In a poignant moment of history, two survivors of the Nanjing Massacre have passed away, reducing the number of living witnesses to a mere 28, according to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders.
Yi Lanying, aged 99, endured unimaginable horrors during the massacre. She lost a front tooth to a Japanese officer and witnessed the brutal stabbing of a young man by a soldier. Yi also saw Japanese soldiers invading homes and abducting over 70 young men, leaving her with lifelong fears and health issues like panic attacks and tinnitus. Throughout her life, she hoped that future generations would remember the innocent lives lost in this dark chapter.
Tao Chengyi, 89, also shared a heart-wrenching story. He lost his father, uncle, and cousin to the invaders. Reflecting on his past, Tao said, \"After my father was killed, my mother struggled to make a living by running a small business with us children. The war destroyed my childhood.\"
The Nanjing Massacre, which began on December 13, 1937, saw Japanese troops capture the then capital of China. Over six weeks, approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers were killed in what is considered one of the most brutal episodes of World War II.
To honor the victims, China's top legislature designated December 13 as a national memorial day in 2014, ensuring that the atrocities committed in Nanjing are never forgotten.
