east to west and from north to south and went straight to the city of Changde, the so-called "decisive battle" would not happen.Because the Chinese army gathered around a city on a narrow battlefield, this is exactly what the Japanese army expected; in previous battles, the most troublesome thing for the Japanese army was that the main force of the Chinese army had already run away before the situation of encirclement and annihilation was formed. up. However, no one expected that the battle would soon turn into a bloody offensive and defensive battle against Changde City. The participating divisions of the Japanese army began to gather at the starting point in mid-October.The vanguard of the third division was dispatched on the 14th, arrived near Haoxue on the 24th, and "mopped up" the surrounding area; In the early morning of the next day, they arrived at the attack sites near Zhujiazui, Wudahe and Zhoujiachang respectively.The Thirteenth Division was dispatched on the 27th. With the assistance of the ship troops, it crossed the Yangtze River south near Taipingkou and assembled near Amitabha Temple.The 39th Division was dispatched on the 27th. Due to continuous harassment by guerrillas, it had to advance while "sweeping". At the last moment of the limited date of 31st, it finally advanced to the designated area near Weishi.The 68th Division took a boat from Jiujiang to Wuchang, changed to a train to Yuezhou, then marched on foot, and arrived near Jianli on the 31st to assemble.The 116th Division set off from Anqing and went upstream along the Yangtze River by boat. After arriving in Hankou, some officers and men took boats to Yuezhou, while the main force marched more than 300 kilometers on foot, passing through Hanchuan, Xiantao, Fengkou and Jianli. near Xinkou, then cross the Yangtze River, and gather around Yanglinzi.The rest of the detachments also arrived at the starting point of the attack according to the time limit. On November 2, along the Yangtze River from north to south, the Japanese army lined up in the order of the 39th, 13th, 3rd, 116th, and 68th divisions. , Huangjinkou, Zhakou, Ouchikou, Shishou, and Huarong moved westward at the same time, to Xinjiangkou, Mijitai, Putianzui, Zhangtian City, and Baigongzui, which were defended by the Tenth Army and the Twenty-ninth Army of the Chinese first-line defenders. , Meitian Lake, extending to the line of Lunigou on the northwest shore of Dongting Lake, launched a full-scale offensive. The officers and soldiers of the Sixth and Second Division relied on the established positions and began to block the enemy. On the morning of the 3rd, the 185th Division approached the Songzi River in front of the Japanese army, and the temporarily organized 6th Division and 98th Division advanced to the front lines of Zhangjiatai, Gongan and Ganjiachang in front of the Japanese army.At the same time, the 116th Division and the 68th Division of the Japanese Army broke through the positions of the 150th Division and the 162nd Division of the Chinese defenders respectively. Then