19 Dec 1937 | World War II Database

19 Dec 1937

China

Men of the Japanese 13th Division, having executed tends of thousands of refugees and prisoners of war in Nanjing, China by machine gun, bayonet, and fire since 16 Dec 1937, began to burn the remains; the ashes were dumped into the Yangtze River. Reverend James M. McCallum, who was in Nanjing, noted in his diary "Never I have heard or read such brutality. Rape! Rape! Rape! We estimate at least 1,000 cases a night, and many by day.... Women are being carried off every morning, afternoon and evening. The whole Japanese army seems to be free to go and come as it pleases, and to do whatever it pleases." ww2dbase [Battle of Nanjing and the Rape of Nanjing | Nanjing | CPC]

United States

USS Pollack arrived at San Diego, California, United States. ww2dbase [Pollack | San Diego, California | CPC]

Photo(s) dated 19 Dec 1937

Dead Chinese piled on the shore of the Yangtze River, Nanjing, China, Dec 1937

Dead Chinese piled on the shore of the Yangtze River near Xiaguan Pier, Nanjing, China, Dec 1937

Japanese soldiers with a Chinese child, Nanjing, China, 19 Dec 1937

19 Dec 1937 Interactive Map

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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