This story reveals one of the most horrible historical tragedies which mankind was unfortunate to encounter. Divided into three parts, the book enlightens on the mass murder in Nanking. The author dwells on reasons which made the Japanese army to do all those horrible things, which included butchery, raping, and tortures of unseen savagery. Providing readers with needed facts from Japanese history, the author shows how the society's militarization caused uncontrollable orgy of violence.
When the authority left the capital, the army, which consisted of non-professional soldiers and children who were barely 12, felt abandoned and neglected. Matsui Iwane, a Japanese General, promised peace and welfare to the people, forbidding his soldiers from committing war crimes. Neglecting his orders and being encouraged by Prince Asaka, they turned immersed themselves in the orgy of brutality.
Ultimately, 350,000 people were massacred. At that time, foreign representatives John Rabe, Robert Wilson, Wilhelma Vautrin, and others tried to raise awareness of the West and founded a military free zone for refugees. The account itself also shows the repercussions of the mass murdering and looks for an answer, especially as to why perpetrators managed to escape the responsibility.