retreat to the front line of Hudu Donghe.After Xu Guozhang, the commander of the 150th Division, observed the movement of the Japanese army by the Hudu River, he decided to stage an ambush.When a Japanese team crossed the river in a motorboat to explore the road, officers and soldiers of the 150th Division suddenly opened fire. Eleven Japanese soldiers were killed on the spot, and more than 30 people were wounded and retreated. The motorboat and three machine guns were captured by Chinese officers and soldiers.Among the seized items was a one-fifty-thousandth military map, which clearly indicated that the main attack direction of the Japanese army was Changde, and the assist direction was Taoyuan.This map was immediately sent to the Sixth Theater Commander's Office. On the evening of the 3rd, Sun Lianzhong, acting commander-in-chief of the Sixth Theater, sent a power call to Chongqing, requesting that Wang Yaowu's 74th Army be clearly placed under the command of the theater, and that the main force of the 74th Army be sent immediately to Taoyuan, Qijiahe, southwest of Taifu Mountain. The 57th Division of the army entered Changde and prepared to defend the city. Sun Lianzhong issued an order to the theater troops: 1. The first-line corps of the 29th and 10th armies should resist firmly one after another according to the established positions, deal a major blow to the enemy, ensure the safety of the countryside as much as possible, and retreat the main force to Dajingkou, Donggang, Zhangjiachang, and Street The lines of Heshi, Sijiachang and Yangxi resisted firmly. 2. The 29th Group Army should designate the 44th Army to defend Jinshi and Lixian County with the 161st Division; the 73rd Army to defend Shimen with a division, and the main force should be assembled between Xinguan and Yongsheng Bridge in the northwest of Shimen. 3. The Jiangfang Army should stick to the Jiangfang and the fortresses along the river. The 26th and 33rd armies should immediately prepare to join the Jiangfang Army in battle. At the same time, the Chongqing Military Commission ordered the Fifth and Ninth War Zones to launch a diversionary attack, and it was registered to fight in the Sixth War Zone. However, the 92nd Division of the 99th Army, which was under the command of the Ninth War Zone, had already lost the first-line position on the east bank of Dongting Lake. county. Within two days of the Japanese attack, all the frontline positions of the Chinese defenders were breached.On the 4th, in the defensive direction of the Tenth Army, the Japanese army broke through the Songzi River and continued to attack westward. The Sasaki Detachment, which followed the Third Division, also joined the battle. The Japanese army captured Public Security that day.On the 6th, the 39th Division of the Japanese Army captured Chayuan Temple and Shejia Bridge, and then continued to advance towards Xiaojiayan, Gaoqiao and Zhuyang Bridge. Its Koga Detachment approached Anziling. In this situation, the defenders of Anziling abandoned their positions due to