🕯️ "It was a dismal, dismal day, with a moaning wind all day long…" wrote Whihelmina Vautrin, capturing the heartbreak of Nanking (today's Nanjing) in December 1937. For six terrifying weeks, the city endured a wave of horrors that still echo through history.
When Japanese forces seized Nanjing, panic spread like wildfire. Streets emptied, families scattered, and a once-bustling capital was plunged into chaos. Over the course of 42 days, soldiers unleashed brutal violence—torture, looting, and unimaginable cruelty—against civilians and unarmed defenders.
The human cost was staggering. Historians estimate that more than 300,000 people lost their lives. Behind every number was a story cut short: a child's laughter silenced, a mother's embrace stolen, a community torn apart. These tragic events remind us of humanity's darkest potentials.
Today, we pause to remember. By keeping these memories alive, we honor those who suffered and strengthen our commitment to peace. In recalling the Nanjing Massacre, we acknowledge the weight of the past and the hopes for a more compassionate future. 💔
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
