WHEN
The Nanking Massacre occurred during the six-week period following the Japanese capture of Nanking on December 13, 1937 during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Although this was a definite time of terror, the crimes and atrocities continued at a less intense level until 1945.
The world had very little exposure or knowledge of what was happening in China, even after Western journalists returned home, including Germany's John Rabe who assisted in protecting the Chinese. In 1997 the publication of Iris Chang's The Rape of Nanking brought about clearer visibility and reaction to the controversy to the western world.
The rape of Nanking was never resolved. It remains a contentious political issue because of the claim that the massacre was exaggerated and fabricated for propaganda purposes. Sino-Japanese relations, as well as Japanese relations with other Asia-Pacific nation reamin in conflict because of the nationalists efforts to deny their war crimes.
The world had very little exposure or knowledge of what was happening in China, even after Western journalists returned home, including Germany's John Rabe who assisted in protecting the Chinese. In 1997 the publication of Iris Chang's The Rape of Nanking brought about clearer visibility and reaction to the controversy to the western world.
The rape of Nanking was never resolved. It remains a contentious political issue because of the claim that the massacre was exaggerated and fabricated for propaganda purposes. Sino-Japanese relations, as well as Japanese relations with other Asia-Pacific nation reamin in conflict because of the nationalists efforts to deny their war crimes.