excessive casualties.The 13th Division of the Japanese Army stormed the position of the Sixth Division of the Chinese garrison temporarily, and at the same time sent troops to advance in a detour. That night, they rushed to the east end of Nuanshui Street. The Chinese garrison retreated to the southwest of Nuanshui Street, and the Japanese army followed closely , the offensive did not decrease at all in the heavy rain, and the provisional Sixth Division fell into fierce fighting all night.In order to keep the main position on Nuanshui Street, the 79th and 66th armies launched a counterattack at dawn on the 7th, but failed.When the 98th Division launched a counterattack from Youjiashan and the 194th Division from Fangshiping to the Japanese army in Hongtupo and Guyuantou, although the Japanese army suffered heavy casualties, they still pushed forward desperately. A company of the division fought alone and held the Zhangjiachang position for four days, inflicting great damage on the Japanese Sasaki detachment that attacked the position.The fierce fighting of the provisional Sixth Division lasted until the morning of the 7th, when the Japanese army approached Hongtupo. A battalion of the Chinese defenders who stood firm suffered heavy casualties. To the south of Nuanshui Street, the positions of the Chinese defenders and the Japanese army intertwined. The continuous scuffle interrupted the communication between the various units of the Chinese army, and the 13th Division of the Japanese Army also lost contact with its 65th Regiment.The Thirteenth Division of the Japanese Army sent a staff officer on horseback to find the troops, and soon found that the staff officer named Sakurai was missing: When the Divisional Combat Command entered Nuanshui Street on November 7, in order to establish contact with the 65th Infantry Regiment (Ito Force) that was estimated to have entered the gate, Staff Sakurai led two order cavalry to the gate. Where to go.In addition, Staff Guqiao, who was marching southwest from Nuanshui Street with Haifu's troops, turned back to the Divisional Combat Command midway and headed east toward Huolingpu. He found Staff Sakurai's mount and brought it back to the commander. department.I immediately felt that Staff Sakurai had encountered misfortune, the situation was too serious!This was not only because Staff Sakurai was dead, but also because he carried a large picture bag with him, which was full of documents, including related confidential documents that the division was scheduled to be transferred to the Mariana Islands at that time.Staff Officer Sakurai is a very serious person, and he studies the situation in the Mariana Islands even during the battle, so he carries it with him.So people were sent to search immediately, and three bodies were found near Yangjiaping (one kilometer southwest of Huolingpu). Fortunately, the documents carried by Staff Officer Sakurai were intact, so they were relieved. After the 116th Division of the Japanese Army broke through the defense line of the Chinese defenders at