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The Red Army's fist was very painful to the National Revolutionary Army, which was advancing rapidly and winning consecutive victories against the Mongolian army.
However, the National Revolutionary Army, which had tasted victory so far, did not easily retreat.
Although Falkenhausen and the German military advisors had different opinions, the National Revolutionary Army still did not consider the war situation to be that unfavorable.
With just a few more victories, we can defeat the Soviet army and enter Ulaanbaatar! Then the war will end!
Although they were beaten a little because they were caught off guard by the intoxication of victory, the National Revolutionary Army is still alive and well. And the Soviet Army had to keep an eye on Germany, so it could not move any further.
If you are prepared to suffer some damage and push forward, it is possible to drive out the white communists along with the Mongolians!
Sun Liren, one of the few great generals of the National Revolutionary Army, had similar thoughts.
"The flanks of the Soviet army are guarded by the Mongolian army. Therefore, if we attack in a detour, we will be able to catch them off guard."
"Insert all of the 151st, 154th, and 155th divisions that were left in reserve. "Send a request to the Air Force for support."
"But if we deploy reserve forces now, won't it be difficult to deal with situations later?"
"It's all or nothing. If you mutter here, there will be no answer. "It is best to move boldly, even if it means taking risks."
Preparation measures against Soviet tanks also had to be prepared.
The National Revolutionary Army's M3 Stuart, M3 Lee, and M4 Sherman were adequate against the Japanese and Mongolian armies, but their performance was somewhat poor against the tanks brought by the Soviet Army.
Sun Liren deployed Shermans and Super Shermans equipped with 76mm main guns donated by the United States. And he built a strong defense line with Panzerfausts and anti-tank guns purchased from Germany.
"The tanks are coming!"
"Take a deep breath and aim properly! If you miss, my hand will die!"
The anti-tank gunners, who had learned how to use the Panzerfaust from German officers who participated in the Eastern Front, took a deep breath and focused their eyes on the aiming line.
According to the textbook, the Panzerfaust can hit a target at a distance of 250m, but instructors recommended shooting from 150m.
This was because it was difficult to expect a hit at any distance beyond that unless you were a very skilled shooter.
When the T-34 came within 150 meters, the anti-tank gunner pressed a button to trigger the warhead.
And hit. explosion.
The PaK 40 and 88mm anti-aircraft guns were able to hit enemy tanks at a distance of 1km, much farther than the Panzerfaust.
The Soviet armored unit, which was charging with great vigor, was blocked by the National Revolutionary Army's solid blocking line and retreated, losing dozens of tanks.
Meanwhile, the reserve forces of the National Revolutionary Army, which had bypassed to the flank with the support of artillery and air force, charged into the defensive line of the Mongolian army guarding the flank of the Soviet army.
The National Revolutionary Army had no doubt that it would be able to quickly break through the poorly equipped Mongolian army.
However, the Mongolian army was no easy task. The Mongols fought with all their might as they had been under Chinese rule for hundreds of years and had memories of experiencing Chinese rule until recently.
Here, the weapons donated by the Soviet Union were also quite effective.
-Quaaang!
"Kwaaaa!!!"
The ZiS-3 was a force to be reckoned with, but the BS-3 100mm anti-tank gun was much more powerful.
Because it is larger and heavier than the ZiS-3, there are many difficulties in operation, but as it was created with the purpose of destroying German heavy tanks from the front, one thing is certain: power.
Although this is the first time it has been seen in actual combat as the war ended mid-development, the BS-3, which can destroy any tank with one hit even from a distance of over 1 km, showed off its tremendous presence in defensive battles.
The National Revolutionary Army, which had been charging with the sole intention of easily trampling on the Mongolian army, hurriedly set off a smoke bomb and retreated.
The Sherman, which received a direct hit from a 100mm armor-piercing round, spewed out fire and smoke from the turret and hull hatch.
Just as the battle between fire and steel continued on the ground, a breathtaking chase took place in the sky.
The Mongolian Air Force, which consisted of outdated aircraft such as the I-15 and I-16, had long ago been retired, so the air battle was a solo battle between the Soviet Air Force and the National Revolutionary Army Air Force.
Soviet pilots flew Yak-3s and La-9s and fought National Revolutionary Army pilots on Mustangs in the skies of Mongolia.
Neither of them could completely overwhelm the other with their skills, and the fighter planes they boarded were also of equal performance, so the battle was tense, like a tug-of-war.
Accordingly, the National Revolutionary Army deployed a trump card imported from Germany to gain the upper hand in air combat.
"Why are those fucking stingrays here!"
When the Ho229, a German-made stingray-shaped jet fighter, appeared on the battlefield in Mongolia, Soviet pilots who had memories of being brutally beaten by German jets were astonished.
