In 1936 and 1937, Germany delivered 23 million and 82 million marks of arms to China, including 150-mm fortress artillery (used in the Yangtze River defense), anti-aircraft guns, rifles, machine guns, mortars, heavy machine guns, ammunition, helmets, as well as torpedoes, speedboats, communications equipment, steel, coke, chemical and other military production equipment. In less than 10 years, the national government in the Yangtze River Basin has initially built up the national defense industry and the new army. It laid a solid foundation for the future war of resistance. At the same time, the army infantry's basic single soldier clothing also in accordance with the standard of the German military force at that time to be stationed in the equipment.
Infantry standard field equipment with German or imitation German 1924 type 7.92 mm rifle, German M35 helmet, leather backpack, military blankets, raincoats, iron box, water bottles, ration packs, bayonets, two sets of triple leather gun cartridges. This set of equipment mainly refers to the Japanese military system and the later German military system design, but many of the design of the individual equipment is the same as the German army style at that time. For example, ration packs, bayonets, etc. These equipment only in the parade ceremony and formal field training only have the opportunity to debut. In wartime, they were rarely issued, and were considered decorative.
Infantry on the battlefield using combat gear is relatively simple, such as the more familiar man with a pouch of ammunition, is a long canvas pouch, carry at least two ways: one is a long diagonal from the shoulder around the week to the waist and then around the circle, and finally tied in a knot in the waist with a cloth belt. This kind of pouch can be inserted nearly 20 bags of ammunition, each bag of ammunition can hold a magazine (5 rounds of ammunition), this way is the most common, from a number of surviving photographs to know that the "German" troops that is the use of this. The other is a shorter two, or cross in front of the chest, like the "X" shape, or by the shoulders hanging down, like the inverted "U" shape. There is also the use of one on the shoulder and one on the waist.
Illustration of the Central Army of the National Revolutionary Army single hand grenade bundle
Each soldier in addition to the rifle also carries two M24 grenades, placed in a canvas bag. They were hung on the left and right chests, attached to the neck by thin strips of cloth, and tied to the soldier's back to secure them. According to historical sources, grenade pouches were also available in packs of five or even eight, either hung on the chest or slung over the waist. Due to the lack of anti-tank weapons at that time, the soldiers even know nothing about tanks. Therefore can only be used to body tied grenades rushed to the Japanese tanks this extremely tragic way.
Rifle in addition to the German 1924 standard Mauser rifle, the other Central Army used a variety of rifles, the most "Hanyang-made" and Mauser 1904/1907 type of derivatives, including the four-year type (the first year of the type of 6.8 mm, four-year type changed to 7.92 mm) and the Eastern Provinces Arsenal The Thirteen Years Type produced. Since the Chinese, like the Japanese, used the bayonet as a common tactic, the bayonets were all over 500mm long. In particular, the Chinese type had a bayonet length of 575 millimeters due to its short gun, but it was still about 10 millimeters shorter than the Japanese Type 38 with the bayonet on, which many people thought was regrettable.
Illustration of the Central Army of the National Revolutionary Army single soldier holding a bayoneted medium-formal rifle with a large blade in the back.
German-made divisions were equipped with three main types of ammunition: pointed bullets, rounded bullets and heavy pointed bullets, in addition to special bullets, such as anti-armor steel-core bullets. The pointed bullets were used for the Chinese rifles and the Czech ZB26 light machine guns, and the round bullets were used for the "Hanyangzao". Although the Type 4 is a 7.92mm caliber, some of them use round-tipped bullets. Heavy-tipped bullets were used exclusively in the Type 24 or Type 30 heavy machine guns.
The German M35 helmet was originally intended for the newly established Luftwaffe, and after receiving a Chinese order for some 220,000 helmets, the German Army General Staff immediately instructed that priority be given to supplying China. According to currently known records, by 1936 **** imported 315,000 M35 steel helmets, 1937 began to equip, to the outbreak of the Pacific War, the National Government full-fledged troops are basically issued with M35. the early war in Shanxi Xinkou battle, came to reinforce the 85th Division of the Central Army (Division Commander Chen Tie) because of the wearing of the M35 helmets, and was judged by the Japanese army as the main force, and was fiercely The battle of Xinkou was fought against.