Baigongzui, they were stubbornly blocked by the 44th Army when they crossed the Lishui River south near Sanchanao.The Chinese officers and soldiers set up a series of firepower points on the front ten kilometers across the river, and destroyed all the civilian ships, leaving only two gate bridges and two boats under the firepower points.Therefore, in order to cross the river, the Japanese army "had no other way but to seize these ships." ... The wing had no choice but to deploy all the weapons such as mountain artillery and mortars on the two-kilometer front, suppressing the enemy with organized firepower in one fell swoop.Under the cover of these artillery fires, 19 swimmers under Lieutenant Suzuki Yoshio, the wing's adjutant, successfully swam to win the boat.At sunset the troops forced their way across the river and repelled the enemy.Of the nineteen swimmers, eight were killed.In addition, near Yujiatai (four kilometers southwest of Sanchanao) on the afternoon of the 7th, the military flag was attacked by enemy planes while crossing the river by boat, and capsized while evading. .After a while, only the military flag floated up after it fell over. In view of the direct advance of the Japanese army, the Sixth Theater of China ordered the Tenth Army and the Twenty-ninth Army to fight against the Japanese in the front; and on the side of the battlefield, ordered the Jiangfang Army to deploy troops to gather near Yangjinkou to fight against the Tenth Army; Order the 18th Army to advance to Muqiaoxi, Gaochangyan and Baiguoping to form an attack posture from outside. On the afternoon of the 7th, Sun Lianzhong sent a telegram to Wang Jingjiu, Commander-in-Chief of the Tenth Army Group: "The triangle area of ​​Zhanuanshui Street, Mataxi, and Ganxitan is a strategic location in the theater, and gains and losses are of great importance. Day, focus on rewards." Wang Jingjiu immediately ordered the Sixth Division of the Temporary Division to stick to the existing position in the southwest of Nuanshui Street and not retreat; the 98th Division ensured the line of Ganxitan and Mataxi on the west side of Nuanshui Street; The main force of the 94th Division was placed near the Mata River in the northwest of Nuanshui Street for maneuvering.The adjustment of the troops was completed before dawn on the eighth day. At dawn on the 8th, when the 13th Division of the Japanese Army bypassed Nuanshui Street and stormed Mataxi and Ganxitan, the 98th Division failed to hold its position and retreated to Jiangjiaping in the afternoon and Bajiaoping at night; The 94th Division left only one regiment to stick to the ancient source, and the main force abandoned the gate south of Nuanshui Street and the position of the main factory of Wangjia, and retreated westward to the Hekou area. Nuanshui Street was isolated by the Japanese army. Chiang Kai-shek strictly ordered the Sixth War Zone not to retreat any further and must counterattack. According to Chiang Kai-shek's order, Sun Lianzhong ordered the troops in the theater to launch a comprehensive counterattack against the Japanese army: 1. In accordance with Chairman Jiang's telegram on July 7, the theater shifted its offensive. 