The Battle of China Reel 5 - The Bombing of Chungking and the Fight for Supply Lines

Free China’s Capital Under Siege and the Birth of the Burma Road


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Reel 5 of The Battle of China (1944) shifts to the city of Chungking, which became the wartime capital of Free China following the fall of Nanking. The Republic of China established its government there, constructing massive caves and underground shelters to protect civilians and relocate factories beneath the city. With no direct land route to Chungking, the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service launched a relentless bombing campaign to destroy the city. Footage shows Japanese bombers taking off, dropping bombs, and fires engulfing Chungking, as air raid sirens wail and civilians flee to underground shelters.
Despite the destruction, Chungking’s underground factories remained operational, producing war materials day and night. In response to Japan’s air dominance, China called its people to arms, training a new generation of soldiers. The reel introduces General Claire Chennault and the legendary Flying Tigers, America’s 1st Volunteer Group of fighter pilots, whose shark-faced P-40 Warhawks engaged Japanese aircraft in fierce aerial battles.
Meanwhile, Japan’s naval blockades cut off China’s vital supply routes, preventing shipments from reaching its ports. Animated maps illustrate the supply crisis, showing why the Allies devised a bold solution—the construction of the Burma Road. This crucial supply route would link Lashio, Burma, to Kunming, China, allowing truck convoys to deliver desperately needed supplies to Chungking.
This reel highlights China’s resilience under siege, the strategic impact of the Flying Tigers, and the heroic effort to keep Free China supplied despite Japan’s overwhelming military pressure.

Part of this Complete Film

The Battle of China (1944) - WWII Documentary on Japan’s Invasion

License: Royalty-Free