Revision as of 21:22, 3 April 2014

City of Life and Death (2009)

City of Life and Death is a 2009 Chinese historical drama. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Lu Jianxiong (Liu Ye), a Chinese officer, puts up a valiant but futile defense of the city of Nanking from invading Japanese troops. When the city falls, the Japanese occupiers go on a brutal killing spree, leading to thousands of deaths in what would later become infamously known as the Rape of Nanking.

The following weapons were used in the movie City of Life and Death

Rifles

Type Zhongzheng Rifle

The Type Zhongzheng Rifle is used by Chinese Nationalist soldiers, including Lieutenant Lu Jianxiong (Liu Ye), in defense of Nanking.

Type Zhongzheng rifle - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Nationalist deserters try to escape Nanking, armed with Type Zhongzheng Rifles. Note the M35 helmets and Germanesque uniforms. This is historically correct, for Adolf Hitler sent advisors to train and equip the KMT in the 1930's, before allying with Imperial Japan.

Nationalist soldiers ambush Imperial Japanese troops.

A Nationalist fires his Type Zhongzheng.

Lieutenant Lu Jianxiong (Liu Ye) struggles with the bolt of his rifle.

Lu creeps forward with his rifle.

A Nationalist with his rifle.

Shunzi (Zhao Yisui) takes cover with his rifle.

Lu loads a 7.92x57mm Mauser into his rifle. There are several more rounds in his hand.

Hanyang 88

At least one Nationalist soldier carries a Hanyang 88 in battle.

Hanyang 88 - 7.92x57mm Mauser. This weapon saw service in the Sino-Japanese wars and the Chinese Civil War.

A Nationalist soldier carries a Hanyang 88.

Arisaka Type 38

The Imperial Japanese soldiers, including Kadokawa Masao (Nakaizumi Hideo), use the Arisaka Type 38 in the battle and occupation of Nanking. True to life, all the rifles are fitted with the Model 30 bayonet.

Arisaka Type 38 rifle - 6.5x50mm Arisaka

Imperial Japanese soldiers armed with Arisaka Type 38 rifles prepare to attack Nanking.

A Japanese soldier aims his Arisaka at an approaching car.

A Japanese soldier holds his rifle on John Rabe, a German businessman. In real life, despite being a Nazi Party member, Rabe used his connections to shelter approx. 200,000 Chinese from the Japanese during the massacre.

Japanese soldiers advance through the streets of Nanking.

Kadokawa Masao (Nakaizumi Hideo) takes cover with his Arisaka. Note the open bolt and the 6.5x50mm rounds in the chamber.

A Japanese soldier guns down a Nationalist.

Kadowaka with his Arisaka after the battle. Note the Rising Sun flag tied to the barrel.

Japanese Guards armed with Arisaka watch Nationalist prisoners.

Machine Guns

ZB26 Machine Gun

The ZB26 Machine Gun is used by Chinese Nationalists in the defense of Nanking.

ZB26 Light Machine Gun - 7.92x57mm

A Nationalist deserter holds a ZB26, sans magazine.

A ZB26 can be seen in the hands of a Nationalist soldier.

Ckm wz.30

A Ckm wz.30 is mounted on a Nationalist Vickers Mark E Type B that ambushes a Chinese column during the battle after pretending to be out-of-commission. This suggests that the tank was a Polish model, for the wz.30 was indeed fitted as a coaxial machine gun on Polish armor.

Ckm wz.30 - 8x57mm IS

A Ckm wz.30 can be seen mounted on the turret of a Nationalist Vickers Mark E Type B tank.

The gunner opens fire with the wz.30.

Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun

The Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun is used by Japanese soldiers to mow down Chinese Prisoners of War after the battle.

Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun - 7.7x58mm SR

A Japanese Assistant Gunner loads a 30-round stripper clip into a Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun.

A Type 92 strafes a Nationalist defensive position.

The Type 92 firing. Note the empty stripper clip feeding out of the left side of the weapon.

Close-up of the ammunition belt firing.

Type 97 Light Machine Gun

The Type 97 Light Machine Gun is mounted on the Japanese Type 95 "Ha-Go" tanks used to bombard the city.

Type 97 Light Machine Gun - 7.7x58mm Arisaka

A Type 97 Light Machine Gun can be seen mounted on a Japanese Type 95 "Ha-Go" tank.

Type 99 Light Machine Gun

Imperial Japanese soldiers use the Type 99 Light Machine Gun in the battle of Nanking and to massacre Chinese Prisoners of War. Note that this in anachronistic, as the Type 99 didn't enter service until 1939 and the Battle was fought in 1937. The Type 96 Light Machine Gun would have been more accurate, but was probably difficult to acquire.

Type 99 light machine gun with Model 30 bayonet - 7.7x58mm Arisaka

A Type 99 deployed on a sandbag during the battle.

One of the Nationalist reinforcements hoists a Type 99.

Close-up of a Type 99 barrel.

A Type 99 can be seen to the left of the frame.

Sidearms

Nambu Type 14

Lieutenant Ida Osamu (Kohata Ryu) uses a Nambu Type 14 in the film.

Late Nambu Type 14 - 8x22mm Nambu

Lieutenant Ida Osamu (Kohata Ryu) takes cover with his Nambu Type 14.
Note: This Type 14 is anachronistic as the larger trigger guard did not enter production until two years later in 1939.

Osamu with his Nambu.
Note: This Type 14 is anachronistic as the larger trigger guard did not enter production until two years later in 1939.

Grenades

Type 67 Stick Grenade

The Type 67 Stick Grenade is used by Chinese Nationalists, including Lieutenant Lu Jianxiong (Liu Ye). They are common stand-ins for the German Model 24 Stielhandgranate.