Chapter 40 3. The last years of the eight-year war of resistance

On May 9, 1945, Germany announced its unconditional surrender to the Soviet Red Army.This day is the Soviet Union's Victory Day in World War II, and it is a day of pride for the peace-loving people of the world.In the Second World War, the Soviet people and the Soviet Red Army made huge sacrifices, finally defeated the aggression of Hitler's fascist army, and poured blood and lives into the flowers of peace. Like the people of the Soviet Union, the Chinese nation, which made great sacrifices, also welcomed the new dawn of victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan with open arms.Both the Kuomintang army, the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army led by the Communist Party all launched their final attacks on the Japanese aggressors on their respective battlefields.As far as the overall situation in China is concerned, two areas are the most active. One is the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army led by the Communist Party of China, fighting against Japan in large areas of Shanxi, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Jiangsu and other provinces; the other is the Kuomintang The army fought against Japan in Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, Hunan and other provinces.

The Kuomintang army sent troops from the border of Guizhou to attack Guangxi, which was occupied by the Japanese army, recovered Hechi along the way, and occupied Liuzhou.Taking Liuzhou as the advance base, the Chinese Army Headquarters formulated a combat plan for counterattacking Guangzhou. First, they captured Guilin and the Leizhou Peninsula with powerful troops, and then attacked Hengyang and Qujiang respectively. .Therefore, after the Battle of Western Hunan, the main force of the Kuomintang army became active in the four provinces of Yunnan, Guangxi, Hunan, and Guangdong.In July 1945, it dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese army.

At this time, the leaders of the Soviet Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom held a meeting in Potsdam near Berlin, Germany, and issued the Potsdam Proclamation urging Japan to surrender on July 26, ordering Japan to surrender unconditionally.However, the Japanese imperialists were not reconciled to their own defeat. They still wanted to use Northeast China as a strategic base, and tried to use the millions of elite Kwantung Army stationed in Northeast China as the main force to counterbalance and continue the war with the Allied forces. In northeast China, there are the Changbai Mountains and the Lesser Khingan Mountains in the east, and the Greater Khingan Mountains and the Inner Mongolia Desert in the west. These are all geographical conditions that are not conducive to large armies fighting.The Japanese army took advantage of these conditions to actively prepare for war.First of all, a solid fortification was established on the Sino-Soviet border in the northeast, a strong force was deployed, and a large amount of military supplies sufficient to supply a long-term war were stored in the rear.

The Japanese Kwantung Army stationed in the northeast of the Japanese base camp is the most elite unit of the Japanese invaders, and it is also a unit that is ready to join the anti-Soviet war at any time since the start of the war between the Soviet Union and Germany.When Germany attacked Stalingrad, the Japanese army was preparing to launch an attack on the Soviet Union.However, Stalin had long observed the movement of the Japanese army and estimated the threat from the Japanese side. During the most difficult days of the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet Union always maintained a huge defensive force in the Far East to prevent the Japanese and German plots to attack the Soviet Red Army from success.

As early as 1938 and 1939, Japanese troops invaded the Soviet Union.They broke into Soviet territory, cut off the main Siberian railway, and separated the Far East from the Soviet interior.But the Soviet Red Army will not sit idly by.The Soviet Red Army dispatched heavy troops to smash the Japanese attack and completely wiped out the invading Japanese army.The Japanese army learned the toughness of the Soviet army. After the Potsdam Proclamation was issued, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan on August 8, completely eliminating the source of world aggression forces in the East.Two days before the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, that is, at 8 a.m. on August 6, the U.S. Air Force dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.The day after the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, the U.S. Air Force dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki.

The Japanese Kwantung Army estimated that a decisive battle with the Soviet army on the Sino-Soviet border would be unfavorable, so it deployed the necessary troops on a solid border position, transferred the main force to the deep area, and prepared to move from the Soviet army to the narrow area when the Soviet army broke through the border. The flank smashed the Soviet army in one fell swoop.While the Soviet Red Army took advantage of the Japanese army's transfer to the deep area and had not yet been consolidated, it suddenly divided into four groups and invaded the three northeastern provinces of China that Japan had occupied for a long time.

The first route of the Soviet Union's million-strong army attacked Changchun and Shenyang from the direction of Baikal, the second route army attacked Chengde, Jinzhou and Zhangjiakou, the third route army attacked Jilin and Harbin from the direction of Vladivostok, and the fourth route army attacked Harbin from the direction of Hailanpao and Qiqihar.The Soviet Pacific Fleet landed in northern Korea, as well as South Sakhalin Island and the Kuril Islands, and cooperated with the Soviet Red Army to fight.The Soviet army attacked swiftly, destroying in one fell swoop the strategic base on which the Japanese aggressors used to resist, and annihilated the vital forces of the Japanese Kwantung Army.

