BB-006 / War Crimes
Nanjing Massacre
The Act
After the capture of Nanjing, Imperial Japanese Army forces killed an estimated 200,000 Chinese civilians and prisoners of war over a period of weeks. Widespread rape, looting, and arson accompanied the killings. The events were documented by foreign residents, including the Safety Zone committee.
The Response
The International Military Tribunal for the Far East (Tokyo Trials) convicted several Japanese leaders in connection with the massacre and other war crimes. Nanjing remains a central element of Chinese historical memory and a persistent source of tension in Sino-Japanese relations. Annual commemorations continue.