How Does this topic relate to the history day theme?
For this years theme of exploration, encounter, and exchange, we chose the Nanking Massacre because it shows the Japanese exploration of China during the Sino-Japanese war, their encounter with the city of Nanking and it's citizens, and their exchange of innocent lives with torment and death for the Japanese soldiers' sheer amusement.
General Overview
The Chinese holocaust of 1937 often goes unspoken of, and is often referred to as the forgotten holocaust. In Japan's exploration of China during the Sino-Japanese war, the Japanese encountered the Chinese living in the city of Nanking and exchanged their lives with horrible deaths. There was nothing but an onslaught of mass rape, theft, and countless murders of innocent people. Although there was a Chinese army, they surrendered shortly after the Japanese arrived and complete chaos ensued for about six weeks during December of 1937.
WhereThe Rape of Nanking happened in Nanking (or Nanjing) China
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whenThe holocaust started during the winter of 1937, the actual date it started was December 13, 1937, and lasted over a period of six weeks.
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howThe Japanese invaded China after a victory at shanghai during the Sino-Japanese war, they saw Nanking as a target and went to try and capture the city.
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whyThe Japanese had already committed hundreds of thousands of atrocities on their way to Nanking and saw no reason to stop the killing contests and general havoc.
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