The uniforms of the German-made divisions were mainly cotton. But Wan Fangcheng of the 88th Division recalled that there were also tweed uniforms and tweed coats in winter, camel jackets in spring and fall, and khaki short-sleeved shirts and shorts in summer. In fact, officers did have tweed uniforms, especially the so-called "A kind of tweed" yellow-green military uniforms.
The military canteen is oval in shape and consists of a canteen, a canteen cover, and a strap, which is very Chinese in character (Japanese style is flat-bottomed). The kettle cover is made of olive green canvas or tweed fabric, and by the difficult times of the war, it was usually just a layer of cotton. Chinese kettles always used shoulder straps, as opposed to the later period when German kettles were hung from belts.
The ration pouch (grocery pouch) was slightly different in shape from the German, and was carried in the same way as the early German, with straps across the shoulders, and later on on the belt.
The Chinese imitation of the German 1930 gas mask was similar in shape to the Spanish one, not the German cylinder. Gongxian Arsenal in 1934 (23rd year of the Republic of China) to purchase equipment from Germany, ready to make their own gas masks. 1936, the daily output has reached 250 pairs, the model is set to two-four type gas masks. Other arsenals that produced gas masks were the Jinling Arsenal and the Guangdong Mask Factory (Guangdong Mask Factory was later renamed as the 42nd Arsenal), with models of Type 2-3, Type 2-4, Type 2-7 and Type 4-2. The gas mask cylinders used by the National Government forces may have been derived from those made in France prior to the Second World War, which were characterized by a horizontal reinforcement pattern, unlike the straight pattern used by the Germans in the Second World War. Due to its large number and lack of supplies, the National Revolutionary Army (NRA) did not equip all gas masks, but only issued them to the full-fledged units of the NRA and some special types of troops, such as air defense and artillery. As the invading Japanese army did not fulfill the Geneva Convention and used poisonous gas extensively, coupled with the insufficient equipment of the national army's gas masks, it brought heavy casualties to the majority of Chinese officers and soldiers in the war.
Illustration of the National Army Central Army Mauser pistol shooter, in order to prevent the pistol holster shaking, the shooter in the dress code is usually first back holster, and then hang up the bullet bag group.
China is the most used German Mauser pistol, and will be played to the extreme, it is affectionately known as the "box gun", "barge gun", "box gun", It is affectionately known as the "box gun", "barge gun", "box gun", "fast and slow machine" and so on. There is also a lesser known name for the Mauser pistol - "ZiLaiDe", which is in fact the more formal name for it in China. Its official name is Mauser Military Pistol. It was patented by the Mauser factory on December 11, 1895, and produced the following year. It is also known as a box gun in China because it is holstered in a wooden box. The fully automatic version, also known as the Schnellfeuer, was produced in May 1931 and was called the Schnellfeuer by Mauser. Another lesser-known name is the Schnellfeuer. Many people assume that only the rapid-fire model is called a Schnellfeuer, which is incorrect; in fact, Schnellfeuer has been the more formal generic name for this class of pistol in China.
In the archives of the Ministry of War of the Beiyang government, there is a document in September 1912, the Ministry of War and the German businessman Lai and foreign banks (Carlowitz & Co.) signed a contract to buy: "Seven Mili six three from the Mauser pistol two hundred, with a wooden box handle, each rod with 500 bullets, the price of the full silver fifty-eight. The price is 58 taels of silver." ***Totaling eleven thousand six hundred taels of silver. Delivered at Tientsin wharf. The tariff is outside." This is clear evidence that the term "Tap Pistol" was already in use in 1911 (the first year of the Republic of China), and is probably the earliest documented example of its introduction, while the rapid-fire model did not appear until nearly twenty years later. In the U.S., because of the shape of the grip, it is generally called a broom handle (Broom handle), but also by the Chinese translation and called the box cannon (Box Cannon). Many people refer to the rapid-fire model as the Model 712 and say that it is a Mauser model, when in fact it is a catalog number of the German company GECO (Gustavo Glenshaw), which has nothing to do with Mauser. Many also refer to the box gun as the C96 (Construction 96 or Model 96), a name commonly used in Europe, which originally referred exclusively to the short-barreled box gun, as did the Bolo, or what some called the Police Model. The Bolo came from the Russian Bolsheviks (forerunner of the Russian ****production party) because of the heavy use of the 3.9-inch box gun.
