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The Bombing of Canton

Harrowing footage of death and destruction in the aftermath of sustained Japanese bombing of the southern Chinese city.

Documentary 1938 9 mins

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Overview

The Imperial Japanese Army launched intense air raids on civilian targets during the Second Sino-Japanese War and this film records the devastating results of their assault on Canton (Guangzhou) in October 1938. Having already lost tens of thousands of men, Chinese General Chiang Kai-shek is keen to train up more officers. His wife Soong May-ling rallies support for the war effort.

After the fall of Shanghai and Nanjing in 1937, the Japanese continued to attack other major Chinese cities, such as Canton (Guangzhou) and Wuhan. The National Revolutionary Army put up a stoic fight, although they were militarily inferior to the Japanese. The entire war lasted a gruelling 14 years until 1945, prolonged by the fact that Chiang Kai-shek, then leader of the Nationalist Party (KMT), was simultaneously trying to defeat the Communists under Mao Zedong. Meanwhile, his wife Soong May-ling (Madame Chiang) toured the country and abroad to raise support for the war effort.

Original title
Bombing of Canton
Genres
Documentary
Released
1938
Country
People's Republic of China
Location
Guangzhou
Language
English

Subjects

Sino-Japanese War Air raids Guangzhou