2. The 29th Group Army will use a reinforced division of the 44th Army to attack the enemies of Qingnitan and Dayanxuan, and move in and out of the Zhangjiachang and Shiqi lines; the 73rd Army will use the 77th Division to move in and out Qiligang (southwest of Dayankuo), the 15th Division defeated the enemies of Wangjiachang and Fangshiping, and entered and exited the line of Aojiazui and Bijiashan. 3. The 10th Group Army's troops at Nuanshui Street must stand firm to the last man. The troops between Zhakou and Mataxi should try their best to defeat the enemy's flanks. Another two regiments should attack from the area south of Liujiajing. And advance to the Ami bridge and the watershed to intercept the enemy's rear. 4. The area of ​​battle between the 29th Army and the Tenth Army is the line from Heshangdong to Bijiashan.The line belongs to the right. 5. The attack started at 5 o'clock on the 9th. Obviously, after the Japanese army launched a full-line attack to the west, it had broken through the third line of defense of the Chinese army, that is, the north-south line of Nuanshui Street.According to the battle plan of the Eleventh Army of the Japanese Army, its divisions will turn left here and go directly south to Lishui to attack Changde.Therefore, this is the last opportunity for the Chinese army to use the favorable terrain on both sides of the Lishui River to launch a counterattack.However, the Chinese army moved slowly, and before the counterattack was launched, the Japanese army's offensive began again. The 39th Division of the Japanese Army attacked the Heshangyan, Dengjiafan, and Wangjiafan positions of the 185th Division of the Chinese defenders; To Sanwangpo, Guanwangpo and Shisantiaoling line; the 13th Division continued to rush westward from Mataxi and Ganxitan behind Nuanshui Street.When the main force of the 194th Division of the Chinese Army was moving at the mouth of the river, it encountered the advancing Japanese army. The Japanese army released poison gas during the attack, and the Chinese defenders suffered heavy casualties.In particular, a regiment of the division stranded in Guyuantou as a cover task had to break through desperately when surrounded.At this time, Wang Jingjiu's Tenth Army was not only unable to follow the order to launch a counterattack, but except for the main force of the temporary Sixth Division who was still fighting hard with the Japanese in the northwest of Nuanshui Street, the rest of the troops had retreated westward to Ziliangping, Hekou, and Lingpo. On the line with Maxigou.In order to prevent the temporary Sixth Division from being encircled and wiped out, on the night of the 9th, the Tenth Army ordered the division to break out in the direction of Ziliangping.The division was intercepted by the Japanese army during the breakout, and suffered huge losses. The remnant had just moved to the vicinity of Ziliangping, and was attacked