Blood was sprinkled on the ground every hour in the sky where battles were taking place without stopping.
***
February 9, 1949
Mongolia Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia and the only city in Mongolia that can be called a large city, had more Soviet troops roaming the streets than Mongolians.
In a city where anti-aircraft artillery positions were erected everywhere in preparation for the air raids of the National Revolutionary Army, the commander-in-chief of the Soviet forces, Budoyi, and deputy commander-in-chief Malinovsky stayed up all night, listening to reports from the battlefield and planning a strategy.
"The Chinese guys' momentum has been broken. "Why don't we just push ahead at this point?"
"Their defense posture is not at a level that is easy to see. How about taking a cautious approach?"
The National Revolutionary Army's offensive was easily blocked, but surprisingly, breaking through the enemy's defense was not common.
In addition, the appearance of German-made jets deployed by the National Revolutionary Army was a big concern for them.
Voroshilov urged Bundy to end the war as soon as possible, and Bundy knew that.
If the war is dragged out, Germany will definitely move.
Fortunately, the National Revolutionary Army was not a strong army. It was not weak, but it was no match for the Red Army, and the Soviet Union's ally, the United States, also stepped in and put pressure on Chiang Kai-shek to end the war quickly.
The Soviet Union wanted the United States to put more pressure on Chiang Kai-shek, but the United States, concerned that China would completely turn to Germany's side, responded lukewarmly.
In order to end the war as quickly as possible, a great victory was needed that would shatter the enemy's will to fight within the near future.
"What we lack most right now is time. You can't waste every minute and second. As the war drags on by another day, what will the fascist warmongers in Berlin be thinking? They are no match for the Red Army anyway. "If we concentrate our power and create a hole in the enemy's ranks, even at the cost of damage, it is certain that it will collapse like a sand castle."
Like Sun Liren, Bu Dunui also insisted on concentrating all efforts in a short period of time and leading to a decisive battle.
Mongolian dictator Hurlegging Cheybalsang also called for a short-term decisive battle.
He wanted to drive out the Chinese invaders who had invaded his country's territory as soon as possible, so he sided with Bu Dunui's argument.
"Good. That would be better than the delay."
"Thank you."
Due to the strong arguments of the two, Malinovsky also changed his mind.
Malinovsky's initial plan was to use up the men and materials of the National Revolutionary Army through a delayed war and then launch a concentrated attack when the enemy's momentum was weakened, but in the current situation where time was urgent, Budolni's argument was better.
After receiving Malinovsky's consent, Bundy began the necessary preparations.
Armored and aviation forces were drawn from the rear of the Far East and Siberia, and fuel and ammunition were stockpiled. At the same time, new weapons to counter Chinese jets were requested and obtained from Voroshilov.
Meanwhile, on the front lines, the focus was on inducing enemy attacks and consuming as much of the enemy's power as possible.
The National Revolutionary Army, unaware of the Soviet Army's plans, continued its offensives every day. Although there were several crisis situations, the Soviet-Mongolian combined forces did well to block the National Revolutionary Army's offensive.
While the corpses of tanks and soldiers who failed to break through the defense line piled up in layers on the field,
Falkenhausen met with Chiang Kai-shek.
***
February 14, 1949
Wuhai, China
"Mr. President. Let me be honest with you. The Mongol conquest was a failure."
In response to Falkenhausen's declaration, Chiang Kai-shek worked on his facial muscles to manage his facial expressions.
If Falkenhausen had been a Chinese general, he would have been immediately kicked out of his position after hearing Chiang Kai-shek's scolding, but Falkenhausen was a German soldier and the person Chiang Kai-shek trusted the most. As such, Chiang Kai-shek's shock was even greater.
"The Soviet military is not an opponent that our military can do anything about. How about signing a peace agreement and withdrawing before the damage increases further?"
"What kind of weak words are those, Marshal? "If not now, there is a chance to occupy Mongolia sometime."
Falkenhausen patiently explained step by step the reasons why the Soviet army could not be defeated.
The main maneuver route is blocked by the enemy, and it is very difficult to break through it even with artillery and air force support.
More than half of the prepared ammunition and fuel have already been consumed, and the remaining amount will soon disappear.
Although the number of Mongolians is not large, a small number of Mongolians are waging guerrilla warfare and causing chaos in the friendly army's rear.
In addition, despite strict prohibition orders, soldiers are increasingly attacking local civilian villages, killing people and looting property.
The generals have neither the slightest effort nor the will to punish soldiers who violate military law.
"And the Soviet Union will never back down. Even if our troops enter Ulaanbaatar, the enemy will definitely try to retake it by sending a large army."
"Wouldn't Germany also make a move then?"
