944, the world anti-fascist war had entered its final stage, and the Japanese invaders were defeated by the US Navy on Pacific battlefield .
The Japanese invaders who were already at the end of their power were clearing the fields on the Zhoushan Islands and built a large number of fortifications to prevent the US military from landing.
In order to support the US military's battle in the East China Sea, the New Fourth Army decided to send the Zhejiang East China Sea coastal defense brigade to the Zhoushan Islands to explore the maritime anti-Japanese base!
Old photos of the New Fourth Army Coast Defense Brigade
On the evening of August 19, 1944, the first squadron of the Coast Defense Brigade had a total of 76 people. He was led by Chen Tiekang, deputy captain of the Coast Defense Brigade, and set off from Guyaopu Port, Cixi City, Zhejiang Province, and arrived at Dayu Island in the early morning of the 21st.
The strategic location of Dayu Island is very dangerous. It is located between the three points of Shanghai, Ningbo , and Zhoushan. It is the only island for Shanghai and Ningbo to go to Zhoushan.
If the New Fourth Army can take root on Dayu Island, it can directly cut off the logistics supply of the Japanese navy, which will greatly reduce the strength of the Japanese invaders on the Pacific battlefield!
Dayu Island
Hayu Island, there is no Japanese invaders stationed on Dayu Island, there is only one puppet army. In order to unite all forces that can be united, Chen Tiekang held talks with the puppet army leader Zhang Along.
Zhang Along talked about anti-Japanese war during the talks, but this was just his delaying strategy. That night, he secretly took a boat to the main island of Zhoushan and leaked the news that the New Fourth Army had entered Dayu Island to the Japanese invaders stationed on the island.
At that time, the Japanese invaders had already been beaten into a frightened bird by the US military on the Pacific battlefield. When they heard that the New Fourth Army had entered, they thought that the US military was about to land on Zhoushan, so they were so scared that they immediately reported to the commander in Shanghai and requested support from the large warship and aircraft.
In the early morning of 25, the Japanese invaders sent one large warship, two medium-sized landing craft, five motorboats equipped with heavy machine guns, five large-scale sailboats, and two aircraft, and rushed towards Dayu Island with murderous intent.
Dayu Island
The New Fourth Army stationed in Dayu Island only 76 soldiers, each with only 100 bullets and 4 grenades , and the entire team only has 5 light machine guns and 2 small hill cannons. Dayu Island is another isolated island hanging on the sea, and the soldiers cannot get support.
Facing the aggressive Japanese invaders, they could not have any chance of winning, but the soldiers shared the same hatred of the enemy and were not afraid of it, and decided to fight with the Japanese invaders until the last moment!
The soldiers took the lead in seizing the three commanding heights on the island. Deputy Captain Chen Tiekang and squadron leader Cheng Keming led the team to guard Da'aogang, instructors Yan Hongzhu and Shi Tieshan led the team to guard Huzhuangtou, and machine gun platoon leader Lu Xianzhang led the team to guard the flag post, and the three places were mutually supportive.
At 8 am, the battle officially started. The two Japanese aircraft took the lead in attacking. They fired wildly at the New Fourth Army positions in the air, and then the warships in the distance also opened fire on the island. For a moment, the Dayu Island shook.
Old photos of the New Fourth Army Coast Defense Brigade
Under the cover of heavy firepower, the two Japanese invaders' landing boats landed on Dayu Island, and more than 600 Japanese devils came out one after another and rushed towards the position of the New Fourth Army.
Faced with the Japanese invaders' forces eight times their own, the soldiers of the New Fourth Army resisted to the death and fought bloody battles!
Chen Tiekang and Cheng Keming firmly defended Da'aogang and repelled the Japanese invaders' three charges; at the flag-shooting post, Lu Xianzhang's machine gun platoon fired together, and the dense firepower drove the Japanese invaders into fleeing in panic; the team guarding Huzhuangtou had the weakest firepower. After firing bullets, they were attacked by the Japanese invaders to the top of the mountain.
In order to cover his comrades' retreat, Yan Hongzhu jumped out of the position to fight with the enemy in hand. During the battle, he was hit by a bullet in both legs. He endured severe pain, hugged the two Japanese, and then detonated the grenade and died with the enemy! Shi Tieshan also jumped out of the position, raised his sword and slashed left and right, killing more than a dozen Japanese devils in a row. The Japanese shot him in unison, but he was shot several bullets and still fought to the death.
In the end, dozens of Japanese soldiers surrounded him and stabbed him at the same time. Shi Tieshan was stabbed dozens of times, his whole body was covered in blood and he died heroically!
New Fourth Army Coast Defense Brigade old photos
Under the cover of the two, the comrades retreated safely to the other two positions.
The two sides fought fiercely until one o'clock in the afternoon. The Japanese invaders could not capture it for a long time and were forced to change their tactics.
Relying on its superior firepower, the Japanese invaders bombarded the other two hills in an indiscriminate manner, and then pulled the net and closed it step by step.
When the Japanese invaders pressed against the positions of the New Fourth Army soldiers, the soldiers were out of ammunition and food, so they collectively jumped out of the trenches to fight the Japanese invaders to fight the last battle.
The soldiers smashed the Japanese invaders with butts and stones. The soldiers without weapons wrestled with the Japanese invaders. They bit with their teeth and punched with fists. Some even grabbed several Japanese invaders without hesitation and jumped down the cliff...
Revolutionary Martyrs Monument on the battle site of Dayu Island
bloody battle until 3:00 pm. The First Squadron of the New Fourth Army Coast Defense Brigade had 76 officers and fighters, 42 died heroically, and 34 were not dead after falling off the cliff and were rescued by local people. More than 100 enemies were shot dead by our army.
Although the battle of Dayu Island is small in scale, it is extremely tragic. It is the most tragic battle of the New Fourth Army on the Pacific battlefield! This battle showed the world the determination of Chinese soldiers to defend national sovereignty to the death and the heroic spirit of righteousness! It is an indelible glorious page in the history of the New Fourth Army’s War of Resistance!