by the thirteenth division of the Japanese army advancing westward from the south of Nuanshui Street. Retreat south to Biandan Bay.At this time, the headquarters of the Seventy-ninth Army also withdrew to Biandan Bay. On the 10th, the Sino-US joint air force dispatched 54 sorties of fighter planes, taking off from Chongqing and Enshi airports respectively, and bombed the Japanese troops in Cili, Shimen, Lixian, Jinshi, Huarong, Shishou, Nuanshui Street, Jiangling and other places. , Sunk more than a hundred Japanese ships of all sizes.During the air battle, a fighter plane of the Sino-US joint air force was shot down, and two other planes were wounded and forced to land near Xiangtan.On the 11th, the Sino-US joint air force once again dispatched more than a hundred fighter sorties to bomb important locations of the Japanese army on the battlefield.On the 12th, the Chinese and American joint air forces dispatched more than 80 sorties of fighter planes to bomb the Japanese army that had rushed into the vicinity of Ziliangping in the northwest direction of Nuanshui Street. Regardless of air strikes, the Japanese army continued to storm Ziliangping, and all the Chinese defenders were in a state of breaking out separately.Although Wu Qiwei's Jiangfang Army, the 33rd and 26th Group Armies, and the 30th and 27th Group Armies of the Ninth Theater all launched diversionary attacks on the Japanese army on the periphery of the battlefield, they did not affect the relief of the Lishui River. The crisis in the northern battlefield did not help much. On the 12th—the eleventh day when the Japanese army launched an offensive operation—the Japanese army’s combat intentions were clear: to wipe out the Chinese defenders north of Lishui River as much as possible, and compress their remnants to the mountains near Ziliangping on the west side of the battlefield At the same time, one unit was stranded in the area of ​​Nuanshui Street to continue to contain the Tenth Army of the Chinese Army, and to cover the rear security of the Changde troops; then, the main forces such as the 13th and 3rd Divisions and the Sasaki Detachment were concentrated, and they quickly rotated south to break through. The defense line of the Chinese army on the north bank of the Lishui River approached Changde City after crossing the Lishui River to the south. The main contents of the second phase of the Japanese Eleventh Army’s operations are: 1. The Thirteenth Division 十一月十三日从新门寺附近出发，攻占慈利，进入黄石市附近，追索常德西方地区之敌，予以歼灭之。 二、第三师团 十一月十三日从元岭附近出发，首先在澧水以北地区急袭，并歼灭进入新安、石门附近以北的敌七十三军主力；其次，经漆家河、田家河附近进入常德西南方地区，寻敌歼灭之。 三、佐佐木支队。 十一月十三日从新堰附近出发，抽出一个大队配属给第师团。同时以主力与第三师团共同歼灭石门北方地区敌人；接着经慈利附近到达龙潭河（黄石市西八公里），确保该地附近要点，掩护军主力右侧。 四、第一一六师团 十一月十五日师团主力从澧县北方地区出发，一部兵力从合丸台附近出发，经临澧附近向陬市附近突进，歼灭该地附近之敌，准备攻击常德。 五、第六十八师团 一月十六日黄昏后，师团主力从鱼口附近出发，渡过洞庭湖，歼灭汉寿（龙阳）附近之敌，然后进入常德东南方地区，追索并歼灭南逃或增援之敌。 六、柄田支队（十一月上旬末到达战场） 确保新安附近要线，掩护军之右侧背。 对于日军主力向南旋转，企图攻击澧水北岸的石门，围歼汪之斌的第七十三军部队，然后南下攻取常德的计划，中国方面基本掌握。重庆军事委员会认为，石门位于湘西山地的边缘，不但是控制洞庭湖西侧盆地的要点，更是西进四川的必经之地，因此，石门将是本次会战两军争夺的战略要点。一旦石门被日军突破，南面的常德将危如累卵。