Analyzing the “Photographic Evidence” of the Nanking Massacre

Photo NPhoto N: A part of Photo 102 enlarged. It seems that this soldier is holding a severedhuman head with his thumb and index finger. One may wonder if it was possible to holdit up in such a manner.(7) To impress viewers with “Japanese savagery”Until very recently, Japanese primary school textbooks were printed with Photo O,which depicts a wall painting that “Guangxi Xueshengjun” [Guangxi student militia]produced for anti-Japanese propaganda purposes. (The Chinese writing on the wall says“Japanese brutality!”) Photo P, which appeared in Chinas Erneuerung by Lilie Abegg,shows another such painting. As for actual photographic examples of the alleged Japaneseslaying or mutilation of Chinese women, the research team identified three in publicationsand internet sites relating to the Nanking massacre. Among these three, the team hasalready subjected Photo 22 to its scrutiny in Chapter 2. As for Photos 103 and 104, whichshow truly abominable scenes, they were among the photographs found in ZhongguoKangri Huazhi. The truth is, however, detailed data concerning these pictures—who tookthem, where and on what date—are not at all available. There is no clue that traces theirorigin to Nanking.170