Nanjing Massacre

Nanjing Massacre
Conflict	Nanjing Massacre
Partof	the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II
Caption	Victims of the massacre exhumed from a mass grave in 1938.
Date	December 13, 1937 – January 1938
Place	Nanjing, Republic of China
Result	Mass murder and atrocities committed by the Imperial Japanese Army
Combatant1	Empire of Japan
Combatant2	Republic of China
Commander1	Prince Yasuhiko Asaka, General Iwane Matsui, Lieutenant General Kesago Nakajima
Commander2	General Tang Shengzhi
Units1	Central China Area Army, Shanghai Expeditionary Army, 10th Army
Units2	Nanking Garrison Force

Nanjing Massacre. The Nanjing Massacre was a period of mass murder and mass rape committed by the Imperial Japanese Army against the residents of Nanjing, then the capital of the Republic of China, during the Second Sino-Japanese War. The atrocity began on December 13, 1937, upon the Japanese capture of the city, and lasted for six weeks, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians and disarmed combatants. The event remains a central point of contention and historical memory in East Asian relations.

Background and causes

The massacre occurred in the context of the escalating Second Sino-Japanese War, which had begun with the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in July 1937. Following fierce battles such as the Battle of Shanghai, the Imperial Japanese Army advanced toward the Chinese capital of Nanjing. The National Revolutionary Army, commanded by Chiang Kai-shek, suffered heavy losses and its defense, led by General Tang Shengzhi, ultimately collapsed. The Japanese military leadership, including General Iwane Matsui and Prince Yasuhiko Asaka, issued orders to "kill all captives," fostering a climate of extreme brutality. The fall of the city to the Central China Area Army and the Shanghai Expeditionary Army set the stage for the ensuing violence.

The massacre

Upon entering Nanjing, Japanese troops engaged in systematic atrocities. Soldiers conducted widespread bayonet practice on living prisoners and used civilians for target practice. The International Committee for the Nanjing Safety Zone, led by individuals like John Rabe and Minnie Vautrin, documented countless instances of mass execution, often along the banks of the Yangtze River. The Mukden Incident veteran Lieutenant General Kesago Nakajima was among officers present. Rampant sexual violence occurred, with estimates of tens of thousands of rapes. Historical sites like the Zhongshan Mausoleum and the Qinhuai River became scenes of slaughter, while looting and arson destroyed large sections of the city.

Death toll estimates

Estimates of the death toll vary significantly among historians and institutions. The International Military Tribunal for the Far East concluded that over 200,000 civilians and prisoners of war were killed. The Nanjing War Crimes Tribunal put the figure at more than 300,000. Contemporary accounts from witnesses such as American journalist Tillman Durdin and missionary John Magee described horrific scenes supporting high estimates. Scholars like Iris Chang, author of The Rape of Nanking, cite the 300,000 figure, while some Japanese historians offer lower numbers. The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders maintains extensive documentation on the victims.

War crimes trials

After World War II, key Japanese leaders were prosecuted for their roles. The International Military Tribunal for the Far East tried General Iwane Matsui and former Foreign Minister Kōki Hirota for failing to prevent the atrocities; both were found guilty and executed. The Nanjing War Crimes Tribunal, a Chinese court, tried and executed Lieutenant General Tani Hisao, commander of the 6th Division (Imperial Japanese Army). These trials established important legal precedents for crimes against humanity and command responsibility, influencing later tribunals like the International Criminal Court.

Historical significance and legacy

The Nanjing Massacre is a foundational event in modern Chinese history and a potent symbol of wartime suffering. It is commemorated annually in China on National Memorial Day. The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders and the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall serve as major sites of remembrance and education. The event fundamentally shaped post-war relations between China and Japan, affecting diplomacy, textbook controversies, and public sentiment. It is frequently cited alongside other World War II atrocities such as the Holocaust and the Battle of Manila (1945).

Denial and controversy

Historical revisionism and denial of the massacre's scale or occurrence remain highly controversial. Some Japanese politicians, academics, and groups like the Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact have minimized the death toll or questioned eyewitness accounts. This denial has repeatedly caused diplomatic friction with China and South Korea. Debates often focus on the authenticity of sources like the John Rabe diaries and photographs presented at the Tokyo Tribunal. The Chinese government maintains a firm stance on the historical record, and the issue is a recurring theme in discussions about Japanese war crimes and Yasukuni Shrine.

Category:Second Sino-Japanese War Category:Massacres in China Category:War crimes in World War II Category:1937 in China Category:History of Nanjing