How were civilians impacted by the Japanese invasion (rape of Nanking)?

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How were civilians impacted by the Japanese invasion (rape of Nanking)?
Source: This eyewitness report was filed by a New York Times reporter upon witness the Japanese invasion
of the Nanking region of China, later referred to as the "Rape of Nanking" . Aboard the U.S.S. Oahu at
Shanghai, Dec. 17 [1937].
Through wholesale atrocities and vandalism at Nanking the Japanese Army has thrown away a rare
opportunity to gain the respect and confidence of the Chinese inhabitants and of foreign opinion there....
The killing of civilians was widespread. Foreigners who traveled widely through the city Wednesday found
civilian dead on every street. Some of the victims were aged men, women and children.
Policemen and firemen were special objects of attack. Many victims were bayoneted and some of the
wounds were barbarously cruel.
Any person who ran because of fear or excitement was likely to be killed on the spot as was any one caught
by roving patrols in streets or alleys after dark. Many slayings were witnessed by foreigners.
The Japanese looting amounted almost to plundering of the entire city. Nearly every building was entered by
Japanese soldiers, often under the eyes of their officers, and the men took whatever they wanted. The
Japanese soldiers often impressed Chinese to carry their loot...
The mass executions of war prisoners added to the horrors the Japanese brought to Nanking. After killing
the Chinese soldiers who threw down their arms and surrendered, the Japanese combed the city for men in
civilian garb who were suspected of being former soldiers.
Transcribed Image Text:Source: This eyewitness report was filed by a New York Times reporter upon witness the Japanese invasion of the Nanking region of China, later referred to as the "Rape of Nanking" . Aboard the U.S.S. Oahu at Shanghai, Dec. 17 [1937]. Through wholesale atrocities and vandalism at Nanking the Japanese Army has thrown away a rare opportunity to gain the respect and confidence of the Chinese inhabitants and of foreign opinion there.... The killing of civilians was widespread. Foreigners who traveled widely through the city Wednesday found civilian dead on every street. Some of the victims were aged men, women and children. Policemen and firemen were special objects of attack. Many victims were bayoneted and some of the wounds were barbarously cruel. Any person who ran because of fear or excitement was likely to be killed on the spot as was any one caught by roving patrols in streets or alleys after dark. Many slayings were witnessed by foreigners. The Japanese looting amounted almost to plundering of the entire city. Nearly every building was entered by Japanese soldiers, often under the eyes of their officers, and the men took whatever they wanted. The Japanese soldiers often impressed Chinese to carry their loot... The mass executions of war prisoners added to the horrors the Japanese brought to Nanking. After killing the Chinese soldiers who threw down their arms and surrendered, the Japanese combed the city for men in civilian garb who were suspected of being former soldiers.
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