Iris Chang (1968–2004)

For far too long I held off reading this seminal work. I didn't know whether I could stomach the violence and pain. I also thought the book would be much longer. On both counts, I was wrong. Chang expertly manages to convey the murderous brutality of the Japanese soldiers and their commanders in a way that shocks your conscience but doesn't turn your stomach. In its little more than 200 pages of actual text, it is a masterwork of concision that supplies just the right amount of information show more to follow the chain of events, to present the actors, their victims and, most importantly, the bystanders in situ and abroad.

Chang pays tribute to the heroic efforts of the local expatriates community and reporters, especially the good Nazi John Rabe, the intrepid Americans doctor Robert Wilson and school mistress Minnie Vautrin (I recommend the 2009 biopic "John Rabe" with Ulrich Tukur and Steve Buscemi). In contrast to the UN safe area at Srebrenica in 1995, the International Nanking Safety Zone (barely and insufficiently) protected most of the local population which managed to reach it, stay within its borders and evade Japanese intruders. The Japanese level of atrocities and the bestial brutality in their execution is truly shocking.

Still more shocking is the fact that the perpetrators mostly managed to evade justice, while the victims and their helpers did not receive justice and compensation. The Rape of Nanking is but one among a large number of massacres the world chose to look away and not hold the perpetrators accountable for their war crimes. For the over 200.000 deaths, only two people were convicted in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. Four more were convicted in the Nanjing War Crimes Tribunal (one the convicted was sheltered after the trial by Chiang Kai-Shek!). Chang shows in the Japanese case that "Looking forward, not backward" is a bad strategy in dealing with war crimes (also supported by the lack of accountability caused by the much less vigorous denazification policies in Austria compared to Germany). Amazingly, Japan never paid any war reparations to both Chinas.

A must read. show less

This was one book that I had avoided reading for as long as I’ve known of its existence – having small amounts of personal history intertwined in its contents. Alas, the time has arrived, and the book does not disappoint.

I do thank Iris Chang (and probably her editor) in the thoughtful and careful layout of book. By first providing selected Japanese cultural history, this book unfolded in a logical flow: addressing the events chronologically, providing viewpoints on motives, describing show more the key players – before, during, and after whenever possible, and denoting the history that was known or not known by the world and challenged by various countries’ government. While I have known selected details, the atrocities still proved to be horrifying, the courage uplifting, and the denial despicable.

I won’t attempt to simplify the amazing details in the book nor will I repeat the gruesome killings, tortures, rapes of women, and experimental ‘medical’ research. Instead, I’ll note other areas:

From Oxford historian Rana Mitter – a bit on ‘why’:
“There was a deep ambivalence in Japanese society about China. It was not all racist contempt, as it was for the Koreans: on the one hand, they recognized China as a source of culture that they had drawn on heavily; on the other, they were exasperated by the mess that China was in by the early twentieth century.”

The order to eliminate all Chinese captives:
“There was a ruthless logic to the order. The captives could not be fed, so they had to be destroyed. Killing them would not only eliminate the food problem but diminish the possibility of retaliation. Moreover, dead enemies could not form up into guerrilla forces.”

Many who were never punished – wtf! (Can I say that in a book review?):
“Unlike their Nazi counterparts, who have mostly perished in prisons and before execution squads or, if alive, are spending their remaining days as fugitives from the law, many of the Japanese war criminals are still alive, living in peace and comfort, protected by the Japanese government.” -- including the entire Imperial Hirohito family, who were given immunity from war responsibility. (wtf again)

Desensitization training:
“New candidate officers underwent intensive training to stiffen their endurance for war. In the program an instructor had pointed to a thin, emaciated Chinese in a detention center and told the officers: ‘These are the raw materials for your trial of courage.’ Day after day the instructor taught them how to cut off heads and bayonet living prisoners.”

From R. J. Rummel, “one of the world’s greatest authority on democide (a term he coined to include both genocide and government mass murder)”. These words ringed so loudly in so many aspects of history:
“Power kills, and absolute power kills absolutely.”

I also applaud the book for thoroughly addressing the Safety Zone that was created and protected by a mere 22 foreigners. What incredible courage and strength! For some, the horror they witnessed never stopped haunting them.

Her Introduction ended with the American Philosopher, George Santayana’s quote: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it (from "Life of Reason I"). Her book now serves as an important monument in our historical timeline – to prevent similar history from repeating itself. Coincidentally, this is one of my favorite quotes. show less

A well-researched and thorough history of one of history's lesser known war crimes. It is now somewhat dated, as I think the events in Nanking after the Japanese invasion of 1937 are more widely known and acknowledged, thanks in large part to Chang's work. While the details of the mass murder and rapes are harrowing, I found her examination of Japanese denials and refusal to admit wrong-doing more interesting (and less traumatic to read about).

Why did I never learn about this in school? How come the first I ever heard of “The Rape of Nanking” was when I happened to stumble across the book title on my Goodreads recommendations?
It disheartens me to learn that this part of history is heavily censored and covered up in other countries - but I was freely educated in America and it didn’t seem to make a difference.
This book eventually found its way to me, yes, but only because I happen to actively seek out history books - show more friends and family have never heard of this.
In school we learn plenty about the Holocaust, so why do I not remember learning anything about Japanese war crimes and atrocities during WWII that horrified even the Nazis?
Perhaps it is because Germany actively acknowledges and tries to make amends for their past, whereas Japan still refuses to admit any wrongdoing. Why are we still letting it slip through the cracks?
This book is very (emotionally) difficult to read, more so as a woman, and I had to pace myself through it. I vividly remember lying in bed with my eyes squeezed shut, listening to the audiobook, body fully tensed, and mentally whispering/praying to myself “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…” as the tears slipped out. Because there are just no other words. show less