Sixty years ago, the Nanjing Massacre committed by the Japanese invaders was one of the serious crimes committed by Japanese fascists in China, and it was an extremely painful page in modern Chinese history.Although many people in power in Japan at that time and those in power in the future tried their best to deny that there was such a tragedy and tried to conceal the truth, but facts are facts. s material.Recently, Jiangsu People's Publishing House and Jiangsu Education Publishing House jointly translated and published it.This is a true record made by a German friend in Nanjing who witnessed the Nanjing Massacre.On the 60th anniversary of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, which marked the beginning of China's all-out war of resistance, it is very meaningful that this historical material, which has been dusty for a long time and has important value, is published for the first time.

The author of this book, John H.D. Rabe, was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1882. He came to China in 1908, and soon became an employee of the German company Siemens, doing business in Beijing, Tianjin, Nanjing and other places.Rabe and his family have lived in China for nearly 30 years, and his children and granddaughters were all born in China.They have forged a close friendship with the Chinese people.He is a devout Christian and has deep sympathy for the Chinese people who were suffering from internal and external troubles in the 1920s and 1930s. On the eve of the Japanese attack on Nanjing in 1937, he and more than a dozen foreign missionaries, professors, doctors, and businessmen jointly initiated the establishment of the Nanjing Safety Zone and served as the chairman of the International Committee of the Safety Zone.In the extremely dangerous and difficult war environment at that time, he and some international friends ran around and shouted, desperately protesting and doing everything they could to prevent the Japanese invaders from inflicting violence on the Chinese people.The Nanjing Safety Zone they established provides temporary shelter for about 250,000 Chinese civilians.In his own house and small garden, more than 600 Chinese refugees were squeezed in and protected.He also recorded the heinous atrocities committed by the Japanese invaders in Nanjing in his diary and other writings.After he returned to Germany in April 1938, he held successive report meetings, submitted written reports to the German authorities, and continued to expose the crimes committed by the Japanese army in Nanjing.After being interrogated and warned by the German police Gestapo, he still secretly and carefully sorted out his diary and related materials, leaving these historical records to future generations.

It is the largest and best-preserved historical material in the study of the Nanjing Massacre discovered in recent years.What is described in this diary is Rabe's personal experience, which is very specific, detailed and true, and no one can deny its credibility.While writing his diary, Rabe also carefully preserved more than 80 photos taken on the spot, and gave detailed explanations to these photos.These texts made an objective and fair evaluation of the actual situation and political right and wrong of the two warring parties in China and Japan.Rabe's homeland was an ally of Japan in World War II, and he himself was the head (agent) of the Nanjing Group of the German Nazi Party.This makes his account have a special role that others cannot replace.Of course, since Rabe’s activities at that time were mainly in the Nanjing Safety Zone, and it was only what he and the people around him saw and heard, it is impossible for this diary to make a complete and systematic conclusion and conclusion on the whole process of the Nanjing Massacre by the Japanese army. estimate.This cannot be demanded.Nevertheless, it still has high historical value.It is an indictment of blood and tears against the horrific massacre committed by the Japanese invaders, and it is a powerful testimony against the serious crimes committed by the Japanese militarists.

Fascism is the product of the vicious development of the inherent contradictions of the capitalist system in the early 20th century.The Second World War was provoked by fascist countries such as Germany, Italy and Japan.All kinds of rare barbaric and brutal acts in the war were created by the fascist forces in these countries.Auschwitz and the Nanjing massacre are notable examples.This inhuman fascism is opposed by the governments and people of most countries in the world, including many countries with bourgeois democratic traditions.Even in countries such as Germany, Italy, and Japan, there are a large number of people who are dissatisfied with and opposed to fascism.In this way, the most extensive anti-fascist united front in the world was formed. With the power of this powerful united front, the German, Italian and Japanese fascists were finally defeated.As a German businessman and even a member of the Nazi Party, Rabe participated in the struggle against Japanese fascist atrocities in China with his sense of justice and humanitarian spirit, and provided extremely valuable assistance to the Chinese people.The Chinese people will never forget this amiable and respectable international friend.The publication of Rabe's diary and the dissemination of his struggle deeds once again showed the world the historical truth that justice will surely defeat evil and civilization will surely defeat barbarism.Readers will get a lot of useful inspiration from this historical material.