In 1928, the Chinese Nationalist Government moved the capital of China from Peking (Beijing) to Nanjing. The city normally held about 250,000 people, but by the mid-1930s its population had swollen to more than 1 million. Many of them were refugees, fleeing from the Japanese armies which were invading China. On November 11, 1937, after securing control of Shanghai, the Japanese army advanced towards Nanjing from different directions. In early December, the Japanese troops were already in the outskirts of the city.

On December 9, the Japanese troops launched a massive attack upon Nanjing. Since the beginning of the Japanese assault on Nanjing, the city presented a frightful appearance. The Chinese facilities for the care of army wounded were tragically inadequate, so as early as a week ago injured men were seen often on the streets, some hobbling, others crawling along seeking treatment.

Four days later, on December 13, roughly 50,000 Japanese soldiers captured the city. In the following six weeks, the occupying forces engaged in an orgy of looting and mass execution which came to be known as the Nanjing Massacre. Many residents had already fled Nanjing before the invasion. Yet, according to historians, more than half a million Chinese remained trapped in Nanjing. On that fateful invasion, the Japanese there were given the order to kill all captives. Most experts agree that at least 300,000 Chinese died, and 20,000 women were raped.

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