Post by shiftysgarand on May 3, 2022 20:16:12 GMT -5
I think it is safe to say that the Nanjing Massacre, or as it is more widely referred to in the West, the Rape of Nanking, is well-known and Exhibit A of Imperial Japanese brutality toward conquered peoples. It remains a contentious, hotly-debated subject in East Asia to this day, and a multitude of books and other works have been published about it. However, the month-long military campaign immediately preceding it has been basically completely forgotten by all but a select few in Japan, China, and Taiwan. "Nanjing 1937: Battle for a Doomed City" by Peter Harmsen aims to fill this gap, and it is a direct sequel to his previous book "Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze", which I previously reviewed here.
Nanjing 1937 (while the city's name has traditionally been spelled Nanking, convention has recently changed to Nanjing, ostensibly a spelling closer to the correct Mandarin pronunciation) picks up right where Shanghai 1937 left off, detailing the Chinese Army's disorderly retreat from Shanghai and the Japanese Army's militarily sensible pursuit of them. Harmsen describes the squabbling between members of the Japanese high command over what Japan's next steps and overall policy toward China should be. Some, like Ishiwara Kanji and Tada Hayao, argued that Japan's real enemy was the Soviet Union and that the war in China should be ended and tensions defused as soon as possible. Others encouraged further aggression in China, and these voices gradually won out over the more cautious Ishiwara and Tada. As these arguments unfolded, the high command issued orders to halt at specified positions outside of Shanghai that were ignored by field officers at the front; Harmsen explores this insubordination and both the opportunities and problems that this practice created for the Japanese. The book also explores the diplomatic overtures made by both sides and by neutral Germany, interested in a mediating role between their old partner of China and their new partner of Japan. Just like Shanghai 1937, however, the book's real strength is its mixture of first-hand accounts from all levels, interweaving perspectives of Japanese and Chinese soldiers, Soviet pilots sent to aid the struggling Chinese air force, and foreign residents of Nanjing. While the sources used to recount the points of view of the Japanese infantry, artillerymen, tankers, and pilots are primarily translations into Chinese, they are used skillfully to construct a balanced narrative, and it is clear that Harmsen understands both East Asian cultural mindsets, which is a nice breath of fresh air compared to many others writing about this region and era of history. Once again, an impressive amount of detail is packed into a relatively short 260 pages, and almost anyone would learn a lot from this book. The themes of air supremacy, amphibious landings, and combined arms continue from the earlier fighting at Shanghai, but in November and early December 1937, elements of true blitzkrieg emerge in the Sino-Japanese struggle at the same time as their development by the Condor Legion in Spain, and long before they would be shown to the world in Poland, Denmark, Norway, and the Low Countries.
Given the nature of the ensuing massacre in Nanjing, which is covered in the final chapter, Japanese atrocities make up a larger part of this book than its predecessor. However, rather than simply vilify the Japanese soldiers present, as so many others before him have, Harmsen makes the effort to analyze the motives of Japanese soldiers and the historical, cultural, and environmental reasons that would bring ordinary people to do things that defy imagination in their astonishing cruelty. Harmsen also highlights the members of the Japanese military and civilian government who were horrified and enraged at the reports coming out of Nanjing about the conduct of their troops, instances witnessed by foreign residents of Japanese officers futilely attempting to discipline their men during the massacre, and the eventual rotation in of other units to improve discipline and put an end to the atrocities. This humanization of the Japanese invaders is long overdue, and it is a major step forward in improving the general understanding of WWII-era Japan.
Lastly, just like Shanghai 1937, the book features a great section of photos, most from the Taiwanese Central News Agency or the Japanese Asahi Shimbun newspaper archives. Harmsen again shows his knowledge of granular equipment specifics, pointing out obscure and interesting kit details of the Chinese and Japanese soldiers pictured. In addition to its value as a high-level narrative of the campaign, Nanjing 1937 can serve as a good starting point for anyone looking to start an impression of this period. (For more interesting photos, Harmsen is running a photo series on his Instagram page here wherein he posts daily of events that occurred 80 years before the day of the post.)
