Chapter 158 11. Inventory

The battle was successful.The East China Field Army wiped out all the headquarters of the reorganized 74th Division, the 51st Brigade, the 57th Brigade, and the 58th Brigade, and one regiment of the reorganized 83rd Division's 19th Brigade, totaling more than 32,000 people (including 19,000 prisoners).Seized 28 mountain artillery and field artillery, 14 infantry artillery and anti-aircraft artillery, 235 mortars of various calibers, 987 light and heavy machine guns, 9828 long and short guns, 43 rocket launchers, 61 grenades and grenades, 7,202 rounds of various shells, 2.08 million rounds of various bullets, 3 cars, 1,397 horses, 28 radio stations, and 4 tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed.The East China Field Army suffered more than 12,000 casualties (2,043 of them were killed), 6 light and heavy mortars, 153 light and heavy machine guns, 531 long and short guns, 33,000 rounds of various artillery shells, 1.99 million rounds of various bullets, and 29,000 grenades .The ratio of personnel losses between the Kuomintang Army and the East China Field Army was 2.7:1.After the seized weapons and ammunition were offset against the consumption of damaged weapons and ammunition, the East China Field Army netted 28 mountain guns and field guns, 14 infantry guns and anti-war guns, 229 light and heavy mortars, 834 light and heavy machine guns, and 9,257 long and short guns , 43 rocket launchers, 61 grenades and grenades, 26,000 rounds of various shells were lost, and 95,000 rounds of various shells were obtained.

In this battle, the East China Field Army completely shattered the "Luzhong Battle" plan of the Kuomintang Army Command, dealt a heavy blow to the Kuomintang Army's key attack on the Shandong Liberated Area, and greatly shook its interior.Chiang Kai-shek lamented: The reorganized 74th Division was annihilated, "this is the most distressing and regrettable thing since our army suppressed bandits." (Chiang Kai-shek’s speech to the 23rd batch of Kuomintang Army Officer Training Corps, May 19, 1947) Tang Enbo, commander of the 1st Corps, was dismissed from his post, Huang Botao, commander of the reorganized 25th division, and Li Tianxia, ​​commander of the reorganized 83rd division, were also punished.

At that time, Xinhua News Agency pointed out in the commentary of "Zhu Mengyin Great Victory": It effectively supported the PLA's combat operations in northern Shaanxi and other battlefields.It "has even more special significance in the history of the East China Liberation Army. Because: first, this is the most powerful and almost the only offensive force that has hit Chiang Kai-shek today; second, this is the most elite force that has hit Chiang Kai-shek (four, One of the five elite divisions); third, this strike occurred on the eve of a full-scale counter-offensive in the liberated areas. At the same time as this victory, powerful counter-offensives are being launched in Northeast, Northern Henan, Southern Shanxi, Zhengtai and other places." (Xinhua News Agency: "Zhu Mengyin Great Victory", May 20, 1947) The victory in the Battle of Menglianggu greatly encouraged the fighting will and confidence in victory of the soldiers and civilians in the East China Liberated Area.

The Central Military Commission spoke highly of the victory of the Battle of Menglianggu. On May 22, Mao Zedong sent a call to the leaders of Huaye: "The annihilation of the 74th Division cost a lot, but it is of great significance. Each method of annihilation breaks the enemy's attack and wins a decisive victory. Fighting in the current area is the most beneficial to us and the most disadvantageous to the enemy." ("Mao Zedong Military Collection" Volume Four)