assignment as overwhelming: Creating a powerful film idea Capra made his primary focus the creation of "one basic, powerful idea" that would spread and evolve into other related ideas. He considered one important idea that had always been in his thoughts: As a result, his goal became to "let the enemy prove to our soldiers the enormity of his cause—and the justness of ours." He would compile enemy speeches, films, newsreels, newspaper articles, with a list of the enemy's hostile actions. He presented his ideas to other officers who were now assigned to help him: Weeks later, after major efforts and disappointments, Capra located hard-to-reach archives within government facilities, and by avoiding normal channels, he was able to gain access: Description Prelude to War (1942; 51 min 35 s) examines the difference between democratic and fascist states and covers the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and the Italian invasion of Ethiopia. Capra describes it as "presenting a general picture of two worlds; the slave and the free, and the rise of totalitarian militarism from Japan's conquest of Manchuria to Mussolini's conquest of Ethiopia." This film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film. The Nazis Strike (1943, 40 min 20 s) covers geopolitics: the conquest of Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland. Capra's synopsis: "Hitler rises. Imposes Nazi dictatorship on Germany. Goose-steps into Rhineland and Austria. Threatens war unless given Czechoslovakia. Appeasers oblige. Hitler invades Poland. Curtain rises on the tragedy of the century—World War II." Divide and Conquer (1943, 56 min) – about the campaign in Benelux and the Fall of France. Capra's synopsis: "Hitler occupies Denmark and Norway, outflanks Maginot Line, drives British Army into North Sea, forces surrender of France." The Battle of Britain (1943, 51 min 30 s) depicts Britain's victory against the Luftwaffe. Capra's synopsis: "Showing the gallant and victorious defense of Britain by Royal Air Force, at a time when shattered, but unbeaten, British were the only people fighting Nazis." The Battle of Russia (1943, 76 min 7 s) Part I and Part II shows a history of Russia's defense and battle against Germany. Capra's synopsis: "History of Russia; people, size, resources, wars. Death struggle against Nazi armies at gates of Moscow and Leningrad. At Stalingrad, Nazis are put through meat grinder." The Battle of China (1944, 62 min 16 s) shows Japanese aggression such as the Nanking Massacre and Chinese efforts such as the construction