A forgotten holocaust

Perhaps you remember this mention I made of Iris Chang's death. Well, I finally got around to reading her book, "The Rape of Nanking."

You must must must read it! She tells the story from three perspectives: the Japanese, the Chinese, and the few foreigners who were still in the city at the time of the invasion (1937). She used diaries, interviews with survivors/soldiers, and records of the era to tell what happened.

And you don't want to even imagine what happened. There is a section of photos included in the book, so be aware of that if you decide to read the book and are the least bit squeamish.

In some of the wikipedia articles, Chang's book is said to be controversial with some inaccuracies. Whatever the case may be, the pictures don't lie. The diaries and papers she used in her research are (I believe for the most part) available in various university archives.

The book is very readable, and I felt she was as objective as possible, describing how the Japanese army could have committed such atrocities, as well as discussing how the Chinese army abandoned the city (in order to fight another day, apparently). However, I am no scholar on this holocaust, nor have I read much else on the subject. But the book is worth reading.

Unlike the Jewish Holocaust victims, there are few who are willing to speak up for these Nanking victims. Iris Chang was brave to do so.