“Nanjing Photo Studio”: Historical Fact Restoration – History Must Not Be
Distorted or Forgotten

The Japanese indeed committed heinous crimes in Nanjing. However, we must not
rob the true contributors of their credit. When creating historical films, we
must not arbitrarily distort historical facts.

During the Nanjing Massacre, American missionary John Magee risked his life to
capture footage. In February 1938, American missionary George Fitch smuggled the
film reels out by hiding them in his coat. These images were later published in
Life magazine, drawing global attention. The footage was admitted as key
evidence in military tribunals. We must not deny their contributions simply
because they were white-skinned.

The photo album preserved by Luo Jin at great risk was not submitted until after
Japan’s surrender in 1946. It became irrefutable evidence used to convict
General Tani Hisao, commander of the Japanese 6th Division.

Several points in the film require correction:

  1. Tang Shengzhi, commander of the Nanjing Garrison, did not flee. He
    retreated under formal orders from Chiang Kai-shek.
  2. During the Nanjing Massacre, American missionary John Magee risked his life
    to capture footage. In February 1938, American missionary George Fitch smuggled
    the film reels out by hiding them in his coat. This footage was admitted as key
    evidence of Japanese atrocities in military tribunals.
  3. The photo album preserved by Luo Jin at great risk was submitted by Wu Xuan
    to the Nanjing government after Japan’s surrender in 1946. It became irrefutable
    evidence used to convict General Tani Hisao, commander of the Japanese 6th
    Division.

Detailed Historical Context:

December 8, 1937: The Battle of Nanjing began.

Tang Shengzhi’s main forces, the 87th and 88th Divisions, had been decimated in
the Battle of Shanghai. The remaining defenders were mostly inexperienced
recruits, many of whom did not even know how to operate firearms.

December 11, 1937: Within days, the recruit defenders suffered one-third
casualties, with three brigade commanders killed. Tang Shengzhi held the belief
of “defending Nanjing to the death.” That morning, he received an urgent
telegram from Gu Zhutong, deputy commander of the Third War Zone, conveying
Chiang Kai-shek’s order to retreat. Tang initially refused. That evening, he
received two formal retreat orders directly from Chiang Kai-shek. This was not a
flight; there were no incidents of friendly forces shooting retreating soldiers.

December 12, 1937: The battle situation deteriorated rapidly. Tang Shengzhi
issued the retreat order. Chaos ensued as troops reached the Yangtze River with
no ferries available. Soldiers attempted to cross using wooden planks, doors,
and even toilet buckets (which were wooden at the time), resulting in many
drownings. Some units, due to communication failures, could not retreat in time
and resorted to disguising themselves as civilians and hiding in the
International Safety Zone. Tang Shengzhi failed to organize an effective
retreat, leading to many Nanjing citizens being unable to evacuate in time.

December 13, 1937: By morning, Japanese troops entered Nanjing to find
several defensive positions empty. No large-scale combat occurred. The Japanese
easily occupied the city. During the retreat, Chinese forces dug up roads near
the city gates, preventing Japanese tanks from entering immediately.

Early 1938: Luo Jin (prototype of “A Chang”), an apprentice at Nanjing
Huadong Photo Studio, discovered photos of Japanese soldiers committing
massacres and rapes while developing film for them. At great risk, he secretly
printed 30 photos, eventually preserving 16 in an album.

1940: Luo Jin resigned from the photo studio and took a new job at the
puppet government’s交通电讯队 (Transportation and Telecommunications Team), located
in a temple. He hid the album under his dormitory bed but, fearing discovery
during inspections, moved it to a hole in the toilet wall, sealing it with mud.
Wu Xuan, a colleague, noticed the abnormal wall texture during a toilet visit
and discovered the album. Shocked and unaware of its owner, Wu Xuan did not
report it but instead hid it under the base of a temple Buddha statue. Luo Jin,
upon discovering the album missing, fled Nanjing in fear.

1946: One year after Japan’s surrender, the Nanjing government called for
citizens to submit evidence of Japanese war crimes in exchange for rewards. Wu
Xuan submitted the album. During the trials of Japanese war criminals, it became
irrefutable evidence used to convict General Tani Hisao, commander of the
Japanese 6th Division.

1912 to May 1940: John Magee was sent by the American Episcopal Church to
preach in China, serving at the道胜堂教堂 (Church of the Holy Word) in Nanjing’s
Xiaguan Yijiangmen area.

December 1937: As war loomed over Nanjing, the U.S. Embassy issued a final
evacuation warning to American nationals. However, 53-year-old John Magee chose
to stay.

During the Nanjing Massacre, John Magee risked his life to capture the only
dynamic footage of Japanese atrocities using a 16mm camera. The footage totaled
four reels, approximately 105 minutes in length, leaving an extremely precious
historical record.

February 1938: George Fitch requested permission from the Japanese command
in Nanjing to travel to Shanghai to purchase medicine. He obtained a precious
pass and boarded a Japanese military train from Nanjing to Shanghai. Risking his
life, he secretly sewed John Magee’s footage into his coat. Upon arriving in
Shanghai, he urgently handed the film to British journalist H. J. Timperley.
Timperley had copies developed at Kodak, with the original reels sent to the UK
and the U.S. for safekeeping.

March 1938: Life magazine published some of the photos, causing
international outrage. The Japanese government, ashamed and panicked, defended
itself by claiming the photos were fake. Meanwhile, George Fitch traveled across
the U.S., giving speeches and screening John Magee’s footage, continuously
exposing Japanese atrocities in Nanjing to the world.

During the Tokyo Trials, this footage was admitted as key evidence, providing
irrefutable proof of Japanese crimes.

To this day, this footage remains the only and most comprehensive dynamic record
of the Nanjing Massacre. It has been included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World
Register. One of the most harrowing scenes shows Li Xiuying, seven months
pregnant, lying in a missionary hospital receiving emergency treatment. She had
been stabbed 37 times and was unconscious. One bayonet wound had been directly
thrust into her body through her genitals. Although she survived, her unborn
child did not.

In summary, by the time Luo Jin was developing photos and hiding the album,
George Fitch had already smuggled the related materials out of Shanghai and
published them in Life magazine, drawing global attention.

The Japanese army at the time did not show mercy to Americans. John Magee risked
his life to capture the footage, and George Fitch risked his life to smuggle it
out. We must not rob them of their credit simply because they were
white-skinned. Luo Jin’s album was not submitted until after Japan’s surrender.

Note: This translation maintains the original structure and factual details
while ensuring clarity and accuracy in English. Proper nouns (e.g., names,
places, publications) are preserved in their standard forms. The tone remains
objective and historical, aligning with the original text’s intent.

Other Recommendations

  1. Japanese Unit 731
  2. Historical Restoration of ‘Dongji Island’: The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru
    Incident