What proof exists that Japanese soldiers bayonetted babies at Nanking?

August 7, 2005 2:01 PM

What evidence exists that Japanese soldiers bayonetted babies at Nanking?
posted by Jairus to human relations (9 comments total)

I don't specifically know about the bayonetting of babies, but there is photographic evidence available of other atrocities. What I remember from the book I saw was photos taken by the Japanese soldiers of other Japanese soldiers with their victims. I remember rape and mutilation in the images I saw. There are a number of books on it. I remember the book I saw had an eye witness account of, I believe, a Western priest. Wikipedia has this to say.
posted by lobakgo at 2:26 PM on August 7, 2005

According to the Nanking Massacre page at Wikipedia, the evidence consists of "Witnesses recall[ing] Japanese soldiers throwing babies into the air and catching them with their bayonets."

There's a bibliography in the article that might help you find the direct corroborating witness statements. According to reviews of John Rabe's diaries at Amazon.com, he was one of the witnesses who specifically mentioned bayonetting of pregnant women.
posted by bcwinters at 2:36 PM on August 7, 2005

(Oops, too slow on the draw. I curse you, live preview!)
posted by bcwinters at 2:36 PM on August 7, 2005

I just finished reading Mo Hayder's Devil Of Nanking. It's a terrific novel based on the Nanking massacres. Thanks for asking this, because I was wondering what really happened there too.
posted by surferboy at 2:50 PM on August 7, 2005

IIRC, there is no photographic evidence of that particular atrocity taking place. I'm not really feeling up to going through the pictures to make certain at the moment.
posted by selfnoise at 3:49 PM on August 7, 2005

Although it does not contain the gory pictures you seek, I think you might find much information on the subject in The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang (note the 629 reviews in Amazon, evidence at the very least of this book's impact).
posted by caddis at 5:44 PM on August 7, 2005

There was an article in the New Republic in the 80s with an interview with a Japanese veteran who talked about some of the atrocities he personally committed. I can't recall bayoneting babies, but it was pretty graphic and horrible. If you email me I'll look it up when I'm at the office tomorrow.
posted by LarryC at 7:31 PM on August 7, 2005

not to derail, But I also read Iris Chang's book and wondered if somehow the mental weight of researching such terrible events led to her recent suicide.

Did anyone else feel the same?
posted by mrs.pants at 11:38 AM on August 8, 2005

mrs. pants, there was an excellent Salon article following Ms. Chang's suicide that seemed to suggest just that. It's a fascinating read.
posted by salad spork at 12:27 PM on August 8, 2005