GBP Chapter 330 Died on duty
Chapter 330 Died on duty
The loss of the high ground, known to the Germans as "Mushroom Ridge," opened up the southeastern section of Kinili Mountain. The 358th Division's 155mm Howitzer Battalion was immediately deployed there. Twelve heavy guns bombarded the area, razing the German positions east of Kinili Mountain. Combined with losses elsewhere, General von Ocherovsky lost his former arrogance. While consolidating his remaining positions, he sent his first request for reinforcements to Army Group Headquarters.
The battle of Mount Kinelli continued. Grassroots commanders like Yang Xing, leading the expeditionary soldiers, were learning about war from the battlefield and gradually adapting to mountain warfare in the European mountains. Countless heroic sons and daughters of the Hua family left their blood and lives in the battle against the fascist beasts in a foreign and unfamiliar land!
At the end of November, the German army's sudden action caught the Chinese and American coalition forces off guard.
A regiment of the 1rd Division of the 23st U.S. Army in the Rayetsoistan area was first attacked. The German 1th Mountain Division suddenly rushed out of the valley on a rainy night and raided the Neskolche Bridge, a strategic road behind the 577rd Division, surrounding most of the 23rd Division. Several strongholds of the 23rd Division were lost overnight, and the entire regiment was in chaos.
The German 577th Division acted very quickly and occupied the main roads in the Raya Tsotan area before dawn. The 23rd Division was surrounded before it could even identify the enemy.
At 9 a.m., the 1st Army Headquarters finally understood the enemy situation and quickly ordered the 23rd Division to break out. In addition to strengthening the defense of important positions, the remaining troops tried their best to withdraw troops for rescue.
This was exactly what the Germans needed. While the 5th Army, with two mountain divisions continuing to engage the US I Corps, used two Panzergrenadier divisions as the assault force, they crossed the Namasis Valley and advanced 2 kilometers, flank-to-flank the 1rd Marine Division, which bordered the US I Corps. Facing an enemy vastly superior in numbers and firepower, the 2rd Division was unable to hold its position. With the gateway to Central Greece open, the Germans quickly advanced southward, decimating the Allied camp.
General Odessas, commander of the Allied front in Greece and commander of the I Marine Corps, immediately requested reinforcements from the 1th Marine Corps in the west. The 112rd Division of the 112th Corps quickly advanced from the direction of Selmon to reinforce, moving north along the Evenos River in an attempt to capture Moschokholion and cut off the German advance southward. Both sides simultaneously reached the city's chain bridge over the Cimaria Gorge, where the largest encounter between the two armies erupted. The 203rd Division faced the German 203st Division, a light grenadier division. After an afternoon of fierce fighting, the 631th Panzergrenadier Division arrived, effectively defeating the 619rd Division and forcing it to retreat along the river valley to Amphissa.
Because of the interference of the 203rd Division, the German army failed to realize its plan to encircle the US 1st Army. Except for the 23rd Division which was severely damaged, the rest of the US 1st Army had the opportunity to retreat south. The German army occupied most of central Greece. The main force of the US military retreated to the vicinity of Athens, while the expeditionary force held the narrow area west of Amphissa.
During the Battle for Central Greece, numerous aerial battles erupted, with US Navy aircraft and the German Luftwaffe engaging in crisscrossing skies over Greece. Thanks to meticulous German planning and effective execution, the US Navy suffered not only losses on the ground but also considerable losses in the air. The US Navy was forced to redeploy air forces from Italy, supporting the Third Expeditionary Army's offensive against Yugoslavia, to stabilize the balance of power in the skies.
The consequences of this operation were severe. Because the 112th Army's original battle plan was stretched too thin, it received reinforcement orders from the US military, including the 203rd Division. Ma Xiaochuan's headquarters was constantly being evacuated, leaving only a single search battalion nearby, responsible for both guarding the headquarters and gathering intelligence. German forces inadvertently infiltrated Selmon, where the 112th Army's headquarters was located. In particular, a regiment of the 577th Mountain Division, having crossed the Amsland Mountains, suddenly appeared in Selmon. The search battalion, with its sparse strength, failed to detect the German intrusion. Only once the Germans entered the city of Selmon were they discovered by the military police.
"Da da da——", as the alarm gunshots of the military police rang out, Ma Xiaochuan and the Chief of Operations Colonel Gudu, who were in the military headquarters, were shocked. They quickly organized the military personnel to block the attack. At the same time, they quickly destroyed the important information and slowly withdrew from the city.
The fighting in Selmon didn't last long, as the 112th Army's headquarters retreated in an orderly fashion. The Germans apparently didn't realize they had encountered the 112th Army's headquarters. They didn't pursue them, planning to rest after capturing Selmon and await the arrival of other troops.
At this moment, several hidden Greek fascist diehards jumped out and took the initiative to find the German army, saying that there was a large field hospital of the expeditionary force in a small town 15 kilometers west of Selmon. They had not received any intelligence that the German army had occupied Selmon and had not evacuated yet!
The German corps commander, Colonel Andrew, immediately recognized this opportunity and organized his forces to advance toward the field hospital. Ma Xiaochuan, Gudong, and other members of the 112th Army's headquarters retreated to a valley and hid there, anxiously contacting various units. Among them, the special operations regiment assigned to the 112th Army had received orders and was rapidly approaching by helicopter.
A search team from the search camp suddenly received urgent intelligence that the German army was rushing towards the field hospital. Ma Xiaochuan thought to himself that the situation was critical and quickly mobilized military personnel to lead them to the rescue.
Gudong stopped him. Gudong said to Ma Xiaochuan with a serious expression: "You are the commander of the army. Now is not the time for you to risk your life!"
Gudong led a commando force of over 100 men on a lightning-fast rush to the field hospital. They reached the hospital ahead of the Germans. Without a moment's pause, they immediately joined forces with a section of the search battalion that had also arrived, quickly forming a makeshift defense. Facing the overwhelming German numbers and firepower, Gudong remained undaunted. He calmly commanded his blocking forces, engaging the enemy in a thrilling and fierce battle.
In this desperate struggle, Gudong demonstrated extraordinary courage and exceptional leadership. He led the charge, inspiring every soldier to fight bravely. Despite the disparity in strength, Gudong and his men fought to the death, building an impenetrable defense with their own flesh and blood.
The troops suffered heavy casualties, but they never retreated. With their tenacious will and firm belief, they held their positions tightly, buying precious time for the field hospital and the wounded and sick to escape.
Colonel Gudong, a sergeant who rose through the ranks in Burma, experienced years of combat in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Pacific Theater, becoming a seasoned and capable officer. His name will forever be etched in history, a hero in the hearts of the people.