可是，目前石门中国守军第七十三军，经过鄂西会战后战斗力尚未恢复，而现在就把战场上的精锐部队第七十四军投入石门作战，又显得过于早了，更重要的是第七十四军已经布防在常德附近乃至常德城内。——游移不定之中，重庆军事委员会作出的决定令人困惑不解： 一、石门为战略要地，可藉以打破敌之若干攻击力量，故不可放弃，又如敌在石门附近攻击顿挫时，彼或将转用兵力于他处，即或不然，亦可迟滞敌之行动，以待常德方面增援兵团到达。 二、石门以东第四十四军兵力单薄，正面广大，似不易沿澧水固守其阵地，则常德因之可虑。 三、第七十四军除以第五十七师固守常德外，仅有两师兵力，如加入石门附近之战斗，则亦不能达成决战之成果。 四、如以第七十四军在常德、慈利间，待第一〇〇军之到达，则可得四师之精锐兵力，举全力在常德附近与敌决战，较为适宜。因此，决先以第七十三军于石门附近占领阵地，拒止敌人，而后再以第七十四军与第一〇〇军于常德、慈利间与敌决战。 这个决定的内容相互矛盾。首先认为石门的战略位置重要，不但直接关系到常德的安危，且守住石门防线还可迫使日军就此撤退，以结束会战。同时又意识到第二十九集团军前期作战伤亡严重，其第四十四军兵力单薄，防线正面太大；特别是防守石门要地的第七十三军，鄂西会战后还没恢复就又投入到此次会战，以致石门和澧水防线漏洞明显。基于这两点，中国方面本应调集主力，死守石门和澧水一线。可最终的决定却是，将精锐主力部队第七十四军放在石门以南，让残破的第七十三军去面对优势日军，这无异于提前放弃了石门和澧水防线。——在日军从北向南逼近常德的时候，只有澧水是可以利用的天险；一旦日军突破澧水南下常德，便再无险要地形可以利用了，指望已经与日军苦战数天的几个师，在澧水一线把数量庞大的日军顶住，如何可能？ 果然，已趁夜色悄然南下的日军第三师团主力，于罗家坪、燕子坪之间，协同由天门圩南下的第十三师团主力，于十三日拂晓向中国守军第七十七师和第十五师阵地发动了猛攻。石门位于澧水北岸，对于日军来讲没有前进的河流障碍，但对于第七十三军的官兵来讲，前面是日军猛烈的炮火和大兵团攻击，身后则是没有退路的澧水。日军抓住这一难得的机会，将第七十三军部队从东、西、北三面分割包围，然后派出小部队突过澧水，从南面封堵了第七十三军的退路。日军的攻击一开始，第七十三军便陷入混乱。日军第十三师团左翼部队突破了第十五师的阵地，第十五师官兵被迫向后转移；而第七十七师的阵地在日军第三师团和佐佐木支队的猛攻下，迅速陷落，苐七十七师官兵向南撤退。 为了遏制日军的攻势，十三日这天，美军第十四航空队出动了十架中型轰炸机和二十四架战斗机，在日军后方的补给基地和运输线上投下了一万二千磅的航空炸弹；下午美军飞行员再次出动，投下了八千多磅的炸弹，给日军后方造成很大的混乱。 鉴于一线部队在日军的攻击面前很快就垮了，十四日，中国第六战区下令石门一线的守军向澧水南岸转移，以确保常德以北的太浮山防御线。同时命令第十集团军全线出击，扰乱日军的侧后；命令江防军向宜昌西岸的日军实施攻击，以册应澧水战场。 但是，第六战区的调整令到达部队时，日军已攻占石门以东的新安，并从那里强渡澧水，向石门的侧后迂回，中国守军第七十三军暂编第五师陷入激战。十四日晚，日军突入石门。第二十九集团军总司令王缵绪命令第七十三军留下暂编第五师掩护，军主力向西突围。突围中，第七十三军遭到日军的尾随追击和超越攻击，第十五师官兵奋力苦战掩护军主力，连排长几乎都在带伤作战，部队伤亡达百分之八十以上。留在石门附近掩护主力突围的暂编第五师，在师长彭士量的率领下，独自坚守阵地死战不退。一天一夜之后，除少量官兵南渡澧水侥幸突围外，全师其余官兵全部阵亡，包括师长彭士量。 彭士量，号秋湖，湖南浏阳人，黄埔第四期毕业后，在陆军第十师服役，历任排长、连长、营长等职。一九三二年入陆军大学第十一期深造。抗日战争爆发后，率部参加了几乎所有的会战，包括淞沪会战、忻口会战、台儿庄会战、武汉会战和长沙会战，晋升为预备第四师副师长。武汉会战中，因指挥有方，重创日军，得到宋庆龄赠予的一床毛毯、一架德制望远镜和一把缴获的日本指挥刀。一九四二年升任暂编第五师师长，率部转战在华容一带。两天前，接到固守石门阵地的任务时，彭士量自知凶多吉少，留下两封遗书，希望全师官兵在他阵亡后服从副师长的指挥，奋勇歼灭倭寇保我神圣国土；而在留给妻子的遗书中说，自己多年来廉洁自守，未置家产，希望妻子刻苦自持，节俭生活，侍奉老人，抚育儿女，希望儿女长大努力报效国家。 彭师长阵亡时年仅三十九岁。 十六日，美军第十四航空队再次出动轰炸机和战斗机，在石门上空对南渡澧水的日军骑兵和步兵进行轰炸和扫射，还对石门至津市之间澧水水面上的日军船只实施了攻击，击沉日军船只五十多艘，其中包括一艘乘坐着百名日军士兵的平底船。 石门附近的日军冒着美军战机的轰炸和扫射突破了澧水。 而在石门战场的东南面，日军第六十八师团攻陷位于松滋河岸边的安乡后，大肆抢夺民船准备横渡洞庭湖。十六日晚，日军开始横渡时，狂风大作，船只翻覆，恰好这时后方运送粮食和弹药的大型汽艇抵达，于是第六十八师团利用这些汽艇再次尝试横渡。而中国守军“麻痹大意，以为恶劣天气日军不能够渡湖进攻”，以致日军“没有受到任何抵抗，登陆成功”。——渡过洞庭湖的日军第六十八师团，从东面逼近了常德城。 在石门战场的东面，日军第一一六师团企图由津市和澧县渡过遭水。中国军队第四十四军在澧县、石龟山等地与日军展开阵地战，部队伤亡很大。第二十九集团军总司令王缵绪命令担任澧水河防的第一五〇师派出两个营，坚守津市和澧县；第一六一师留少量部队掩护主力撤守太阳山；第一六二师留下一个营作掩护，主力撤向太阳山西北。被留在澧水北岸的部队与日军血战整整七天，最终寡不敌众，津市和澧县相继丢失。日军第一一六师团扫清津市和澧县的中国守军后，改变攻击路线，向西转至合口附近强渡澧水，然后直扑常德以北的临澧。 常德已有被围之势。 蒋介石声称要亲赴前线指挥作战。 十六日，已经抵达常德战场的第七十四军军长王耀武发出电报，恳求蒋介石不必费神前来： 渝。军委会机要室毛主任庆祥兄，请呈委员长蒋：缄密。 （一）钧座国家元首，日理万机，恳乞仍坐镇陪都，如认为有加强指挥机构之必要时，恳以总长何到恩施，孙代长官到桃源为宜，未审当否。 （二）我军捡获敌之文件、日记本与其地图标示，敌有进攻常德企图。 （三）无论友军努力与否，职当谨遵钧座向日（十三日）训示，鼓励士气，痛歼顽敌。 （四）已严饬五十七师固守常德，其余除派出搜索警戒部队外，约铣（十六日）晚均可到达慈利东南白鹤山、燕子桥、黄石市间地区。 实际上，再过一天，蒋介石就要飞赴埃及了。 王耀武的第七十四军，抵达慈利以南的羊角山、落马城、白鹤山一线，并派出一部兵力进至慈利以北的赤松山占领前哨阵地。十七日，日军第十三师团连同佐佐木支队，分三路向慈利发动攻击，防守前哨阵地的第五十八师的一个营坚守不退，顶了日军整整一天，入夜后该营官兵全部阵亡。日军接近第七十四军的主阵地后，在第五十八师的东岳观、猫儿峪阵地，第五十一师的夏家港、观国山阵地，双方展开激战。日军一部突破中国守军的阵地一角冲入慈利城，第五十八师的防御线岌岌可危。战至十八日上午，慈利城陷落。——慈利是澧水上除了石门和澧县之外，第三个最为重要的渡河点，也是掩护常德左侧背的战略要点。慈利一丢，从这个方向直下常德沿途无险可守。无论王耀武在给蒋介石的电报中如何信誓旦旦，慈利的轻易丢失令战局迅速恶化。 