萬家嶺大捷是中國抗日戰爭期間極為重要的一場勝利，也是整場戰爭中，極少數能夠「全殲」日軍一整個師團的戰役之一。這場戰役不僅對當時的戰局產生重大影響，更在精神與象徵層面上，狠狠打擊日本軍國主義的狂妄，也大大提振中國軍民的士氣。這場大捷，深深烙印在抗戰歷史之中，甚至成為日軍在戰後檢討中難以啟齒的「失敗樣本」。

戰役發生於1938年秋，正值抗戰初期中國軍隊實施「以空間換時間」的戰略階段。當時，日軍自佔領武漢的戰略意圖日益明確，為配合這一計劃，其第106師團在南昌一帶迅速南下，意圖切斷中國軍隊的防線，從而加速進攻武漢。萬家嶺，正是這條攻勢路線上的關鍵地帶。

中方指揮官薛岳將軍洞察到日軍106師團孤軍深入、補給線拉長、防禦空虛的致命弱點，果斷決定集中兵力進行圍殲。他指揮中國第九戰區的部隊發起精密而強悍的合圍戰術，從各個方向將日軍困死於萬家嶺地區。

此戰從9月到10月，歷時約半個月，過程極為慘烈。中國軍隊不但動用主力部隊，還從各地調派支援部隊參戰。在面對裝備精良、訓練嚴密的日軍師團時，中方官兵展現驚人的堅韌與英勇。多次肉搏戰與反覆爭奪陣地之間，中方利用地形優勢與局部兵力優勢，逐步壓縮日軍包圍圈，最終形成對日軍106師團的「鐵桶圍困」。

儘管日軍拼命突圍、空投補給、甚至使用毒氣與火焰彈等非常手段，但仍無法突破中方防線。最終，日軍106師團幾乎全軍覆沒，損失慘重，成為抗戰期間中國軍隊唯一一次徹底「全殲」日軍一個正規師團的重大勝利。據不完全統計，日軍損失官兵超過2萬人，包括多數高級軍官，對其戰力產生沉重打擊。

萬家嶺大捷不僅是戰術上的成功，更具有深遠的戰略與象徵意義。它展現中國軍隊在不利條件下，依然能以主動戰術制勝的能力，讓外界重新認識到中國軍人的戰鬥意志與軍事智慧。特別是在中日實力懸殊的背景下，這場大捷證明日軍並非「不可戰勝」，打破了其「無敵神話」。

此外，此戰的主將薛岳也因此聲名大噪，被譽為「抗日名將」，他的「天爐戰法」（即設計將敵人引入包圍圈，如置於熔爐中慢慢熔化）也成為中國抗戰史上的經典戰例之一。然而，在日方的軍事記錄中，萬家嶺大捷卻極少被提及。這既是因為其結果過於慘烈，也因為其反映日軍戰略錯誤與輕敵心理，是日本軍部極力掩蓋的恥辱敗仗。後世一些日本軍事史學者甚至用「悲劇性的戰役」來描述萬家嶺，並承認這一戰大幅削弱第106師團的戰鬥力，並嚴重干擾日軍整體攻武漢的節奏。

總體而言，萬家嶺大捷是中國近代戰爭史上的光榮一頁。它不僅證明當時中國國民黨軍隊的作戰能力與士兵的血性，更為全國上下的抗戰信心注入強心針。這場勝利不僅屬於軍人，也屬於那個時代無數為國捐軀、抵禦外敵的中華兒女。

The Battle of Wanjialing was one of the most significant victories for China during the War of Resistance Against Japan. It stands as one of the very few battles in which the Chinese forces managed to completely annihilate an entire Japanese division. This triumph not only had a substantial impact on the military situation at the time, but it also delivered a major psychological and symbolic blow to Japanese militarist arrogance, greatly boosting the morale of Chinese troops and civilians alike. The victory at Wanjialing is deeply etched in the history of China’s resistance, and even became an unspoken humiliation in post-war Japanese military reviews.

The battle occurred in the autumn of 1938, during the early phase of China’s strategy of “trading space for time” in the war. At the time, the Japanese military’s intent to capture Wuhan was becoming increasingly evident. To support this strategy, Japan’s 106th Division rapidly advanced south from the Nanchang area, aiming to cut through China’s defensive lines and accelerate their offensive on Wuhan. Wanjialing, situated along this crucial route, became a key battleground.

Chinese commander General Xue Yue astutely identified several fatal weaknesses in the Japanese 106th Division: it was overextended, operating in isolation, and its supply lines were vulnerable. Seizing the opportunity, he decided to concentrate forces and launch a large-scale encirclement. Under his command, troops of China’s Ninth War Zone carried out a well-coordinated and fierce offensive, surrounding the Japanese forces from multiple directions and effectively trapping them in the Wanjialing region.

The battle lasted from September to October, spanning about two weeks and characterized by intense and bloody combat. The Chinese side not only deployed core frontline troops but also brought in reinforcements from various regions. Facing a well-equipped and highly trained Japanese division, Chinese soldiers demonstrated remarkable resilience and bravery. Through repeated hand-to-hand combat and relentless position fighting, they used terrain advantages and local superiority in numbers to gradually shrink the encirclement, eventually forming a “steel-tight siege” around the enemy.

Despite desperate Japanese attempts to break through, including airdropped supplies, chemical weapons, and incendiary devices, they failed to breach Chinese lines. In the end, the 106th Division was almost completely wiped out, suffering devastating losses. It marked the only occasion during the war in which Chinese forces fully annihilated a regular Japanese division. Incomplete statistics suggest that more than 20,000 Japanese soldiers, including most of the senior officers, were killed—dealing a massive blow to Japan’s military capabilities.

The victory at Wanjialing was not only a tactical success, but also carried profound strategic and symbolic value. It proved that under difficult conditions, Chinese forces could still seize the initiative and prevail through smart tactics and determination. It also reshaped international perceptions of China’s military, showcasing the willpower and ingenuity of Chinese soldiers. Most importantly, it shattered the myth of Japanese invincibility—demonstrating that the Imperial Army could be defeated.

As a result of this battle, General Xue Yue rose to national prominence, earning the title of “Famed Anti-Japanese General.” His innovative tactic, later known as the “Furnace Strategy”—which involved luring the enemy into a trap and slowly “melting” them like iron in a furnace—became a textbook case in Chinese military history.

However, the Japanese side rarely mentions the Battle of Wanjialing in their official military records. This is partly due to the severity of their defeat, and partly because it highlights the flaws in their strategy and the arrogance of underestimating their enemy—making it a humiliating episode the Japanese military sought to suppress. Some later Japanese military historians even described it as a “tragic battle”, acknowledging that it severely weakened the 106th Division and significantly disrupted Japan’s timeline for the Wuhan campaign.

In conclusion, the Battle of Wanjialing is a shining chapter in the history of modern Chinese warfare. It not only affirmed the combat capability and courage of the Nationalist Army at the time but also served as a powerful boost to the nation’s overall confidence in resisting invasion. This victory belonged not only to the soldiers on the battlefield but also to the countless Chinese men and women of that era who gave their lives in defense of their homeland.