That's what he said, but Chiang Kai-shek did not know that there was little chance of Germany moving.
Chiang Kai-shek secretly hoped that Germany would help block the movement of Soviet troops by moving Free Russia, but Germany had not shown any movement so far.
Daili, a close associate, also reported to Chiang Kai-shek that unless the National Revolutionary Army crossed Mongolia and advanced into Soviet territory and occupied Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, and Ussuriysk, the possibility of the German army moving was extremely low.
Should we give up cleanly here, as Falkenhausen said?
However, Mongolia was too large a land to give up. If they gave up and retreated here, there was no doubt that China would never regain Mongolia again.
And if they retreat without success even after mobilizing this much force, the warlords who are already holding them down will raise their heads high again and try to rebel against the central government's instructions.
Once the Mongol invasion began, Chiang Kai-shek did not give up or stop.
And that stubbornness led to disaster.
***
Midnight between February 17th and February 18th.
The Soviet army's major offensive began.
With large-scale support artillery fire, 5 mechanized divisions, 3 armored brigades, and 2 divisions of the Mongolian army raided the National Revolutionary Army, which was exhausted from the long offensive.
Malinovsky, who had been waiting for a long time for this day, immediately deployed all of his reserve forces upon hearing that he had succeeded in breaking through the front line.
His goal is to break through the flanks of the National Revolutionary Army and surround the enemy's core forces.
Just as the relatively weak Mongolian army took over the flanks of the Soviet army, the National Revolutionary Army concentrated its mechanized elite troops in the center and placed units with relatively low combat power on the flanks and rear.
Of course, anti-tank weapons were provided and mines were laid to prepare for enemy raid attempts, but most of the poorly constructed minefields were neutralized by artillery fire.
In addition, an aircraft to counter Ho229, which shocked and astonished Soviet Air Force pilots, also appeared in the skies of Mongolia.
-Beware of the enemy's new model! This is no ordinary guy!
-Did Roske also have a jet?
The appearance of the MiG-9, the Soviet Air Force's newest fighter aircraft and the Soviet Union's only jet fighter.
The Soviet Union, which had been hit hard by Germany's jets, devoted a huge amount of money to researching jets, despite its poor circumstances, in preparation for a war that might one day occur.
Because it did not acquire Nazi research technology, development took time and its appearance was delayed compared to the original history, but the Soviet Union still developed the MiG-9 with tenacity.
Originally deployed in the Ural Mountains in preparation for a German invasion, when the National Revolutionary Army brought out the Ho229, the Soviet Union also deployed some of its forward-deployed MiG-9s toward Mongolia.
When the Air Force, which had been slightly ahead of the National Revolutionary Army, returned to square one, the battle was completely handed over to the Soviet Army.
"Death to the fascists!"
"For Mother Russia!!"
After the Katyusha multiple rocket launcher fell on the heads of the National Revolutionary Army, the infantry mounted on the tank began the assault.
-Kaang!
Armor-piercing rounds fired from a 76mm main gun may be effective against the T-34, but they do not work against the heavily armored IS-2.
As the IS-2's massive 122mm main gun spat out sparks, a Sherman, without fail, displayed a grand fireworks display and ejected its turret into the air.
For the National Revolutionary Army, which was struggling even with the IS-2, the IS-3 was a wailing wall that could not be overcome.
It was possible to destroy the IS-2 if you aimed at the exact center or side of the turret, but the IS-3, whose turret and entire hull were made of sloped surfaces, was not even possible.
The IS-3, which was difficult for the German military in many ways even in the early days when it was produced in a rush and had many defects, made a breakthrough by deflecting all attacks like an immortal being.
"What on earth is that monster? "It deflects all the shells!"
"Hey, it's coming this way!"
"junior! Fujiin!!"
Three shells were struck in succession on the side of the turret, but when all of them ricocheted, the Super Sherman's tank commander ordered a retreat. However, the tank went less than 50 meters before becoming a huge burning coffin.
Soon, the rear headquarters of the National Revolutionary Army was flooded with screams from front-line commanders that the front line had been breached.
Only then did Sun Liren regret his choice. But he was not confused.
Water that has already spilled cannot be picked up.
Sun Liren hurriedly ordered the frontline units to retreat and gathered the dismembered units to form a new blocking line. Falkenhausen also quickly judged which units to retreat and which units to order to hold fire and put them into action. .
However, there were many cases where Soviet tanks trampled through the defense line before his orders could reach the front line.
February 23rd.
Falkenhausen decided that it was impossible to hold out any longer and decided to withdraw completely from Mongolia.
The National Revolutionary Army, which had crossed the border with great vigor, retreated across the border as the remnants of the army.
It was the moment when Chiang Kai-shek's grand dream went to waste.