There are four sources of Chinese box artillery:
One, the Chinese arsenals to mechanical auxiliary production: this type of box artillery material and processing quality is better, although still can not get rid of the hand assembly, parts can not be interchanged and other faults, but on the whole, almost can be compared with imported products. Known production factories at least: Hanyang Arsenal, Gongxian Arsenal, Dagu Shipbuilding, Shanxi Military Craft Practice Factory, Chongqing Weapon Repair Institute, Hengyang Ordnance Bureau.
Illustration of the Central Army of the National Revolutionary Army holding barge soldiers winter
Two, repair armament, factory, team production: this type of box artillery for the accompanying armament repair team, in the repair of the gun, but also manufacture some ordnance. Such as Song Zheyuan's Northwest repair armament, Xiangxi Tuanling repair armament, the Eighth Route Army Lianggou four, and so on. The material and quality of this type of material and quality difference is very great, some armory equipment is good, material supply is good, then the product is better. Like the Eighth Route Army in the enemy's rear repair armament center, because the source of steel is cut off, most of them are processed with railroad steel.
Three, private roaming gun repair, gun-making vendors: this is a special industry, such as walking Fang Langzhong. History said Hebei, Henan, Sichuan are many. From one person to several people vary, for the local magnates, small armies, bandits to repair and build guns, according to the customer's intention, live in a place for ten days and a half months, to build by hand. Its quality varies according to the person, usually branded with all the marks of the original factory, but also the most exquisite. Of course, there are also printed unknowingly, may not have the original gun to do like, just the master taught down to blackmail. Many of these guns look good, shooting a few rounds is OK, shooting more will be a problem. There are many of the surface treatment is very rough, a look know is hand-built.
Four, imported: the main source is Germany and Spain, through Shanghai, Tianjin and other places of foreign banks imported. There is a document is September 10, 1924, the Ministry of War and Tianjin, Germany, Shichang Foreign Bank signed a contract to buy: "Germany's new caliber of seven sixty-three milimeters, the barrel of the nine six milimeters, the table ruler of a thousand milimeters of the Mauser pistol 1,700 rods, together with the empty wooden handle and each rod of five hundred bullets, a (Note: false) bullets, a spring, a spring, a bow spring, a screw plate, The net price of each rod is seventy dollars, * * * the price is eleven hundred and nineteen thousand dollars." The box gun in this document, the barrel accounting for only 3.77 inches, quite special. March 12, 1934, CITIC Bureau Deputy Manager Li Yaohuang reported to Chiang Kai-shek: "By the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners electricity, Yu, ordered to buy 20 rattling barge pistol 5,000 branches, by the Zunzhi Zhaoyu German old Mauser a kind of Spanish imitation of the installation of two kinds of (Note: Astra Super Azul, and there are also Royal), the price of Spain's Ensign lower than the German gun one dollar seventy national currency. Although the German gun structure is more solid, but the barrel is slightly shorter, so the range is also less than 200 meters suddenly. If the order to German gun lengthened shaft such as Spain, the range when the same. Also, the chairman of the committee had telegraphed to check the Czech pistol, after I found that Czech factories do not have this kind of shells for sale, merged with the Chenming." In 1936, the Ministry of Finance of the National Government, the list of expenditures, there are "the purchase of 20,000 pieces of 20 rattles barge pistols with 20 million rounds of bullets" item, **** 2.8 million French dollars. Another example is Chiang Kai-shek's telegram to Tan Bo Yu, the Chinese Commercial Counselor in Germany: "Wuchang, March 1, 1938: Berlin. Mr. Tan Bo Yu, Chinese Embassy: confidential. Please order 300 German 81 mortars, each with 3,000 rounds of shells, better if in stock. Please purchase 20,000 20-gun barge pistols with 2,000 rounds of ammunition each, or other types of pistols if they are not in stock. The quicker the better, please report the price in detail. C.C." Many of the German box guns imported through commercial channels have the words [Made in Germany] printed in Chinese on the left side of the magazine. Some people think that a box gun is a 10-round, which is incorrect; in fact 6-round, 10-round, and 20-round were all available, the first two using fixed magazines, the latter mostly inserted. 20-round fixed magazines were also available, but extremely rare.
By the above documents, it seems that before the war and at the beginning of the war, China bought all the specified 20-round, bought of course, was assigned to the central army to go. So it is not entirely correct to say that the Central Army was mainly issued with 10 round Mauser pistols.