The Soviet Union sent troops to Japan, which greatly accelerated the arrival of the strategic counter-offensive stage of China's War of Resistance Against Japan, making China's War of Resistance Against Japan immediately enter the final stage.Mao Zedong judged the situation most quickly. On the second day after the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, he issued a statement "The Last Battle Against the Japanese Invaders" to the whole country, calling on all the anti-Japanese forces of the Chinese people to launch a nationwide large-scale counterattack and expand Liberated areas, narrowed occupied areas, organized armed work teams, went deep behind enemy lines, mobilized the people to destroy the enemy's communication lines, and cooperated with the regular army to fight.He called on the people in the enemy-occupied areas to immediately organize an underground army, prepare for an armed uprising, and cooperate with the army attacking from the outside.Mao Zedong's statement also sharply reminded the people that they must pay attention to the danger of civil war.Commander-in-Chief Zhu De issued an march order to all the troops in the liberated areas, and the troops in the liberated areas will launch a major counterattack.

In the early morning of August 10, Emperor Hirohito of Japan held an imperial meeting. At 6:45, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs entrusted Switzerland and Sweden, two neutral countries, to issue the "Note of Japan Begging for a Surrender" to China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union.The United States is not surprised by Japan's decision to surrender. It will happen sooner or later.However, after receiving the news, the President of the United States did not consider this issue, but the issue of whether the Emperor of Japan would continue to exist.When the Potsdam Proclamation was formulated, it was to change the Japanese national system.Thinking about it now is problematic, Americans think that the existence of the Emperor of Japan is not only important to the Japanese, but also to the Americans, it will facilitate the process of surrender, and avoid the occupation of the US and Japanese troops bloody clashes between.If both the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese government collapse, then the defeated Japanese army will have no leader, and it is very likely that they will fight stubbornly and fight you to the death.From this point of view, the United States decided to retain the presence of the Japanese emperor.For this reason, Truman called London, Moscow, and Chongqing, pretexting that, according to the freely expressed will of the Japanese people, the establishment of a Japanese form of government would replace the clauses in the Potsdam Proclamation that abolished the emperor system.

The British telegram agreed, pointing out in the telegram that it was not strategic for the Potsdam Proclamation to require the Emperor of Japan to sign the instrument of surrender, and suggested that the Emperor of Japan authorize the Japanese government and the Supreme Military Command to sign the terms of surrender. Chiang Kai-shek from Chongqing, China, responded with a telegram praising the wisdom of the U.S. president, who has always insisted on preserving the Japanese emperor system.What Chiang Kai-shek worried about was different from what the American president was worried about. Chiang Kai-shek worried that Japan would be forced to abolish the emperor system and might choose the Soviet system angrily.

