Fall of Nanking

Paul M. Weir

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Today is the 80th anniversary of the capture of Nanking and the start of the atrocities known as the "Rape of Nanking" or "Nanking Massacre".

Amongst widespread and sanctioned murder and rape, two officers conducted a race to see who could behead 100 Chinese captives first. That was one of the lesser cruelties committed upon the civilians.

While we have a good idea of the cold industrial style extermination campaigns conducted by the Nazis against Slavs and Jews as well as the "in-field" murders in the USSR, in many ways these pale in comparison to the joyful sadism that accompanied the IJA.

While the victims of the likes of the Bataan Death March rightly should be remembered, we should not forget that the majority of the IJA's victims were Asian and Chinese in particular. Let us remember and mourn their suffering and pain. They should not be forgotten.

If you have the stomach for it, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Nanking
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanking_Massacre
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contest_to_kill_100_people_using_a_sword

EDIT: While this may seem a sparse post compared to my usual voluminous ones, there is a limit to how much I can type without it turning into a rage and tears episode. This European has not forgotten that Asia suffered as much in WW2 as Europe and for longer.
 
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