National Tragedy: A Record of the KMT's Frontline War of Resistance

Author: Zhang Hongtao
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-03-01
Features: The Japanese army's most frenzied strategic offensive phase on Chinese soil was during the period from the "September 18th Incident" to the end of the Wuhan Campaign. During this time, the Nationalist army bore the brunt of fighting on the main front, enduring immense pressure. The Battle of the Great Wall, the Battle of Lugou Bridge, the Shanghai Campaign, the Taiyuan Campaign, the Xuzhou Campaign, the Wuhan Campaign, and the Changsha Campaign were all unprecedentedly brutal. Tong Linge and Zhao Dengyu sacrificed their lives, Hao Mengling and Wang Mingzhang fell, and dozens of commanders heroically gave their lives, with over a million soldiers dying on the battlefield. This is history written in blood, a saga of the nation. China became a battlefield in the global war against fascist aggression; China endured the longest resistance in the anti-fascist war; China made the greatest sacrifices in the world's anti-fascist war. Millions of soldiers perished on the battlefield, protecting the nation and its people. This book primarily narrates the major campaigns on the Nationalist army's main front after the war of resistance began, such as the Battle of Lugou Bridge, the Shanghai Campaign, the Xuzhou Campaign, the Taiyuan Campaign, the Wuhan Campaign, the Changsha Campaign, and the Suizao Campaign. This was the early phase of the strategic defensive, where the Nationalist army fought defensive battles against the Japanese invaders, showcasing the heroic spirit of the Chinese army and the unyielding national spirit of the Chinese people. A sleeping lion, scarred and wounded, roared in fury after being bitten and bullied for six years, finally awakening with a start. For 15 months of strategic defense, the Chinese army blocked the powerful Japanese invaders with blood and flesh. Was it war, or peace? Politicians and military strategists frequently appeared, maneuvering and strategizing. The Shanghai, Xinkou, Xuzhou, and Wuhan campaigns were intertwined in fierce battles, unprecedentedly brutal. Chinese soldiers died on the battlefield, lying down to rest in the afterlife. The sky was red with blood, the earth was red with blood, and the rivers were red with blood, as they restrained the blood of the Japanese "Sun" symbol. Senior Nationalist generals all took the stage, with their strengths and weaknesses revealed on the battlefield. Tong Linge, Zhao Dengyu, Hao Mengling, and Wang Mingzhang had their general's uniforms soaked in blood as they achieved success or died with honor. Han Fuju, Xiang Hanping, and Li Fuying, along with dozens of other senior generals, fell on the execution ground, leaving behind a legacy of infamy. A sad song, a heroic song—reading it evokes deep emotions and leaves one breathless.