Passengers jam a train at an open air railway platform in China. Many sit, together with their belongings, on roof of the train. Some persons on the station offer to sell food to occupants of the train. Change of scene shows Soviet Lieutenant General Vasily Chuikov, advisor to Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek, having an amicable conversation with a Chinese Major General and his aide in World War II.(The latter has injury to his nose.) Next, several Russian troops are seen standing guard in unkempt town square, containing a monument. They appear unsettled by the presence of the cinematographer. Building in background flies Soviet flag and has large picture of Stalin on it. Views are shown of a modern building with drive up ramp to entrance (airport terminal?) and then of a stylish train station displaying Chinese (KMT) and Soviet flags and pictures of Lenin and Stalin. ( Glimpse of a tall white monument with a Soviet T-34 tank on top, followed by another view of the train station.) Next a corner building in the city is seen with Armed Chinese guards protecting sacks of food supplies piled up next to it. A Chinese officer walks past the guards and into the building. View of car and pedestrians on a dusty city street. More views of the Chinese guards and foodstuffs. (Note 1: The images seen here are mixed in place and time, including 1941 and 1945..) (Note 2: Soviet Lieutenant General Vasily Chuikov was recalled from China at end of 1941, and placed in command of the Soviet 62nd Army responsible for the defense of Stalingrad.)
Japanese aircraft during an air raid on positions in China during the Second Sino-Japanese conflict. Japanese bombers parked at an airfield. Pre-dawn view of several Japanese A5M aircraft warming up. Bomber aircraft pilots and crews lined up as they salute a commanding officer. Propellers rotate as engines warm up on a group of Mitsubishi Ki-2 Light Bombers. The ground crews wave their hats as the bombers leave for an air raid. Point of view shot of a Japanese flight crew in the cockpit of an airborne Mitsubishi Ki-2 aircraft. Bombs away view of bombs release over enemy target in China. The bombs impact and smoke rises up from targets. Aerial view of the bombers in flight, returning after the mission.
Nationalist Chinese school books with anti-Japanese propaganda. Slate reads “Slogans in school books: “Down with Japan” “Oust the Japanese””. Schoolbook depicts anti-Japanese propaganda. Illustration shows Japanese soldiers aiming their bayonets at the Chinese. Another children’s schoolbook. A cartoon with Japanese invaders depicted as tigers. Chinese men taming a Japanese tiger in bed. An anti-Japanese pamphlet circulating in China. Anti-Japanese newspaper headlines posted in public display case on sidewalk in China. Chinese men reading newspapers posted on outdoor display boards on sidewalk.
Homemade sign strung on a post in front of a house flying a Japanese flag. Japanese characters, beginning with characters for "Japan," written on a portal. Two women walk out of a compound. One carries a string instrument (possibly a sanxian). A gateway Topped by flag of Manchukuo. A cosmopolitan group of people enjoying themselves in a park with benches, trees and gardens. Closeup of several children sitting on a park bench. A shop showing Japanese and Manchurian paper flags. Soldiers drilling on parade field. Japanese officers and officials lined up in front of a walled compound. Two Japanese flags fly at the entrance. Scene shifts to inside the compound, where several soldiers receive awards, as others stand in formation, and several bystanders observe. Persons of various ethnic groups walk through a gateway, together. Camera pans across them as they stand holding booklets related to their collective education activity.
Japanese forces attack city of Nanking in 2nd Sino-Japanese war. Animated map shows Japanese forces moving from Shanghai towards Nanking. Arrow points to the American gunboat, USS Panay, in the Yangtze River. View of the USS Panay in the river, with large American flag displayed on its covering. A Japanese Navy Nakajima E8N reconnaissance plane in flight overhead. Explosions on shore of river as viewed from the USS Panay. Sailors firing anti-aircraft gun from the Panay. Wounded and dead U.S. sailors being evacuated from the gunboat as it sinks from bombing. The evacuation launch pulling away from the Panay. View of the Panay sinking by the stern in the Yangtze. Scene shifts to Chinese troops entrenched in defenses of Nanking. Chinese troops running to defensive positions from their fort. View from above of Japanese artillery crews firing field pieces. View from Japanese lines of shells striking Chinese fortifications on hill in distance. Closeups of Chinese infantry defending from wooded area in hills. Closeup of Japanese soldiers firing 75mm field artillery pieces and infantry advancing as their bugler sounds charge on his horn. View from fortress wall as Chinese army defenders stand ready to meet the charge. Japanese gunners firing 75mm field gun (Model 94). Japanese infantry breaching Chinese defenses and using scaling ladders to climb them. Japanese infantry charging toward the camera. They break open an entrance gate to the Chinese fortress and charge inside. Carrying Rising Sun flag, the Japanese infantry begin attacks within the Nanking city proper. some huddle behind a 75mm gun firing down a street. City buildings falling to shellfire. Infantry running through the city. Dense smoke rising from shelling. Japanese infantry running down an alley, with Pagoda in background. Field piece firing point blank at a building. Fires burning. Japanese troops celebrating victory as the city falls to them.
Film begins showing formations of Japanese Mitsubishi Ki-21 bombers (Type 97 Heavy Bombers) in flght on a mission to bomb the Chinese city of Chungking (Chongqing) in World War 2. They begin releasing their bombs. Views from one of the aircraft of bomb striking in profusion on the ground. Very closeup of the front of one of the bombers in flight. More views of bombs dropping. View from an attacking airplane of bombs striking the port of Chongqing on the Yangtze River. Next, firefighters are seen directing hoses of water on fiercely burning fires, and then in streets of the city directing water onto smoking buildings. Large building consumed by fires out of control.