十八日，飞赴开罗途中的蒋介石对常德战局深感不安，他知道此战发生在他将以一个大国首脑身份出现在世界面前的时刻，胜败关乎声誉，其焦虑之情流露在连续发出的电报中。 十八日电： Immediately.恩施孙代长官、桃源王总司令缵绪、慈利王副总司令耀武：密。 （一）该区当面渡犯之敌，将因补给困难，攻势挫减。王副总司令耀武，指挥第七十四、第一〇〇两军，务于太浮山、慈利一带，将敌击破，期收决战之胜利。 （二）对一〇〇军之使用，务俟该军全力到达战场后，选定有利时机，向最痛苦方面予以有效之打击。 （三）第四十四军，除以一部于澧、津以南地区与敌周旋外，务集中主力，协力第七十四军太浮山以北地区之作战为要。 十九日再电： 限即到。恩施孙代长官、桃源王总司令缵绪、慈利王副总司令耀武、常德盘龙王军长泽波、常德五十七师余师长、速转一〇〇军施军长中诚：密。（一）当面敌人补给困难日增。（二）我第十集团军正向敌之右侧背奋力压迫中。（三）我第七十四军、第四十四军、第一〇〇军，应尽全力在常德西北地区与敌决战，保卫常德，而与之共存亡。功过赏罚，绝不姑息。希饬属奋勉为要。 实际上，此时王敬久的第十集团军，不但因为前期作战伤亡巨大而战力减弱，且该军发动的册应反击即刻就被留守侧后的日军所压制，部队已经被远远地隔离于常德战场之外；而向常德推进的日军也没有因为补给困难而减弱攻势，各路日军正在对当面的中国守军猛攻不止。 十九日，归王耀武指挥的第一〇〇军先头部队第十九师抵达慈利以南、常德以西的漆家河，主力开始向常德西南方向的桃源推进。王耀武命令第十九师占领漆家河、五峰山等阵地，掩护主力部队移动；命令第六十三师一八八团留守德山，归第五十七师指挥，掩护常德城的西南方向。但此时日军佐佐木支队已经越过慈利，第三师团也已抵达慈利与常德之间的太浮山一线。夏家港中国守军第五十一师被日军紧紧包围，一部日军分兵越过夏家港，直接攻击了第一六一师守卫的羊毛滩阵地。 本来指望第七十三军等部队在澧水一线迟滞日军的重庆军事委员会，当日军全线逼近常德时才发现常德附近守军兵力太弱，于是紧急电令方先觉的第十军立即由衡山向常德以南推进，并命令何绍周的第八军向澧县和津市发起攻击，以威胁南下日军的后方。但是，日军不顾一切地猛烈分割中国守军，第一六一师血战一夜突围而出，退到漆家河东北方向的黄龙观附近，但全师突出来的部队仅有四个营，完全失去了战斗能力。 二十一日，日军十六架战机轰炸桃源后，空投了六十多名伞兵，伞兵绕过南下的第三师团一部，直扑常德西面的陬市和桃源。桃源中国守军不足一个营，城池即刻被日军攻陷。当时，第四十四军第一五〇师师部在陬市，师长许国璋身边只有收容的两个步兵连和师直属部队一一四九九团抢占太浮山去了，四八八团和四五〇团也避开日军的攻击正在向太浮山附近集结——许师长决定利用现有阵地阻击日军。他明知仅凭身边的这点部队，根本无法阻挡日军第三师团的进攻，但他对官兵们说了这样一番话，表明他不愿意再退，决定死在这里了： 我们为国家尽力的时候到了，守陬市等于协同常德守军作战，我们多打死一个日本兵，就等于给常德守军增加了一份力量，尽到了军人的天职。我们已三面被围，背后是深不可测的沅水，既无渡船，天气又冷，与其当俘虏或落水淹死，不如战死光荣得多。为了保卫国家民族，每个人都要勇敢杀敌，与敌决一死战，不愧做中国的军人。 许国璋，字宪廷，四川成都人，一八九八年出生于一个贫苦农家。一九一七年孙中山反对北洋军阀时，许弃文从戎入川军第二师服役。他勇猛过人，屡建战功，不断晋升，一九三八年川军出川抗日时，他任第六十七军第一六一师第四八三旅旅长。武汉会战中率部顽强阻击日军西进，武汉失守后又率部扼守大洪山。一九四二年升任第一五〇师师长。常德会战开始后，第一五〇师是最先接战的部队，在澧水两岸抵抗日军已达半个月。 日军向陬市中国守军的阻击阵地蜂拥而上。战斗中，许师长亲赴前沿，手持步枪与官兵一起作战，不幸中弹负伤，陷入昏迷。官兵们误认为师长阵亡，准备将其运到沅江南岸去。这时许师长醒来，得知日军已经占领陬市，他拒绝被抬走，表示军人应该死在战场上，抬他过江等于是害了他。他从阵亡在他身边的卫士腰间摸到手枪，然后举枪自戕，时年四十五岁。 陬市和桃源失守后，常德城的西南面已经敞开。 在常德的西北方向，第七十四军军长王耀武指挥着周志道的第五十一师和张灵甫的第五十八师，顽强阻击着日军第十三师团，羊角山和落马城阵地一度失守，但又被第七十四军重新夺回。日军第十三师团的先头部队伊藤联队，不顾伤亡彻夜冲锋，终在二十日凌晨五时突到了燕子桥，但继续攻击时再次遇到顽强阻击。第十三师团赤鹿理师团长亲自来到该联队指挥所，严令天黑之前必须突破中国守军的阻击向前推进。伊藤联队与第七十四军的苦战，成为日军官兵的一场噩梦： 敌人占据着标高三百余米的高地，斜面险峻，处处是断崖峭壁。第一线部队甚为艰苦，从十四日夜以来，连日通宵不眠。然而为军之全局着想，不得不挥泪激励部下继续攻击。十八点再次攻击。敌防备坚固，我仅仅占领敌阵一角。联队本部继第三大队之后突进。预备队为了掩护山炮及马匹留在后方，准备于明日天亮后掩护山炮及马匹追及大队。此时夜幕漆黑，联队长在前进中只能借着无线报话机了解各大队状况。但由于山岳地带一场混战，二十一点联队本部便与各部队失掉了联系。联队本部孤军前进，夜半时分行至余儿垭北侧高地，受到敌军包围，敌众我寡我军顽强奋战。二十一日，敌人的攻击逐渐加剧，此时本部依然没有与部队恢复联系。十三点三十分，敌人一枚手榴弹在军旗下爆炸，联队长和旗手（立元义则少尉）负伤，卫兵三人死亡。右腿被弹片炸伤的联队长，无畏地亲自护持着军旗，激励周围的士兵，指挥战斗。然而死伤者递增，危机迫在眉睫。幸好在十六点左右第三大队（大队长，大场新平少佐）一部赶到，联队本部才摆脱了危机，十八点进入二方坪。 虽然正面阵地没有被日军突破，但右翼受到迂回而来的日军佐佐木支队第二一六联队的威胁。为了避免陷入包围，王耀武命令部队向常德以西的漆家河西南方向撤退。 中美联合空军二十日再次出动战机三十六架次，协助澧水两岸地区中国军队的地面作战。二十一日，日军出动战机三十九架次，轰炸了中国第六战区司令长官部所在地恩施，中国空军起飞迎战，击落日机四架，中国空军也损失了四架战机。美军第十四航空队随即起飞战机二十八架次，在安乡、澧县和常德以北地区轰炸和扫射南下的日军。只是，由于这一带地面多为山地，中美空军对山的作战的协助效果不甚明显。 二十一日，当蒋介石在开罗机场走下飞机时，常德北面除了太阳山和太浮山两个要点尚在中国军队第一六二、第一五〇师手中之外，其余各要点均被日军控制。 二十二日，中国军队第六十六军，在澧水以北向王家厂、仁和坪地区的日军发动攻击，以牵制南下常德的日军；第七十九军由石门渡过澧水，向慈利方向攻击日军的侧背。而日军第三、第十三师团在常德西北与慈利以南间，与中国守军第七十四军激战不休；日军第三十九师团以及古贺支队、宫胁支队主力留在石门以北地区，负责阻击中国军队第十八军、第六十六军和第七十九军等部队对常德的增援。 常德已经被日军三面包围。 重庆军事委员会的决定是，集中主力部队对日军实施三面反包围，在常德城下与进攻的日军展开决战：调集第六战区主力和第九战区一部，以第十、第一〇〇、第七十四、第七十三、第九十九、第四十四、第七十九军为一线兵团，以第十八军为二线兵团，在沅水南北地区，由南、西、北三面向日军实施包围反击。同时命令中国第九、第五战区在更广阔的外围地域向日军发起进攻，以册应常德决战。而常德城