FOR THOSE WONDERING ABOUT THE HELMETS: One of the most conspicuous features of the elite units of the Chinese army that went to war with Japan in 1937 was their widespread use of German equipment, and, most conspicuous of all, of the trademark German helmet. In the early and mid-30s, Germany was the main provider of military assistance to Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist forces. This meant the dispatch of a fair number of German officers who acted as advisors and teachers for China as it raced to build a modern military force. It also meant large shipments of military supplies, including 300,000 M35 helmets.
@@jameskong6174 no they did banzai charges in the fight for China and it worked well so they tried it on the British it worked well then they tried it on the Americans and OOOOOOOOF
@@dimieneyitemi1721 since America is the strongest in equipment. However, when it comes to braveness and intelligence America is the worst. That's why they lose the Vietnam and Afghan war
had it not been for the Holocaust, the Nanking Massacre would have been remembered as one of the most brutal acts of recent history but it is sadly often forgotten about or swept under the rug, especially in western culture.
Imagine growing up 20-40 years in your life and like some of us haven't even experienced that many and then get shot by 1 Bullet in a random time not knowing from who and die in 1 fking second.
There are shooting in USA almost everyday. You will get one if you are lucky. A mass shooting occurred at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, United States, on the morning of August 3, 2019. 22 dead.
*When you did most war crimes but no one remembers you* Japan: *laughing at Germany* *When everyone remembers your war crimes but you're not the one who got nuked twice* Germany: *laughing at Japan*
Are you sure that the Germans did more war crimes? At least the Germans never regarded all the citizens of the lands they conquered as pigs for slaughter and pleasure (literally) with their crazed fanatical bushido culture at the time (Read up on China Nanjing, Singapore, Korea and so many Asian countries they conquered.) The reason why America nuked Japan was because they knew that taking Japan from the Bushido fanatics would result in millions of casualties on both sides. Never heard of German Kamikaze before, not like the crazed fanatics of the Japanese soldiers at the time.
*when everyone made fun of you for switching during ww2 but at least you aren't nuked twice and the allies don't remember the war crimes for what you did during the occupation in Africa and Balkans* Italy: *laughs at germany and japan*
This is so sad. The chinese soldiers died in order to save the young girls (from being raped or killed), their home and country. This is war, it is cruel. The scene where the girls and soldiers exchanged glance touched my heart as it says alot. Glad that we have peace for now, thanks to all soldiers for your sacrifices, fighting hard and helping to end this war.
@@operatorjewski9450 Forget? Lol no they don't really, they apologized many times even though it seems to be controversial even now but they did do the part. And yes Japan doesn't have an independent army now and only have JSDF that is monitored by US. And if you say that they should not be forgiven then say that to the old generation. Don't do that to the one who isn't born yet in that era. Don't blame the the new generation for this since even them feels bad for their history.
@@user-oc1kn4ku8t chinese people never really let this go, even though right now their government would rather be shooting at their own civies than doing what they did back in ww2, actually fighting for their people
@@vaporsouls6752 I feel bad china, authoritarian rule really sucks, but an overabused democratic rule is also bad in it's way but I'd rather choose the latter part. A freedom of speech is always greater than hiding the crimes of supressing your people that are against the regime. - Implying that to Tiananmen and their heavily censored media for god's sake.
To anyone wondering why the chinese troops are equipped with German equipments and are seemingly well trained. This is because the Guo ming dang (nationalist) used to have a treaty with the Nazi germany to fight the civil war against the Gong chan dang (communist) which was supported by Soviet Union. The German Nazi trained 8 divisions of chinese guo ming dang troops under German advisors supervision and equipping them with German weapons and so on, however they withdrew their assistance after allying with Japan. Due to this there were ONLY 8 divisions created and the group of chinese soldiers are from one of the divisions.
