The Rape of Nanking: Inside One of History’s Darkest Six Weeks

The Rape of Nanking: Inside One of History’s Darkest Six Weeks

When the city of Nanjing (formerly spelled “Nanking”) fell to the forces of the Imperial Japanese Army on December 13 1937, what followed was not simply a military victory—it was an atrocity. For nearly six weeks, the occupying army carried out widespread killings, sexual violence, looting and arson in what became known as the Rape of Nanking. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

A City Is Captured

The Japanese campaign advanced rapidly in China, and after battles in Shanghai and along the Yangtze, the army reached Nanjing. The capture of the city marked the beginning of one of the worst human tragedies of the 20th century. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

The Six Weeks of Horror

In the six weeks after December 13, 1937, Japanese soldiers committed mass executions of Chinese civilians and disarmed soldiers, often by machine gun, bayonet, or by burying victims alive. Some buildings were set ablaze; refugees and residents were murdered, looted from, and terrorised. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Rape was unleashed on a massive scale. Estimates of women and girls raped range from 20,000 to as many as 80,000 or more. Many victims were then killed, mutilated, or left to die from their wounds. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Death Toll and Controversy

The total number of people killed during the massacre remains a matter of historical debate. Most mainstream historians place the figure between 100,000 and 300,000 victims—civilians and surrendered soldiers included. Some sources suggest even higher numbers. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Witnesses and the Safety Zone

As the massacre unfolded, a few foreigners in Nanjing, including businessmen and missionaries, organised a “Safety Zone” to protect some civilians. Among them was German businessman John Rabe, whose diary and reports later offered valuable documentation of what was happening. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Aftermath and Justice

After the war, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East and Chinese war-crime tribunals held Japanese commanders and officers accountable for the massacre. Some were convicted and punished, though many victims and historians argue that justice was incomplete. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Why It Matters

The Rape of Nanking stands as a stark reminder of how war can descend into cruelty, how civilians become targets, and how atrocities don’t always remain hidden. Beyond the numbers and horror, it highlights the fragility of civilisation when orders are abandoned and humanity is lost.

“Bodies littered the streets for months… the bodies of civilians that I examined had bullet-holes in their backs.” — John Rabe (Diary) :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

For modern readers, remembering the massacre is not only about paying tribute to victims but also about recognising the warning signs of brutality, fanaticism and the devaluation of human life.

The city of Nanjing today remembers the event, with memorials, museums and education efforts designed to prevent such atrocities from being forgotten or repeated. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

In the end, the story of Nanjing is a sombre chapter in human history—but one we must not allow to fade into obscurity.