Archives on the atrocities of the Japanese military

This is a Postal Review Monthly (February) (year not indicated) describing the miserable scenes of war (recording that in a sweeping attack on a village by the Japanese military, all men were killed, and children were thrown into fire). [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Special coverage:Files shed new light on Japanese atrocities

A total of 23 files released this time are on the atrocities of the Japanese military, and they are from the archives of the complete archives of Communication Review Monthly of the Kwantung Kempeitai Headquarters. During the period of Japanese aggression, in order to prevent the leak of any confidential military information and information on the acts of arson, looting and killing by the Japanese military through letters and telegrams between Japanese soldiers and citizens, the Japanese government set up an inspection system on both military and civilian letters and telegrams. Kempeitai in various locations compiled the “Postal Review Monthly” to report to Kwantung Kempeitai Headquarters and to circulate between Kwantung Kempeitai Headquarters and other dispatched Kempeitai Headquarters. These “prohibited contents” taken from the letters and telegrams written by Japanese soldiers truthfully reflect the brutal crimes committed by the Japanese military.

The contents of these archives include:

Information on the tragic case of an air attack by the Japanese military on Chongqing on 5 June 1941;

Information on a sweeping attack to a village by the Japanese military, in which all men were killed and the children were thrown into fire;

The horrible scenes of violence committed by Japanese soldiers to Chinese soldiers and civilians, where people were thrown into the wells alive and wooden sticks were stuck into the human body;

The feeling of pleasure from violence of members of the Japanese military;

Information on the Japanese soldiers’ acts of burning down the houses and raping women; and

Information on the treatment of laborers who tried to escape, including burying alive, forcing down excessive water, beating and slaughtering.