Most of the non-commissioned officers in the German armored divisions were armed with Mauser "20-shot" fully automatic pistols. They carried simple, specialized leather holsters that were only half-empty and open at the top and bottom, into which the Mauser's wood-shell holster slipped. They are also equipped with a leather magazine pouch for Mauser. The front can be loaded with 20-round magazine pouch 12, with a belt buckle in the back waist, "Y" shoulder strap in 3 points to support the magazine pouch group. When the National Army Mauser gunners were dressed, the holster was first carried on the left shoulder and right rib or the right shoulder and left rib, and then the pouch was put on, so that the holster was fixed under the pouch and would not shake.
Illustration of the National Army Central Army submachine gun gunner
Submachine gun (then called the hand-held machine gun in China) is an economical and practical single close combat weapon, especially light or miniature sub-machine gun due to the fierce firepower, the use of flexible, is very suitable for the charge or counter-charge, as well as jungles, trenches, urban street battles, and other short battles. Therefore, at present, the submachine gun, as one of the important members of the gun family, is still an indispensable personal self-defense and combat weapon for infantrymen, paratroopers, scouts, border guards and guard forces. As early as 1915, in order to adapt to the needs of positional warfare in the First World War, the Italian B?A?Levieri designed a firing 9mm pistol rounds of double-barrel repeating gun, thus laying the foundation of the modern sub-machine gun. 1918, the German H.Smeisser designed the first suitable for the use of the single 9mm sub-machine gun of the Bergmann MP18 type, came out, in the same year, the improvement of its MP18I-type Submachine guns officially equipped with the German Army use the 20th century 2030s is the initial development of the sub-machine gun period. In this period, many countries do not know enough about the tactical role of the submachine gun, so the product model is not much. Representative sub-machine guns include the Italian Villa Perosa and the Beretta M. The Villa Perosa was the first sub-machine gun to be introduced to the German Army. Perosa and Beretta M1938A of Italy, Bergmann MP18I and MP38 of Germany, MX1935 and T?N?35 series of Spain, MKIO of Switzerland, Thompson M1928A1 of the United States, and 1934/38 of the Soviet Union. These submachine guns because of its complex structure, high cost, volume, quality, safety, reliability, poor, so that the number of production and use of the scope has been limited. 1920s and 1930s the Chinese army has also imported a large number of Germany's Schmeisser (Bergman) MP18 submachine guns (the Chinese once called it "flower machine gun"), in fact, is the German Schmeisser MP18 submachine gun. In fact, it is Germany's Schmeisser MP18 submachine gun export version), its gun length 832mm, weighing 4.1kg, magazine can accommodate 9mm bullet 32 rounds, muzzle velocity of 395m/s, rate of fire 500 rounds/minute, range of about 70 meters, because the performance of the MP18-type submachine gun is not outstanding, so it failed to become the standard equipment of our soldiers, only issued to the squad leader above the The MP18 submachine gun is a standard equipment for our soldiers, it is only issued to the soldiers above the squad leader as the standard weapon on the battlefield, or provided to the national army commando team as an offensive weapon.
In the 1920s and 1930s. The Chinese army had imported a large number of 9mm Bergmann MP18 submachine guns from Germany (the Chinese used to call its export version "flower organs), the gun length of 832 mm, weighing 4.1 kg, magazine capacity of 32 rounds, muzzle velocity of 395 m / s, the range of about 70 m. Because of the complex structure and high cost, it was used as a battlefield standard weapon or provided to the national army assault team as an offensive weapon. Because of the complex structure, high cost, volume, weight, reliability is poor. So failed to become the standard equipment for soldiers. Just issued to the squad leader above the non-commissioned officers, for the battlefield standard weapons, and with the MP18 special leather six magazine sets. The way of carrying and Mauser gunners consistent.
National Revolutionary Army machine gunners are generally about the squad leader of the non-commissioned officers, they are equipped with a 9mm Bergmann MP18 sub-machine gun, and the individual soldier's personal carrying equipment is also equipped with a leather six-pocket magazine set for its sub-machine gun, which can be loaded with its special magazines 6 magazines (each box of 32 rounds of ammunition), the MP18 sub-machine gun magazines package hitching cape with the same as the Mauser musketeers, but also through the Y-type shoulder strap and the back of the belt buckle tied to the back of the waist. belt buckle on the back to fasten it to the rear waist.