Moscow, the Soviet Union, finally called back. Moscow did not talk about these things. Molotov wanted to have two supreme commanders of the Allied Forces, one for the United States and one for the Soviet Union.But this hope was very rudely rejected by the Americans.Each has its own interests and plans. Although the world has won the anti-fascist war, the world will not be peaceful if the groups are different, the systems are different, and the interests are different. Chiang Kai-shek's opinion is crucial to whether to eradicate the Japanese emperor system.Disaster-ridden China has been trampled by Japanese militarism for more than ten years. They wantonly plundered China's resources and burned and killed Chinese compatriots.Now that China has won the War of Resistance Against Japan, China, as the victorious country, has the right to decide the fate of the defeated country. However, Chiang Kai-shek did not punish the invaders as they should, and still agreed with Japan to retain the emperor system, which contributed to the emergence of the Bushido spirit.The Japanese were deeply grateful for Chiang Kai-shek's virtue, and erected a "monument for repaying grievances with virtue" for him. The inscription read: "President Chiang Kai-shek firmly advocates that the national system of Japan should not be changed." , are the soul and flesh of the 35 million compatriots of the Chinese nation. Can they find peace after sleeping underground? This is true of Chiang Kai-shek, and so is the United States. Regardless of the feelings of the Chinese people, they protect Japan's defeated country.General MacArthur, the supreme commander of the United Nations Army, was responsible for accepting Japan's surrender. The principle he established for Japan was to defeat the Japanese with war, but to use the concept of "free world" to win them.At the surrender ceremony, he said a bunch of magnanimous, high-sounding, and beautiful words to provide Japan with protection. The attitude of the United States and the Chiang Kai-shek clique is completely different. The Eighth Route Army, the New Fourth Army, and the people's anti-Japanese armed forces all over the country under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. districts, are celebrated in different ways.They were overjoyed, beyond description, and many even wept bitterly.Eight years of hardships, bloodshed and sacrifices have finally come to this day. The blood of the Chinese people will not be shed in vain.In the honor of the Commander-in-Chief of the Eighth Route Army, Zhu De issued Order No. 1, requiring all troops to seize and disarm all the Japanese and puppets, and let the Japanese militarists surrender in accordance with the "Potsdam Declaration." Chen Bulei hurriedly reported to Chiang Kai-shek: "Reporting to the committee, Zhu De, the commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army, issued an order to all the liberated areas to disarm the local Japanese troops within a time limit. If they refuse to surrender, they should be resolutely eliminated!" "What! It's their turn?" Chiang Kai-shek stood up from the desk, he couldn't help being furious, and turned around the table a few times angrily.Chiang Kai-shek pointed to Chen Bulei and said, "I am ordering that the national army must step up its march and not relax a bit! All the generals of the Japanese and puppet troops should keep their original positions and only surrender to the national army." Chen Bulei quickly recorded.After thinking about it, Chiang Kai-shek continued: "Order Zhu De, Commander-in-Chief of the 18th Army, to stay in place and wait for orders, and not to accept surrender! Order the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Army, Okamura Ningji, to be in charge of doing things before the national army takes over." Very effective defense." He Yingqin received a telegram forwarded by Chen Bulei. He believed that this order was difficult to implement. When did the Communist Party hear Chiang Kai-shek's order, and this order could not be communicated with Zhu De.A huge anti-Japanese army is now inferior to the Japanese and puppet troops. How can this convince the commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army?He Yingqin felt that this matter was a bit tricky. The Yan'an Eighth Route Army headquarters received orders from Chiang Kai-shek and He Yingqin, and was filled with righteous indignation.They thought Chiang Kai-shek was shameful and despicable. He didn't play by the rules of the game, and even regarded the Eighth Route Army, which had persisted in the eight-year war of resistance, as a natural enemy, not as good as the traitorous Japanese and puppet troops.The traitor Japanese and puppet troops still have the power to maintain the local situation and stick to their original positions.How did Chiang Kai-shek's ass sit on the bench of traitors and puppet soldiers?Chiang Kai-shek's order caused an uproar among the people in the country. An unfair order is unpopular, and heaven will not tolerate it! Chiang Kai-shek, who was refuted by the Eighth Route Army of the Communist Party, was immediately speechless. The Eighth Route Army led by the Communist Party fought tit-for-tat and ordered the North China guerrilla troops to advance northward and enter the northeast, join forces with the Soviet Red Army from the north, and cooperate with the Soviet Army to wipe out the Japanese troops blocking them; the troops in the Yellow River Basin were ordered to push the Great Wall The Japanese army in the south surrendered immediately, and if refused, immediately attacked and completely wiped out. The Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army under the leadership of the Communist Party carried forward the spirit of beating dogs in the water and did not give the Japanese and puppet troops a chance to breathe. The Jireliao army marched northeastward along Beining Road and liberated the Northeast.The army of Jinchaji liberated Chahar Province and surrounded Beiping, Tianjin, and Baoding.The Shanxi-Sui army liberated vast areas of Suiyuan and Shanxi provinces.The Jin-Shandong-Yu army liberated the area along the Yellow River.The Shandong army liberated 100 counties in Shandong.The Central China army counterattacked to the east of Shanghai-Hangzhou, Jiangnan, Zhejiang-Jiangxi, Huainan and Longhai.The South China Anti-Japanese Column attacked the Guangjiu and Chaoshan areas.The military headquarters of the New Fourth Army issued an order to march to Shanghai and Nanjing, and newly appointed mayors of Shanghai, Nanjing and other cities. In short, in response to Chiang Kai-shek's unfair orders, the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army led by the Communist Party waged the final battle against the Japanese invaders, wiped out more than 390,000 Japanese and puppet troops, liberated 250 cities above the county level, and liberated more than 18 million compatriots. The liberated areas are basically contiguous.On the eve of Japan's surrender, the main force of the Kuomintang army was still in the southwest, and the important task of counter-offensive on the Chinese battlefield fell historically on the shoulders of the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army. At this time, Chiang Kai-shek stared blankly in Chongqing, he was anxious like an ant on a hot pot.It's too late, there's no way.He had no choice but to ask the Americans for help, and flew Liao Yaoxiang's New Army to Nanjing by air. At the same time, he appointed the traitor Zhou Fohai as the commander-in-chief of the Beijing-Shanghai-Hangzhou Action Corps, responsible for maintaining law and order in the Beijing-Shanghai-Hangzhou area. On August 15, 1945, the Emperor of Japan made a helpless "sacred decision to end the war" and issued the "Letter to the Loyal and Good Subjects", declaring unconditional surrender.At that moment, people all over the world raised their arms and celebrated.In Moscow of the Soviet Union, in Washington of the United States, in London of the United Kingdom, in Paris of France, in Chongqing and Yan'an of China, and everywhere in the world, the ocean of people, the sound of cheers swept the earth under our feet and shook the sky above our heads.Even though the smoke on the battlefield is not exhausted, the war wounds are still bleeding, and the relatives lost in the war have not yet returned, they are still cheering and jumping. During the eight-year war of resistance against the Japanese invaders, this victory was hard-won!The Chinese people can't control the joy in their hearts, so they must release it lively.Hundreds of thousands, even millions of people in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Guangxi, Chongqing, and Yan'an spontaneously organized colorful celebrations.They made speeches denouncing the crimes of the Japanese and calling for a peaceful life.The crowd dances dragons and lions, walks on stilts, dances Yangko dances, and plays big-headed babies.They are happy for their victory. The Chinese people have never laughed like this before. Today, the Chinese people are proud.The victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is the victory of the entire Chinese people.