The Rape of Nanking

The Rape of Nanking refers to the brutal occupation of Nanking (now Nanjing), China, by Japanese troops during the Second Sino-Japanese War in December 1937. Over six weeks, soldiers committed widespread atrocities, including mass executions, systematic rape, and severe torture against civilians and disarmed soldiers. Estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands of people were killed, and tens of thousands of women were raped. This horrific event is a significant historical moment that highlights the extremes of wartime violence and has lasting implications for Sino-Japanese relations and memory politics in both countries.