Touting “America’s fighting ally, China,” during World War II, this 21-minute film focuses on the Nationalist Chinese and their part in WW2. Although the film begins with the war in Europe and “a new messiah of murder and plunder,” Adolf Hitler, who is introduced at mark 01:08, the viewer is then introduced to Japan, an enemy most American’s had failed to take seriously until December 7, 1941, as recalled at mark 03:36. Recounting the sacrifices made by various nations prior to America’s involvement, the viewer is struck by a realization, at mark 05:48: “Soberly and with new respect we came to the realization that for nearly five years, China alone had been holding freedom’s Western front, fighting our battle.” So begins the film’s mission: to inform the viewer of how China’s fight with Japan benefited the United States during WWII. “To help the Chinese is to help ourselves,” the film notes at mark 06:26. The devastating impact of attacks by Japan on China are illustrated in archival footage, taking a toll said to be far worse than the devastation left on Great Britain by Nazi Germany. At mark 08:00, the site of a lifeless body of a child, killed in a Japanese attack, drives home the point. At mark 08:25, we’re shown General Chiang Kai-shek, “undisputed leader and idol of 450 million Chinese,” and his role in Chinese politics and culture, all designed to rally support. “American ideals … pave the way for strong future leadership,” the viewer is informed at mark 11:28. And in spite of Japan’s efforts during the war to enslave all of China, the film patriotically boasts at mark 14:30, that “ruthless brutality is not enough to destroy the will to resist in a liberty-loving people.” The film concludes with a proclamation, at mark 21:24, that “to hold China as a fighting ally, we, the people of the United States, must hold the people of China, as friends.”
Chiang Kai-shek (October 31, 1887 – April 5, 1975) was a Chinese political and military leader who served as the leader of the Republic of China between 1928 and 1975. He is known by his given name Chiang Chung-cheng (蔣中正, Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng) or his courtesy name Chiang Chieh-shih (蔣介石, Jiǎng Jièshí) in Standard Chinese. Chiang was an influential member of the Kuomintang (KMT), the Chinese Nationalist Party, and was a close ally of Sun Yat-sen. He became the Commandant of the Kuomintang’s Whampoa Military Academy and took Sun’s place as leader of the KMT when Sun died in 1925. In 1926, Chiang led the Northern Expedition to unify the country, becoming China’s nominal leader.[3] He served as Chairman of the National Military Council of the Nationalist government of the Republic of China (ROC) from 1928 to 1948. Chiang led China in the Second Sino-Japanese War (the Chinese theater of World War II), consolidating power from the party’s former regional warlords. Unlike Sun Yat-sen, Chiang Kai-shek was socially conservative, promoting traditional Chinese culture in the New Life Movement and rejecting western democracy and the nationalist democratic socialism that Sun embraced in favour of an authoritarian government.
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example like: “01:00:12:00 — President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.”
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