@@joseantonioamayaalvarado6744 You made a mistake. Japan could never totally conquer China as long as the ROC refused to surrender. If you knew about the economic history of Imperial Japan in the 20th century, you'd know that their entire country ran on continuous military operations that was the only way for Japan to expand its domestic economy by keeping the entire military industry continuously working. The reason why Japan turned to fight the US in 1941 was not that it became too ambitious but that its economy would completely collapse very soon if it couldn't subdue China in a short time.
let's face it China didn't put up much of a resistance, especially considering their size. Things sure are different now but that was the reality back then
@@EMARTRAHOBBY China wasn't even industrialised and that Japan should be praised in any way is utter bullshit Japan should get the same punishment Germany did
For those who don't know why the German trained some troops is because of after WWI, Germany was left devastated with it's economy in ruins. China and Germany formed this sort of agreement where Germany would help china with it's infrastructure and military, whilst china would provide workers and raw materials to help with the German economical problems
We all know that China was the "first to fight" the Japanese Empire, first in 1931, when Manchuria was annexed to form Manchukuo, to be followed by a large-scale invasion in 1937. Confronting an enemy far superior in both technological and organizational terms and with the support of an industrial war economy, China sought Of course to obtain foreign military assistance from any willing partners. Ironically, one of these partners was a German, Japan's close ally. This unexpected partnership between Germany and the KMT in 1933 Sino-German cooperation was established after Germany's defeat. Since China never fought against Germany (Chinese manpower contributions to the Allies were through the Chinese Labor Corps), combined with the fact that Weimar Germany relinquished all territorial claims to China, the renewed partnership from World War I emerged largely unscathed. With the signing of the Sino-German peace treaty in 1921, the foundation was laid for cooperation: China offered access to much-needed raw materials for Germany's post-war reconstruction, while Weimar Germany provided modern military equipment and advice to a threatened China.
But keep in mind that only a small portion of the elite soldiers doing this, most of the solders without formal training and modern weapons just all surrendered to Japanese before battle initiated. And those soliders fighting with the Japanese are KMT, not communists, most of the films directed in China changes all the fact, if you checked the museums and textbook in China now, the documents now changed to the communists ( not KMT , the national parties)fighting against Japanese
@@shiumycheng5847 funny, the fact is, in most museums in china, is KMT soldier's museum, even this film is about KMT not PRC. You really need to find out the fact by your own. Have you really read chinese history textbook ? 所有的历史书上正面战场都是说的国军，共军从来都是说的是敌后，那就是游击队，正面战场才是主力，遍布全国各地的纪念馆，当年正面战场上的全是国军纪念馆，北京那个抗战纪念馆上面挂了那么大个民国旗你是没看见？我倒是好奇所谓中华民国的台湾，还剩几个国军纪念馆，有没有抗战纪念馆？这电影难道不是国军吗？是个中国人都知道正面战争是国军打出来的，就共产党当年那点家当，敌后村里端个碉堡都费劲。但敌后游击队共党出了大力也是真的，这都不能否认。在这种事情上还特么扯意识形态，真的是恶心
@@spartashot no its not the case NOW, you are refering a few years ago before 2013. Now the movie and tv series are all different!!!!! President xi said: communist party is the main force during anti japanese war!!!! 共產黨是抗日戰爭中的中流砥柱!
Chriatian Bale is perfect. I have to say his performance is vivid and natural. As a Chinese, I will tell you dude, this piece of history is the darkest place in our heart. We barely mention this in the International world but it does not mean we have forgetten or forgiven. We are hamble people and I believe most of the Japanese is as well. What we require is just a sorry.
As horrible as this was, I doubt the Japanese will apologize. Firstly because they see no justification for an apology (due to nationalism still existing there) and secondly because the events were over 80 years ago (quite literally only a few of the soldiers are still alive). Out of interest are you from the mainland or from the Kuomintang republic of China?
My grandpa fought against the Japanese during this time, he was a great soldier who fought for China's freedom And after the Japanese surrendered, he fought for the Nationalist against the Communist during the Chinese civil war, but the Nationalist lost the war so he followed the Nationalist government(Republic of China) and fled to Taiwan
Wade Tzu-yao Lin did he have a choice to stay or did he know about the fact that he is going to taiwan? Unless i was a wealthy person or heavily indoctorinated, I would stay because the ccp have a far better reputation than brutal kmt at the time. Just curious.
My grandpa was also in the KMT army during the WW2 as a communication officer. He said he was so sad and terrified to transmit so many defeat reports. Then he fleed to HK and to Cambodia when Nationalist forces was defeated by communist forces. He intended to go Taiwan but the way was blocked.
9:50 *That is courage and love for your country and it’s people in the purest form possible.* May they all rest together, in peace and harmony in the afterlife.
Besides what the little girl narrated , the sargent said that everybody died so those little girls could live , thats why the seargent stayed vigilante near the church I think he knew the unit that he and his men fought would come back for those kids. Sadly , it was true and 2 kids were killed.
