The Nanjing Massacre, also known as the Rape of Nanking, was a tragic event that occurred during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). It took place in Nanjing (formerly known as Nanking), which was the capital of China at the time. The incident lasted for approximately six weeks, starting in December 1937, when the Imperial Japanese Army captured Nanjing.
During the occupation of Nanjing, the Japanese troops committed numerous war crimes, including mass murder, rape, looting, and arson. The exact number of victims is still a matter of debate, but it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed, and tens of thousands of women were raped.
The atrocities committed during the Nanjing Massacre were extensively documented by various sources, including Western journalists, missionaries, and international organizations. The testimonies, photographs, and other evidence provided a horrific account of the brutality and violence inflicted upon the Chinese population.
After World War II, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, held in Tokyo from 1946 to 1948, investigated and tried war crimes committed by the Japanese military. The Nanjing Massacre was among the atrocities examined during the trials, and several individuals were convicted and sentenced for their involvement in the massacre.
The Nanjing Massacre remains a highly sensitive and contentious topic in Sino-Japanese relations. The event has had a profound impact on the collective memory of the Chinese people and continues to be a subject of historical study, commemoration, and remembrance.