ZB-26 light machine gun: During a major war, the participating forces began to notice the need to develop lightweight rapid-fire weapons that could be carried by infantrymen and provide powerful firepower at all times. Therefore, the hand-held light machine gun (or sub-machine gun) using pistol cartridges was developed, as well as the light machine gun using rifle cartridges, with the *** same characteristic that both could fire fully automatically to provide support fire for the infantry. The Germans improved the MG08 into MG08/15/and MG08/18 light machine guns, the United States Browning (Browning) of the 1918 automatic rifle (BAR Browning Automatic Rifle), the British Lewis Gun light machine guns, the French Chauchat light machine guns, have become the main firepower in the infantry campaign. In 1920, Vaclav Holek began designing a new light machine gun at the Prague Armory (Parga Zbrojovka - Prague Armory). The concept for his design came from another designer at the same factory, Rudolf Jelan. The first prototype, known as the Praga I, used the canvas belt of the Maxim machine gun and was submitted to the Czech Ministry of Defense for testing. The results were comparable to those of the famous Browning, Madsen and Vickers, and the Ministry of Defense asked the Prague Ordnance Works to continue development.
In 1923, the Czech Ministry of Defense published a test standard for selecting automatic rifles or light machine guns for use in the future Czech Army. The Praga IIA was included in this test and came in second only to the Madison light machine gun. Halleck continued to improve his design and produced the Praga I-23, which featured a telescopic stock, rapidly replaceable barrel, and a kickstand. Although the test results were still second to Madison's, the Praga I-23 finally beat out the competition because it was a homegrown design and was adopted. By this time, the Prague Ordnance Factory was on the verge of bankruptcy, and Halleck and most of the technical staff had left the company. In November 1925, the Prague Ordnance Factory signed a production contract with the State Arsenal in Brno (Ceskoslovernska Zbrojovka Akciova Spolecnost v Brno), authorizing it to produce and sell the light machine gun, then known as the M24, in the Czech Republic. light machine gun. Brno (Brunn in German) is the capital of the Jihomoravsky District in the southeastern part of the Czech Republic, which means mountain town in Celtic. Slavs have lived here since the 5th century, and Germans began to enter the region in the 13th century, contributing to the development of the area, and by the time of World War II, most of the local residents were of German descent. The Czech State Arsenal in Brno, founded in 1922, was 75% owned by the Czech government, 20% by Skoda Works and 5% by the employees. At that time, the Mauser 98/22 was already in production and was sold to various militaries, including the Northeastern Chinese Army, to great acclaim. Halleck then joined the state-run arsenal, assisting with production blueprints and production tolerances. The pilot model, known as the Lehky kulomet Praga vzor 26, was accepted by the Czech Ministry of Defense in April 1926, and mass production began that same year under the name Zbrojovka Brno vzor 26-ZB-26 (Brno State Arsenal Model 26).
The following year, China began to introduce the ZB-26 light machine gun in large quantities, but also a large number of copies. According to Zbrane Pro Cely Svet, from 1927-1939, 30,249 ZB-26 light machine guns were shipped to China.
Over the eight years of the war, the National Government's arsenals produced an average of 414 machine guns per month, with an average of 515, or 86%, in battle losses. In 96 months, 39,744 Czech light machine guns were produced in eight years***. The actual average annual wartime replenishment, however, was 10,685, which exceeded the average annual battle losses, the difference of which was acquired either by purchase or through the Lend-Lease Act.
Illustration of light machine gun shooters of the Central Army of the National Revolutionary Army
Light machine gun shooters
were equipped primarily with the ZB26 light machine gun and a special cartridge pouch set. The leather or canvas pouch can hold six magazines, and the two shoulder straps are interlocked at the back in an "X" shape. After hanging the pouch is generally not tied leather belt. In addition, light machine gunners are equipped with water bottles, ration packs and a barge gun for self-defense. Basic single equipment. Some also have a piece of cotton crescent shawl to protect the shoulders to minimize wear and tear on the uniform.