@@user-qj9jj7jg9s I don't have any problem with Japan invading China. But what they kid in Korea and China is unacceptable. Killing civilians doesn't matter because it was a war, but the rape was a dishonorable act. I pity the Chinese for that.
YEP,BASED ON YOUR THEORY SO I CAN GATHERING A TROOPS AND INVADE YOUR COUNTRY DEFEAT YOUR FORCES KILL YOUR SOILDIERS CITIZENS RAPE AND BRUN EVERYTHING I WANT,AND YOU CAN NOT SAY"YOU WERE MISBEHAVED AND DID UNJUST WARCRIME",BECAUSE YOU LOST. YOUR "ETHIC OF JUNGLE"COULD BE MORE SUITABLE FOR THE BEAST AND INHUMAN DEMONS.
@@songbingjoe thats not theory man thats what happens in war every country kill and rape when they successfully invade other country you know war never changes
Japan at the time still have shit engines and shit industries. However they are still relatively well armed than the Chinese army at that time. It isn't possible to complete wipe Chinese army out but it will be difficult, the Chinese army exchanged territory for time which means they keep retreating and run around everywhere, basically a hit and run tactics.
@@xspaghetti123 sorry fam but the world doesn't work like that,just because they are on the good side thats not meant each of them are good people either
yeah, they were called Dudaodui(督导队) which means they were mostly used to monitor Chinese soldiers and manage the troops, and they were the most elite units that China once had. and in the clip they were supposed to retreat, but they lost their final chance because they chose to protect those girls.
@@TomJerry-mn4ro they were in nanking. The German officer in charge of training did warn defending Nanking will cost all of the elite troops but they still did at last they were still forced to abandon the city, but the retreat plan was chaotic leading to many troops left in the city to be pow
@@Emil62003 This topic-branch 3 weeks old. I just additionally copied my joke and pasted it at the beginning of comment bar to gain more views. - That's the sense, Finnish Usama )))
@@Emil62003 Yes, it was just a joke, lil Finnish kid. I'm afraid you're too dumb to understand this subtle humor. Nanjing Massacre was in 1937, but Hiroshima bombing in 1945. A Japanese soldier takes revenge on the American for what hasn't happened yet. Is this OK explanation, or are you still didn't get it?
This is a pretty interesting contrast to most western movies, since here the chinese filmmakers seem to be not afraid to show how all their heroic soldiers die in many numbers or self-sacrifice. It feels more realistic too, since the guy you think could be the protagonist gets shot or suicides himself into a tank. Also, even though the scene at 10:15 might be a bit dramatized, that was still probably the most badass and desperate move I've ever seen in a war movie.
@@hoodrobin4397 were it for CCP troops they wouldn't be allowed to die in numbers. Current Chinese propaganda doctrine dictates that the KMT rulers belonged to different social classes other than that of the soldiers who were patriotic and belonged to "the people" for whom CCP represents, and they actually collaborated with the Japanese to "oppress" ordinary soldiers' will and bravery to fight by letting them die in numbers, and therefore have to be held responsible for the deaths rather than the Japanese. The point is never who were really fighting the aggressors but who were leading the fight, as the only true thing CCP cared about was power.
Nah. It is mostly with asian war films. Either those are made Koreans, Chinese or Japanese, those are always overthetop heroic, with bombastic effects and drama, that could make the most cynical prick cry, and, from a tactical point of view, preaty fucking stupid. And that is why I love asian war films.
This is why I love asian war movies. They might be preaty freaking stupid from the strategical and tactical point of view (like for example in that korean war drama about korean war they went awfully alot into melee combat with knifes or that movie about Japanese and Koreans that were ending up fighting from Manjuria, than in Stalingrad, ending up on Omaha Beach), but damn those emotions, dramatic scenes and the effects. Love it :)
Well I don't think it is stupid in tactical and strategical point. It's just that they're tactics are outdated even at that timeline so it would look stupid in our time. Also the movie wherein the Japanese and korean fighting at manchuria or I think Mongolia, then at stalingrad, ending up at omaha was actually based in real life. Search Yang Kyoungjoung. He is really lucky and unlucky at the same time.
