The Road to Nanjing: Japan’s Relentless Advance

In late 1937, the Imperial Japanese Army had already achieved significant victories in its campaign across China. After breaking through the Wusong line, Japanese commanders saw the capture of Nanjing as strategically vital. As Japan’s Central China Area Army pushed forward, their leadership argued that seizing China’s capital would deliver a decisive psychological blow. By late November, Japanese forces had divided into northern and southern routes, converging on Nanjing with terrifying speed.

Nanjing’s geography made it particularly vulnerable – situated in a basin surrounded by mountains and rivers, the city was traditionally considered “undefendable” in military terms. Despite this, Chiang Kai-shek faced immense pressure to defend the capital, both from domestic public opinion and international observers at the ongoing Brussels Conference. After three tense high-level military meetings in November, Chiang appointed General Tang Shengzhi to command the city’s defense with approximately 150,000 troops.

The Siege and Fall of China’s Capital

On December 1, 1937, Emperor Hirohito’s Imperial General Headquarters issued the fateful order: “The Central China Area Army shall coordinate with the navy to capture the enemy capital Nanjing.” Japanese forces launched a three-pronged attack, completing their encirclement by December 7. The defending Chinese troops, though outmatched in equipment and training, fought with desperate courage at positions like Guanghua Gate, where they repelled two Japanese incursions into the city.

The final assault began on December 9, with concentrated attacks on Yuhuatai (Rain Flower Terrace) and Zhonghua Gate. Despite heroic resistance – including the sacrifice of two brigade commanders from the 88th Division – these critical positions fell on December 11. By nightfall on December 12, Purple Mountain had been captured and all city gates breached. As chaotic street fighting erupted, General Tang issued the order to retreat, leading to a disastrous bottleneck at Xiaguan where thousands perished trying to cross the Yangtze River under Japanese fire. On December 13, Nanjing fell.

The Nanjing Massacre: Six Weeks of Horror

What followed the city’s capture stands among history’s worst atrocities. The Japanese military unleashed a systematic campaign of violence against civilians and surrendered soldiers. Contemporary records from the Nanjing Archives show the city’s population before occupation stood around 600,000 including refugees and garrison troops. Post-war tribunals would establish that over 300,000 Chinese perished during the massacre.

The killings took two primary forms: organized mass executions and random individual murders. Documented mass killings include:
– December 15: 9,000 civilians and prisoners machine-gunned near Yuxian Gate
– December 16: 5,000 refugees executed at Zhongshan Wharf
– December 18: 57,000 civilians and disarmed soldiers slaughtered at Caoxie Gorge

Japanese soldiers employed horrifying methods – bayonet practice on bound victims, burning people alive, drowning, and grotesque mutilations. The infamous “killing contest” between officers Toshiaki Mukai and Tsuyoshi Noda, who competed to behead 100 people first, became emblematic of the brutality. Japanese media shamelessly glorified these atrocities.

Systematic Sexual Violence and Cultural Destruction

The massacre included widespread sexual violence, with estimates of 20,000-80,000 rape victims. Women from all backgrounds suffered – from professors’ wives to elderly women and young girls. The International Safety Zone Committee documented cases where:
– A 60-year-old grandmother was gang-raped while her grandson was stabbed
– Three sisters aged 9, 13 and 18 were assaulted, the youngest dying immediately
– Pregnant women were violated before being disemboweled

Concurrent with the violence came wholesale looting and arson. Japanese troops systematically plundered homes, businesses, and cultural institutions. Over 1/3 of Nanjing’s buildings were destroyed by fires that burned for months. The commercial heart along Taiping Road was deliberately torched, while priceless cultural artifacts disappeared into military shipments.

Historical Reckoning and Enduring Legacy

Post-war tribunals at both Tokyo and Nanjing established these atrocities were not spontaneous but policy. Documents revealed orders like “kill all captives” from Prince Yasuhiko Asaka and other commanders. The International Military Tribunal for the Far East concluded the massacre represented Japan’s “punishment” doctrine against Chinese resistance.

Today, the Nanjing Massacre remains a pivotal case study in:
– The psychology of wartime brutality
– The failure of international intervention
– Historical memory and reconciliation
– The importance of documented evidence against denialism

Memorials like the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall stand as solemn reminders of this tragedy, ensuring future generations understand the human cost when militarism and nationalism override basic humanity. The events continue to shape East Asian relations and serve as a warning about the darkest potentials of unchecked aggression.