Reel 6 of The Battle of China (1944) follows the construction of the Burma Road, a vital supply route that connected Rangoon’s seaport to Lashio, then linked to Kunming and Chungking. This treacherous mountainous trail, built entirely by hand, saw thousands of Chinese men, women, and children working tirelessly to forge a lifeline to sustain China’s resistance. Footage shows trucks navigating the rugged terrain, transporting supplies under the protection of the Flying Tigers, whose fighter planes ensured the shipments reached Chungking.
Meanwhile, China waged a guerilla war against Japan. Animated maps depict the pockets of resistance fighters operating deep within occupied territory, launching ambushes and sabotage missions against Japanese patrols. As Japanese forces advanced on Chengchow, the Chinese unleashed a bold defensive tactic—blowing up the dikes of the Yellow River, creating a massive flood barrier to halt enemy progress.
Despite their brutal occupation, Japan became bogged down in China, unable to complete Phase Two of the Tanaka Memorial Plan—the conquest of China. With Germany holding Russia at bay and Britain fighting for survival, Japan shifted its focus to Phase Three and Four—securing bases in the South Pacific and confronting the United States. This led to the attack on Pearl Harbor, a move designed to paralyze American power in the Pacific. Animated maps illustrate the consequences of this shift, showing China’s loss of the Burma Road, severing its critical supply route.
This reel captures the determination of Chinese resistance fighters, the geopolitical shift toward global war, and the events leading to Japan’s direct conflict with the United States.
The Battle of China (1944) - WWII Documentary on Japan’s Invasion