I mean, it's less crazy than you think (disclaimer: I haven't really done any in-depth research on this). Remember that China (and probably Korea) was not really industrialized before and during WW2, so pretty much every single piece of heavy arms have to be imported. Hell, there is a desperate shortage of machine guns, to the point that a light machine gun is likely a platoon- or company-level asset... not that the Japanese were really that much better in that regard, but they are still in much better shape than the Chinese. So with such dearth of firepower, it's quite possible to end up fighting in bad-breath (i.e. melee) range. This is also why light infantry tank that the Japanese deployed (with combined arms tactic), being derided as made of papier-mâché by American tankers in Pacific Theatre, is devastatingly effective here. Because when your opponent (i.e. the Chinese) was so poor (and decimated from previous battle) to the point they have no access to anti-tank rifle (never mind anti-tank gun), and barely any machine guns to suppress your tank-supporting infantry, they will have to resort to such desperate measures as using suicide ("dare-to-die") bomber team with one improvised anti-tank "weapon" and the rest literal bullet-sponges. Of course, if you meant John Woo-style over-the-top cinematic, then that's another story, but this clip really isn't. Also, like the other guy pointed out, the Korean Japanese-Soviet-German POW was apparently (based on) a real story. The difference between fiction and non-fiction is that fiction has to make sense :)
@@Srae17 It's not stupid. A lot of unnecessary tactics won the war especially the British empire tactics it looks stupid yet effective sending the front lines to die first with just walking and stuff and Russians charging at every side with no direction where to go with half of the army died yet they still won..
I am anti communist but after watching this, I sided with china mostly because of their horror And Japan is 10x worse than china or USSR or even Nazi Germany
@@eleethtahgra7182 Actually, the world remembers, they even remembered that the Japanese came to China to apologize to Mao Ze Dong for invading China. The world did not forget about this. However, the world did forget about the Nationalist Party, who actually fought the Japanese.
@@eleethtahgra7182 Don't get it wrong. I only care about this matter because their Civl War came to my country, therefore i needed to understand their history as well. I hate the Communists in my guts, but i do respect the soldiers who fought for their homes. The Communists never did fight for their homes. The Nationalist Party was also full of Chinese, but i don't hate them. So i don't feel "Salty" toward the Chinese, i even hate the Communists in my own country, even though they too, are Vietnamese.
The problem is that Japanese high schools don't really teach about it... It's still an extremely touchy topic in Japan. The external pressure isn't helping either.
@@user-qt9xc8np5h By 1937 Nanking's population swelled to more than 1 million people, historians estimate. Mostly refuges. 300k casualties (rapes, murders etc) are actually western estimates. Chinese ones were much higher.
In case anyone's asking: - 300,000 Chinese Nationalist Troops were armed, trained and equipped by Nazi Germany - These crack divisions were often the only ones with full machinegun/mortar/heavy artillery/armour - Most divisions were destroyed in the battle for Shanghai under Japanese bombing, artillery & naval firepower advantage - What was left of them - the Officer/Teaching Division (same as the Germans did) in particular - were killed to the last defending Nanking. After the battle of Nanking, almost none of the 300,000 were left. - These soldiers were from the elite Officer-Cadet Division of German-trained divisions. That's why one said they really should leave -
@@dapperfield595 Not 14,000 At least 8 full-strength divisions plus some other independent regiments. Cooperation reached its height after Nazis came into power.
@@dapperfield595 baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%BE%B7%E6%A2%B0%E5%B8%88 It's in Chinese 14,000 was one of the earliest carbon-copy German infantry divisions. In the later days, there were many more. These were armed and trained along German lines, and uniquely have complete infantry-division fire support (artillery, mortar, Radio, etc). Even German-made C96s, rifles, Czech machineguns etc. 30 divisions: 28 were destroyed in Shanghai + Nanjing, 1 was left in Fujian, 1 was left in Chongqing, the last 2 were spared major destruction
One of the most conspicuous features of the elite units of the Chinese army that went to war with Japan in 1937 was their widespread use of German equipment, and, most conspicuous of all, of the trademark German helmet. In the early and mid-30s, Germany was the main provider of military assistance to Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist forces. This meant the dispatch of a fair number of German officers who acted as advisors and teachers for China as it raced to build a modern military force. It also meant large shipments of military supplies, including 300,000 M35 helmets.
@@toledochristianmatthew9919 Because there is no eternal ally among the nations, there is only eternal interest. Finally, the Nazis chose Japan and Italy as their fascist allies.
