r/TerrifyingAsFuck • u/TheMrMorbid • Mar 14 '24

war Chinese prisoners being buried alive by their Japanese captors outside the city of Nanjing, during the infamous Rape of Nanjing, 1937.

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u/indefilade Mar 14 '24

Don’t forget the two Japanese officers who had a contest for who could kill the most civilians with their samurai swords. It was reported in the newspapers in Japan at that time so the civilians could keep up with the body count competition.

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u/HKP2019 Mar 15 '24

It was initially reported as they were contesting on killing Chinese soldiers in combat, Which was legal. Of course everybody knew something was fishy. Nobody kills hundreds of enemy soldier in 1930s with swords.

Untile one of the two let it slip when telling his heroic stories to Japanese grade schoolers. What they killed was civilians and POWs. Those testimonies got documented and used against them after the war. They were executed by the Chinese government.

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u/indefilade Mar 15 '24

No, I have read about this. That’s not the case at all. They were killing civilians and the Japanese public knew they were killing civilians the whole time.

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u/HKP2019 Mar 15 '24

I mean, people knew who they killed and wasn't being discreet about it, but the government propaganda at least knew what shouldn't be said on record.

This was one of the early newspaper articles:

After marching to Wuxi, Second Lieutenant Mukai followed the 26- to 7-kilometer railway line, and Second Lieutenant Noda moved along the railway line. The two men were temporarily separated. On the morning after setting off, Second Lieutenant Noda rushed into the enemy's bunker at Wuming Village, eight kilometers away from Wuxi, and killed four enemies to gain fame. After hearing the news, Second Lieutenant Mukai rose up and rushed into the enemy formation in Henglin Town that night, killing fifty-five people with his men.

After that, Second Lieutenant Noda killed nine in Henglin Town, six in Weiguan Town, and six in Changzhou Station on the 29th, for a total of twenty-five. Second Lieutenant Mukai killed four near Changzhou Station. When the reporter arrived at the station, he saw the two of them meeting at the head of the station.

Second Lieutenant Mukai: If this continues, let alone go to Nanjing, I may have killed about 100 people by the time I get to Danyang. It is Noda's failure. My sword killed fifty-six people with only one gap.

Second Lieutenant Noda: Neither of us will kill the escapees. I am an official so my grades cannot improve. I will set a big record before arriving in Danyang for you to see