Illustration of the National Army German armored division cavalry troop officers
Cavalry
Cavalry this is a traditional military service with a history of thousands of years, he and the infantry service has the same glorious history. In the Cold War era, cavalry was a must for both Chinese and foreign armies. Moreover, as productivity was extremely limited in ancient times, livestock became very important to the country and its people. Thus, the number of cattle and horses became a measure of the strength of the country, and at the same time, the number and tactical quality of the infantry and cavalry were also a measure of the military strength. China's use of cavalry from the late Zhou Dynasty in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period of Qin, Zhao, these vassal states located in the northern borderlands, against the Xiongnu and other nomadic people began to count, good at positional warfare in these central countries, in the repeated intrusion of nomadic people, to change their original strategic thinking, with "Shi Yi long skills to control barbarians" method, a large number of development of the cavalry. Cavalry, the subsequent dynasties also different to develop, the tradition has been maintained for thousands of years. However, with the development of mechanization in the era of hot weapons, especially the birth of tanks, the cavalry slowly withdrew from the stage of history. The National Revolutionary Army (NRA) was late in the development of mechanized equipment, so the cavalry still dominated in terms of rapid mobility. Both the German armored divisions and other local units maintained a considerable number of cavalry units. Cavalry units of the National Revolutionary Army had their own military color of yellow,The German divisions were the best equipped, in addition to having the same equipment as the infantry, such as: steel helmets, military blankets, canteens, cartridge pouches, lunch boxes and gas masks. Also equipped with special mounted rifles and sabers, some troops also wore green uniforms (unconfirmed, whether or not the cavalry special uniforms). In the National Army, the local cavalry, due to its original historical reasons (before the central government, most of the local warlords are self-purchase assembly) cavalry assembly is messy, there are many different kinds of cavalry. However, most of them used British-made Toni helmets and the traditional Chinese melee weapon, the machete.
An illustration of a soldier in the National Army's Common Cavalry unit
Chinese cavalry rifles: In 1932, the Military Commission of the National Government held a national conference on standardized weapons, and decided to designate the German Type 1924 rifle, which was also used as a cavalry rifle, with a standard 7.92x57mm pointed cartridge, as the standardized rifle. The gun was only produced in small quantities in Germany, and could be considered one of the newest rifles of the time.
In 1934, the Ministry of Finance in order to arm the tax police corps, the German Mauser factory to order 10,000 rifles, the Military Industrialization Department of the Technical Department took the opportunity to ask the Minister of Finance, Kong Xiangxi, to the German manufacturers for a full set of 24 years of type of manufacturing drawings, with raw materials table, inspection samples, a pair of version of the drawing board. After receiving the information, the Technical Department of the Arsenal immediately handed over to the Gongxian Arsenal, so that it according to the drawings, samples, began to modify the molds, preparations for the manufacture of twenty-four-year-old rifles, was expected to produce the first batch of new rifles at the end of October 1934. However, the sample plate given by the Mauser factory was one that had already been used, and there were some minor errors in the drawings handed in. The Technical Department of the Arsenal then asked the German Arsenal to formally discuss the request for the drawings of the German Type 24 and the inspection samples. Mao Yike, the director of Gongxian Arsenal at that time, graduated from Technical University of Berlin, Germany; he was sent to Germany to introduce 1924 type manufacturing drawings and inspection samples. The new drawings were received in 1935 and were still being developed by Gongxian Arsenal.
Gongxian Arsenal began trial production in July 1935 of what was originally called the Type 2-4 rifle, also known as the Type 1924 Short Mauser. The markings on the knuckle holster also began to mimic Mauser's Banner trademark, with the Type 2-4 marking. Chiang Kai-shek and his wife, Soong Mei-ling, visited the Kung Hsien Arsenal during the trial production process, and the Director of the Arsenal Department, Yu Dawei, later requested approval, and after August 1935, the new rifle was named the Medium Formal Cavalry Rifle. After August 1935, the new rifles were named Zhongguo riding rifles, with the Zhongguo official name, the logo of Gongxian Arsenal, and the year of production printed on the knuckles. As a result, there were less than 2,000 rifles of this type with the Type 2-4 receiver. On October 10, 1935, the Zhongzheng riding rifle was officially mass-produced. After that it was officially equipped with cavalry units.