"Nanjing 1937: Battle for a Doomed City" is a much-needed addition to the historiography of the Second Sino-Japanese War and would go a long way to improving understanding of later events of WWII in Asia. While I think anyone interested really should read its predecessor "Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze" first, as it covers some essential background in much greater detail, I full-heartedly recommend both to anyone with an interest in the WWII era. Harmsen has knocked it out of the park again, and I will try to get my hands on his new trilogy, which promise a new perspective on the later Pacific War. "Nanjing 1937: Battle for a Doomed City" is available for $13 hardcover ($25 paperback) here.
Nanjing 1937 (while the city's name has traditionally been spelled Nanking, convention has recently changed to Nanjing, ostensibly a spelling closer to the correct Mandarin pronunciation) picks up right where Shanghai 1937 left off, detailing the Chinese Army's disorderly retreat from Shanghai and the Japanese Army's militarily sensible pursuit of them. Harmsen describes the squabbling between members of the Japanese high command over what Japan's next steps and overall policy toward China should be. Some, like Ishiwara Kanji and Tada Hayao, argued that Japan's real enemy was the Soviet Union and that the war in China should be ended and tensions defused as soon as possible. Others encouraged further aggression in China, and these voices gradually won out over the more cautious Ishiwara and Tada. As these arguments unfolded, the high command issued orders to halt at specified positions outside of Shanghai that were ignored by field officers at the front; Harmsen explores this insubordination and both the opportunities and problems that this practice created for the Japanese. The book also explores the diplomatic overtures made by both sides and by neutral Germany, interested in a mediating role between their old partner of China and their new partner of Japan. Just like Shanghai 1937, however, the book's real strength is its mixture of first-hand accounts from all levels, interweaving perspectives of Japanese and Chinese soldiers, Soviet pilots sent to aid the struggling Chinese air force, and foreign residents of Nanjing. While the sources used to recount the points of view of the Japanese infantry, artillerymen, tankers, and pilots are primarily translations into Chinese, they are used skillfully to construct a balanced narrative, and it is clear that Harmsen understands both East Asian cultural mindsets, which is a nice breath of fresh air compared to many others writing about this region and era of history. Once again, an impressive amount of detail is packed into a relatively short 260 pages, and almost anyone would learn a lot from this book. The themes of air supremacy, amphibious landings, and combined arms continue from the earlier fighting at Shanghai, but in November and early December 1937, elements of true blitzkrieg emerge in the Sino-Japanese struggle at the same time as their development by the Condor Legion in Spain, and long before they would be shown to the world in Poland, Denmark, Norway, and the Low Countries.
Given the nature of the ensuing massacre in Nanjing, which is covered in the final chapter, Japanese atrocities make up a larger part of this book than its predecessor. However, rather than simply vilify the Japanese soldiers present, as so many others before him have, Harmsen makes the effort to analyze the motives of Japanese soldiers and the historical, cultural, and environmental reasons that would bring ordinary people to do things that defy imagination in their astonishing cruelty. Harmsen also highlights the members of the Japanese military and civilian government who were horrified and enraged at the reports coming out of Nanjing about the conduct of their troops, instances witnessed by foreign residents of Japanese officers futilely attempting to discipline their men during the massacre, and the eventual rotation in of other units to improve discipline and put an end to the atrocities. This humanization of the Japanese invaders is long overdue, and it is a major step forward in improving the general understanding of WWII-era Japan.
Lastly, just like Shanghai 1937, the book features a great section of photos, most from the Taiwanese Central News Agency or the Japanese Asahi Shimbun newspaper archives. Harmsen again shows his knowledge of granular equipment specifics, pointing out obscure and interesting kit details of the Chinese and Japanese soldiers pictured. In addition to its value as a high-level narrative of the campaign, Nanjing 1937 can serve as a good starting point for anyone looking to start an impression of this period. (For more interesting photos, Harmsen is running a photo series on his Instagram page here wherein he posts daily of events that occurred 80 years before the day of the post.)
"Nanjing 1937: Battle for a Doomed City" is a much-needed addition to the historiography of the Second Sino-Japanese War and would go a long way to improving understanding of later events of WWII in Asia. While I think anyone interested really should read its predecessor "Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze" first, as it covers some essential background in much greater detail, I full-heartedly recommend both to anyone with an interest in the WWII era. Harmsen has knocked it out of the park again, and I will try to get my hands on his new trilogy, which promise a new perspective on the later Pacific War. "Nanjing 1937: Battle for a Doomed City" is available for $13 hardcover ($25 paperback) here.