No offense but that isn't profound, but a poetic way of putting I it. They deeper they go into Chinese territory the more enemies they'll encounter and the more money they'll spend in the war effort
By no much really, the strategy of trading time with the loss of territory means you will meet little resistance until you pushed far enough to the headquarters and when that happens it get messy
Seeing this movie again in 2022, the Chinese army in the movie didn't have good weapons, but it was already the strongest army in China at that time; In the later period, the Chinese army even went to the battlefield with firewood cutters and ancient spears. ...Pay tribute to the heroes of World War II.
i learnt something: sometimes if you use your brain a bit you might save not only your life but hundreds more, like the smart sniper at the end. very impressive!
One motive of the rivalry between Japanese army and japanese navy was that the navy blamed the army for the warcrimes commited in china. I always liked the IJN, they had REAL Honor in ww2 unlikely the army
Ehh, uhh, IJN commited plenty of war crimes. The reason why we talk about people like Kudou Shinsaku (captain of Ikazuchi, who commanded the rescue of 400-odd Allied sailors in Second Battle of Java Sea despite risk of submarine attack) in a good light today is because they were the exceptions, not the rule. There were plenty of IJN commanders who were radicalized enough to decide that machine gunning survivors in water (i.e. committing war crime) was a perfectly good idea. Also, reminder that the order to execute 98 US POWs on Wake Island came from an IJN officer.
@@BicyclesMayUseFullLane This incident is not widely known but in a pacific island called Chichijima, Japanese navy soldiers ate capture American soldiers while drinking. All of the soldiers that tried it were instantly hanged after the war ended
@@beanmanbutchina pls learn more english i cant understand u. china is just a slave for russia and the people there are not happy they are poor af. china for example is trying to kill the islam in china they are against religion and the people in china have no freedom
I'm Japanese. I was surprised that our ancestor did such a bad thing. However, I hope everyone who watched this vid don't think that this is a Japanese. We are just as critical of this as you are, and of course I feel embarrassed as a Japanese.
Pacific Battlefield: 1 American soldier killed 10 Japanese soldiers Asian battlefield: 1 Japanese soldier killed 10 Chinese soldiers China paid a heavy price to win the anti-fascist war， but Japan has never admitted crimes like the Germans.
That was back in the days when they actually put in effort to make realistic Chinese war films that exposes the horrors of war. Unlike many of today's Chinese war films where it looks like some kind of Hollywood movie where important characters never die.
you are absolutely right, i currently live in China, and all they ever put on tv is these unrealistic ww2 propaganda films where they exaggerate the bravery and brilliance of the Chinese people. Im not saying that the Chinese doesn't have these qualities, its just I once saw Chinese soldiers friggin Matrix dodge bullets and have a 100% bullet accuracy.
@@cat3784 I beg to disagree if you know the history as to who's the real chinese patriots who fought for the motherland and whose hid a far and wait to takeover.
From a honourable country of the Samurai who protected women, stood for respect and fought like lions, it is sad to see that Japan in the early 20th century had become such a beast. Today's Japan is so much more better and has returned to the ancient values. Only thing that is missing is their autonomy from USA.
Yeah the conscription backfired, who would care about some traditional moral code when you're forced into the front lines? Not to mention the country have few experience in Imperial colonialism.
JC T totally agree! For example during the sengoku jidai, it were the samurai who were constantly backstabbing while the ninja remained loyal to one single lord.
Utkarsh Ganesh "ancient values" making animes, woman don't want to have kids because of the work taking their time, weird tv shows with weird games where even I don't know if there was rules about womans like "you are forbidden to see womans half naked" or "you are not allowed to touch woman". I mean wtf, even chechens didnt changed at all after 2 devastating wars or I interpretated something in old Japan that didnt even exist.
Gotta give some respect to Chinese to uniting against Japanese,the nationalists,the communists,hell,even warlords put their differences aside to fight the common threat.
The communists did jackshit to help in the war effort. That's why nationalist China lost the civil war since they took the whole brunt of the war and when the war ended they lacked the manpower to even continue fihting
@Felipe Aubert I'm not communist you Nazi ! China is #1 helper of Serbia ! My country isn't shithole you don't know nothing about it ! Didn't Serbia star the war ! Bosniak Serbs did it but Austria-hunGAYria needed to declare war ! I'm Chetnik Serb not commie
@張曉亮 I don't like the Communist Party, but I don't like you guys who are always trying to split the country and have to make China uneasy. Think about why independence is for you brainless young people.