Illustration of NRA Central Army Infantry Division Engineer Winter Uniform
Engineers
The German division had a full-time engineer battalion, directly under the division headquarters, which provided specialized services for the entire combat division, such as bridge-building, mine-clearing, mine-laying, and the setting up and removal of roadblocks. Its configuration and technical functions are set up and trained according to the German military system, and it has advanced German engineer heavy equipment, such as bridge-building equipment. It is also equipped with transport vehicles imported in tandem with the equipment, and is fully mobile in synchronization with the units to which it belongs. To distinguish themselves, the engineers wear special collar insignia with a white background. In contrast, most of the troops engineer battalion equipment is relatively simple, heavy equipment is very little, transportation basically rely on pack horses and carts, etc. But the vast majority of the army was on foot. However, the vast majority of the army was on foot at that time, and it was considered to be able to synchronize its mobility with that of its subordinate units. Generally speaking, the assembly of the engineer battalion of most troops of the national army is relatively simple, heavy equipment is rare, and the transportation of its equipment basically relies on the traditional Chinese means of transport such as pack horses and carts, etc. However, since the vast majority of the Chinese army at that time maneuvered on foot, it could be considered to be able to maneuver in tandem with the subordinate troops. The most envied by other troops is the Nationalist Central Army German Ordnance Division in the engineer battalion, they not only have advanced German-made engineers heavy assembly, such as bridge equipment, but also with the assembly of synchronized imported transport vehicles have been synchronized with the forces under its mobility. In addition to the engineers wearing a special white collar insignia, other personal equipment is basically the same as the infantry. Because, on the battlefield, many units of the national army in the Japanese fierce attack in the combat attrition is serious, with the patriotic spirit of the generals often pull the second line of troops on the front line to participate in the battle. The engineers were no exception. In addition to their personal gear, individual engineers were issued their specialized tools and a leather tool kit slung over their shoulders.
An illustration of the National Revolutionary Army Central Army Infantry Division Sanitary Soldiers
Sanitary Soldiers
The Nationalist Military Commission September 25, 1935, promulgated the public word No. 588 order on the configuration of infantry divisions expressly provided for the establishment of the division's sanitary corps, in order to provide specialized medical assistance to the troops, and usually used as a military hospital. The real sense of military doctors (professional surgeons, referring to Western medicine) appeared relatively late in China, its equipment and medical level are relatively backward. Although there are those who have returned home after studying abroad, they are in the minority, and most of them are trained domestically. Even so, they are far from meeting the wartime requirements of the troops, and can only train some students or soldiers with medical knowledge for a short period of time to enrich the troops. However, due to the lack of medical drugs, the survival rate of soldiers seriously injured in battle is extremely low, which is one of the main reasons for the large number of casualties in the Chinese army.
There are two kinds of health soldiers: military doctors and ambulance soldiers. The doctor is an officer, the ambulance soldier consists of soldiers and non-commissioned officers, are wearing a green lining collar insignia, the same rank and infantry. Left arm wearing a ring arm with the Red Cross emblem of the cloth badge, with a special wooden or leather first aid box and straps, as well as imitation German 1930-style gas masks and towels. Normally, they wore cloth field caps, and in wartime, they were issued with German-made steel helmets, while local units such as the Northwest Army, the Jin Army, and the Liangguang Army wore British-made steel helmets. The first aid kit of the National Army has its traditional Chinese characteristics unlike the leather first aid kits of Western armies. Military belts were in line with the other branches of the military, but were worn in wartime as individual needs arose.
Illustration of the National Revolutionary Army Central Army Infantry Division Military Police winter
Military Police
Military Police
Military Police is an indispensable branch of the army of all countries, although it does not belong to the combat troops, but he is in the supervision of the troops of the military style and discipline, the loss of the highway traffic, to maintain the order of the army, the military court martial and investigation and dealing with disciplinary incidents in the military played an irreplaceable role (people used to call it "military police"). "military police"). You can see the figure of Military Police in many historical photos and movie and television materials on major military occasions. The Military Police of the National Revolutionary Army were selected from among the soldiers, mostly non-commissioned officers. They are directly subordinate to the military or division headquarters. The base color of the rank is dark red, the same color as the manager (military branch). Uniforms were the same as other branches of the military, except that on the left arm there was an arm band with the word "Kempeitai" printed on it in large letters, similar to the Japanese army at that time. The steel helmet of the military police is very distinctive. There are two types of helmets, one is similar to the British-made steel helmet Tony type; the other is similar to the tropical colonial troops in Western countries wear a summer cap (more like the helmet of the Vietnamese army). All troops wore these, including German divisions. In addition to the helmet, the gendarmes wore a small whistle, the same as those used by the police at the time, for communication purposes. The weapons were Mauser 20-shot fully automatic pistols with a special leather holster and a special leather magazine pouch for the Mauser. The front can hold 20-round magazine pouch 12, behind the belt buckle tied to the back waist, Y-shaped shoulder strap in 3 points to support the magazine pouch group.