What's the story of the movie 800?

First, 800 in history: "We were born for China, and it is not enough to die."

1. Battle of Songhu

"800" is adapted from the materials at the end of the Battle of Songhu 1937, and tells the story that a reinforced battalion of the 524th Regiment of the 88th Division of the Third Theater of the Chinese National Revolutionary Army, known as the "eight hundred heroes", stuck to the four-row warehouse along the Suzhou Creek to stop the Japanese army.

The battle of Songhu began on August 3rd, 1937. Japan called it the "Second Shanghai Incident", which was the first large-scale battle between War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, China and Japan, and the largest and most tragic battle in the whole Sino-Japanese war.

Casualties of ordinary people can be seen everywhere in the war.

The battle of Songhu started in August of 1937, and about100000 troops from China and Japan went into battle. The battle lasted for three months.

The Japanese army invested more than 200,000 people in 8 divisions and 2 brigades, and announced more than 40,000 casualties;

China's army invested more than 800,000 people in the most elite Central Teaching Corps, 87th Division, 88th Division,148th Division and 62nd Brigade, and counted 300,000 casualties.

Chen Chengzhi, a Kuomintang general, talks about the brutality of the Japanese army.

The tragic battle between Shanghai and Song can't be explained clearly in a few words, but it should be remembered by all China people. I strongly recommend you to watch the documentary "Land of Life and Death-A Record of the Battle of Shanghai and Song". You can find high-definition film sources on Youku.

2. The Lone Ranger: A story defended by the world

1937 At the end of the Battle of Songhu, due to the disparity between Chinese and Japanese forces, the national army fought bravely, but it still fell. In order to preserve our effective strength and defend Nanjing, we decided to retreat to Shanghai.

At this time, near the meeting of signatories to the "Nine-Nation Convention", representatives from all countries have gathered in Brussels, Belgium.

Chiang Kai-shek was full of expectations for this meeting, hoping to show the world China's determination and information in the war of resistance by "single-handedly" in order to win the sympathy of the world and the intervention and mediation of powerful countries, so he decided to leave the 88th Division in Zhabei to defend Shanghai.

Sun, the teacher of the 88th Division, finally sent a strengthening battalion to stick to the north of Suzhou Creek, led by Xie Jinyuan's 524th regiment, and their position was the four-row warehouse shown in the film.

The 400 soldiers, led by Xie Jinyuan, the head of the regiment, are the last China army to stick to the downtown area of Shanghai. Later, they were called "four lines alone"-because of their powerful momentum, 400 people were called "eight hundred people" by the outside world.

Most of this team is a member of the peacekeeping force in Hubei Province-young and lacking in combat experience.

In this way, more than 400 people have to face the crazy Japanese army, and everyone knows that going here is to die.

The four-row warehouse is separated from the concession by a river, fighting alone for four days and five nights, creating a unique landscape that has never been seen in the history of Chinese and foreign wars-Japanese people and British and American journalists in the concession, regardless of stray bullets, watched the fierce battle between Chinese and Japanese troops on the other side.

Four rows of warehouses in wartime and bystanders on the other side

The bravery of "independence from the Quartet" infected everyone who witnessed all this, and also changed the international community's view of China's army. Even though China suffered heavy casualties, more and more young people in China asked to join the army.

Chen Chunren, a famous Shanghai doctor, recalled the war many years later and recorded: "eight hundred heroes" said that he didn't need any assistance, just a national flag.

3. Why did you retreat after holding on?

The continuous war between China and Japan has brought great pressure to the concession of the other side.

There are two huge gas tanks in the southeast corner of No.4 Warehouse. Once the Japanese artillery fire deviates and the gas tank is blown up and caught fire, it will endanger the safety of the people in the concession, and half of Shanghai will be lost.

The location of the huge gas tank

The foreign concession authorities sent a note to the China government through diplomatic channels, asking the government to order evacuation from a humanitarian standpoint.

Soon, Chiang Kai-shek issued an order to withdraw troops.

Although it was unacceptable, the military orders were like mountains, and Xie Jinyuan had to take care of the overall situation and carry out the orders.

This is the reason why the "800 Warriors" braved the enemy's intensive firepower and rushed across the bridge to retreat into the concession in the rain of bullets.