Red Steel丨Production and Supply of Iron and Steel Materials in Anti-Japanese Base Areas

Introduction

During the Anti-Japanese War, the production and supply of iron and steel materials were crucial for the military efforts in the base areas led by the Communist Party of China. This article discusses the significant contributions made in the anti-Japanese base areas and liberated regions, focusing on the efforts led by the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army.

Production in Anti-Japanese Base Areas

Eighth Route Army Efforts

The Eighth Route Army established base areas primarily in the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan, Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei, and Shanxi-Suiyuan regions. They relied on self-reliance to produce iron and steel using small earthen blast furnaces and crucible furnaces. This indigenous production method, despite its limitations, contributed significantly to the war effort.

Key Factories

1. Wuxiang County Self-Defense Force Iron Factory:
   • Estabelecida em 1937 by returning workers from the Taiyuan Arsenal.
   • Produced weapons such as machetes and wooden-handled grenades.
   • Renamed Pishan Factory and later transferred to the Eighth Route Army Headquarters.
2. Liugou Iron Factory:
   • Originally established in 1930, it was taken over by the Eighth Route Army in 1939.
   • Produced grenade launchers, mortars, and various shells.
   • Became a significant supplier of pig iron for the military.
3. Qingcheng Iron Works:
   • Estabelecida em 1941, improved traditional furnaces to produce gray iron.
   • Produced shells, grenade shells, and mines until destroyed by the Japanese army in 1942.
4. Pingshun County Sand Foundry:
   • Estabelecida em 1943 to meet the increasing demand for ammunition.
   • Used traditional methods to produce pig iron and cast shells and grenades.

Innovations and Challenges

The anti-Japanese base areas faced challenges due to the limited quantity and quality of steel produced. Innovations like the pig iron toughening treatment technology transformed white cast iron into gray cast iron, enhancing the quality of cast products. Despite the challenges, these efforts made an indelible contribution to the war effort.

New Fourth Army Efforts

Development Phases

The military production of the New Fourth Army can be divided into four periods:

1. Southern Anhui Military Headquarters:
   • Established arsenals in 1937 to repair old firearms and manufacture grenades.
   • Relied on scrap steel and locally produced iron and steel.
2. Yancheng Military Industry Department:
   • Estabelecida em 1941 to manufacture mines, grenades, and other ammunition.
   • Relied on purchased scrap steel and materials from enemy-occupied areas.
   • Disbanded in August 1941 due to continuous raids.
3. Division and Brigade Production:
   • After disbanding the Military Industry Department, each division established its own military production plants.
   • Relied on traditional methods to smelt pig iron and produce ammunition.
4. Post-Huanghuatang Conference Development:
   • The 1944 conference boosted military industry production.
   • Factories used various methods to procure steel materials, including purchasing from enemy-occupied areas and recycling within the base areas.

Challenges and Innovations

The New Fourth Army operated in occupied areas with no fixed rear, making military production difficult. Despite this, they overcame challenges by making tools and materials themselves, recycling, and using indigenous production methods.

Conclusion

During the Anti-Japanese War, the production and supply of iron and steel materials in the anti-Japanese base areas, led by the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army, played a crucial role in the war effort. Despite numerous challenges, their innovations and self-reliance significantly contributed to the eventual victory.