The Unspeakable Things That Happened At The "Nanking" Event

Summary

Historian Iris Chang's work on the Rape of Nanjing, detailing the 1937 massacre where Japanese forces killed and raped thousands, haunted her. Her 1997 book brought the tragedy to light, but she faced criticism for her death toll estimate. Chang's life ended tragically in 2004, possibly due to the stress of her work and health issues. The video also highlights John Rabe, a German who saved many lives during the massacre, and Chang's impact on remembering this dark chapter of history.

Takeaways

• 📜 Iris Chang, a best-selling historian, committed suicide on November 9th, 2004, leaving behind three distinct suicide notes, with no clear explanation for her actions.
• 💊 Iris Chang's friends and family attributed her suicide to the stress from her work, her busy life, and potential side effects from medications she was taking for depression and bipolar disorder.
• 📚 Chang's book 'The Rape of Nanking' brought her notoriety and exposed her to disturbing testimonies from survivors of the Nanking atrocity, which haunted her for years.
• 🌏 Japan's rapid modernization and militaristic policies in the early 20th century led to conflicts and territorial expansions, including the invasion of China.
• 🏰 The 'Three Alls' policy by the Japanese military in China, which stood for 'kill all, burn all, loot all,' was a horrifying strategy that led to widespread atrocities.
• 🗡️ The Nanjing Massacre, also known as the Rape of Nanking, involved brutal acts of violence, including beheading contests, torture, and mass murder of civilians and prisoners of war.
• 🤰 An estimated 100,000 to 250,000 people were killed during the Nanjing Massacre, with tens of thousands of women and girls subjected to rape and sexual violence.
• 🏥 John Rabe, a German Nazi party member, played a crucial role in saving thousands of Chinese citizens by establishing a safe zone and issuing safe conduct passes during the massacre.
• 📖 Iris Chang's work on the Nanjing Massacre faced criticism, particularly from Japanese nationalists who denied the extent of the atrocities, but her research brought international attention to the event.
• 🌟 The video is dedicated to the memory of Iris Chang and the victims of the Nanjing Massacre, highlighting the importance of remembering and learning from historical tragedies.

Q & A

What was the date of Iris Chang's death and how old was she at the time?

Iris Chang died on November 9th, 2004, at the age of 39.

What were the contents of Iris Chang's suicide notes, and what were some theories about her suicide?

Iris Chang left three separate suicide notes, each different, but none explained exactly why she took her own life. Some people believed her ideas about persecution by organizations like the CIA were side effects of her medications for depression and bipolar disorder. Others thought her suicide was due to the stress of her busy life and the dark subjects of her books.

What were the titles of Iris Chang's first three books, and what were their main subjects?

Iris Chang's first book was 'Thread of the Silkworm' (1996), about a Chinese scientist accused of being a communist spy during the Manhattan Project. Her second book, 'The Rape of Nanking' (1997), detailed the atrocities committed during the Japanese invasion of Nanking. Her third book was 'The Chinese in America: A Narrative History' (2003), which discussed the prejudice faced by Chinese immigrants and Americans of Chinese descent.

What was the main focus of Iris Chang's fourth book, which she was working on at the time of her death?

Iris Chang's fourth book was about the Slaughter of American and Filipino troops during the Batan Death March in 1942.

What was the historical context leading up to the Japanese invasion of China and Nanking?

Japan was a closed country until the mid-19th century, but after being forced to open up, it rapidly transformed into a regional power. Japan won control over parts of China after the First Sino-Japanese War and further expanded its influence after defeating Russia. By the 1930s, the Japanese military had almost total control over the government and society, with an ideology of superiority over other cultures, especially China.

What was the 'Three Alls' policy, and how was it implemented during the Japanese invasion of China?

The 'Three Alls' policy was a Japanese policy during their invasion of China, which stood for 'kill all, burn all, loot all.' It was a policy of extreme brutality, leading to mass murder, torture, and rape, particularly during the invasion and occupation of Nanking.

What were some of the atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers during the Rape of Nanking?

During the Rape of Nanking, Japanese soldiers committed numerous atrocities including beheading contests, bayoneting of civilians, crucifixions, gouging out eyes, and setting people on fire. They also conducted mass rapes, with tens of thousands of Chinese women and girls victimized, including the elderly and very young.

What was the estimated range of the population of Nanking before the Japanese invasion, and what was the controversy surrounding this figure?

Estimates of Nanking's population before the Japanese invasion ranged from about 200,000 to over half a million. The controversy arose because of the lack of accurate census data, with people avoiding being counted and irregular record-keeping, as well as the influx of refugees and soldiers.

Who was John Rabe and what role did he play during the Rape of Nanking?

John Rabe was a German trade official and Nazi party member who remained in Nanking during the Japanese invasion. He established a 'diplomatic safe zone' and issued safe conduct passes to Chinese citizens, saving thousands, if not tens of thousands of lives. After the war, he was arrested as a Nazi party member, but the people of Nanking remembered his efforts and sent aid to his family.

What was the controversy surrounding Iris Chang's estimate of the number of victims killed during the Rape of Nanking?

Iris Chang's estimate of the number of victims killed during the Rape of Nanking was around 1 million, which was criticized as being too high. The consensus among most historians is that between 100,000 and 250,000 people were killed.