Chapter 168 10. Inventory

After Liu Deng led the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army to cross the Yellow River, they fought continuously for 28 days and wiped out 4 reorganized divisions and 9 and a half brigades of the Kuomintang Army, totaling more than 56,000 people.Among them, more than 43,000 people were captured.2 tanks, 12 field guns, 52 mountain guns, more than 700 mortars and other small guns, 1483 machine guns, 13619 long and short guns, 56 cars and a large amount of ammunition were seized.Recovered the Southwest Liberated Area of ​​Shandong on the south bank of the Yellow River, shattered Chiang Kai-shek's "Yellow River Strategy", disrupted the deployment of the Kuomintang army's key offensives, and effectively cooperated with our army's operations in northern Shaanxi and Shandong.Southwest Shandong fought continuously for 28 days, and our army suffered 13,000 casualties, most of whom were killed and injured in the Battle of Yangshan...

The victory in the Battle of Southwest Shandong liberated the vast area on the south bank of the Yellow River and millions of people, directly defended the liberated area north of the Yellow River in the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan border area, shattered Chiang Kai-shek's Yellow River strategy, and opened up a vast battlefield in Southwest Shandong.It forced the Kuomintang to withdraw troops from northern Shaanxi and Shandong for aid, disrupted the enemy's strategic deployment, and effectively supported the army and civilians in the liberated areas of northern Shaanxi and Shandong to crush the enemy's key attacks.At the same time, it broke Jiang Jun's powerful interception plan and opened up a way for our army to leap into the Dabie Mountains and lead the war to the Kuomintang ruled area.

On July 29, 1947, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued an order to commend Liu Deng's army for crossing south in order to commend the brilliant victory achieved by Liu Deng's army in Southwest Shandong.The telegram said: "The self-defense war fought in the first month of the second year. Except that we wiped out part of the enemy in Shandong and other battlefields, Liu Deng's army fought in Yuncheng, Juye, and Dingtao from July 2 to July 28. The area has fought continuously, annihilating 9 and a half brigades and 4 divisions of the enemy's regular army, killing and injuring more than 60,000 enemy soldiers.

On July 31, Xinhua News Agency published an editorial titled "Wish Luxi Great Victory", which said: The Luxi victory answered Chiang Kai-shek's general mobilization order; the Luxi victory answered Chiang Kai-shek's key offensive; the Luxi victory answered Chiang Kai-shek's Yellow River conspiracy; the Luxi victory answered Chiang Kai-shek's shameless rumors; vista. On the fifth day after the end of the battle, on August 2, when Liu Bocheng made a speech to a reporter from Xinhua News Agency, he commented on the victory in Southwest Shandong: "Our results in the past 21 days are roughly equivalent to the sum of five months in the second half of last year. It is obvious that our army becomes stronger as we fight, and the enemy becomes weaker as we fight. There is no need for any further explanation. It is worth noting that the demoralization of Jiang's army is now more obvious, so it is easier to be blamed. Eliminate." ("Liu Bocheng Military Selected Works", People's Liberation Army Press, 1982 edition, p. 516)

The victory of the Battle of Southwest Shandong shocked China and foreign countries.American journalist Jack Belden wrote in the book "China Shocks the World" as an eyewitness: "I have experienced many wars, but I have never seen a more brilliant and outstanding force than the Communist Party's forcible crossing of the Yellow River this time and in the future." Military action." Its brilliance lies "principally in the conception of this military action—its daring, boldness, and above all, its creative imagination". ([US] Jack Belden: "China Shakes the World", Beijing Press, 1980 edition, p. 446)

The breakthrough of the natural barrier of the Yellow River caused extreme panic in the Kuomintang government.They clamored to "immediately take military action to put down the Communist rebellion, otherwise the whole country will be destroyed by the Communist Party." ("Compilation of Materials on Sino-US Relations", Volume 1, World Knowledge Publishing House, 1957 edition, p. 756)