Forgotten History (Personal Accounts of the War of Resistance)

Author: He Shengsui, Chen Maqing (editors)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The Anti-Japanese War, which took place more than half a century ago, is a history that every Chinese person can never forget and will never forget. For this reason, we are willing to spend our limited time and effort to search through the vast pile of historical materials and compile a large number of written records left from that time. After careful selection, we have compiled this book, "A History That Cannot Be Forgotten — Personal Accounts of the War," which is primarily characterized by its documentary nature.
The reason for choosing this angle is not only because the documentary reports, news dispatches, and diaries and letters published in books, newspapers, and magazines during that time can still play a role in verifying and supplementing the research works and reference compilations on the history of the Anti-Japanese War that have been published in recent years; more importantly, these writings by writers, war correspondents, and even ordinary soldiers and civilians from that time, whether through on-the-scene descriptions or firsthand accounts, although not comprehensive, truthfully reflect the faces of all social strata and the mentality of the common people during the Anti-Japanese War. This allows readers to vividly and authentically experience the environment, atmosphere, pulse, and other detailed details of that specific era. These chapters and articles, almost dripping with the blood of life, are the heroic and tragic scenes of that time. All of this will leave a deep and unforgettable impression and a soul-stirring impact on both those who experienced it firsthand and those who have inherited it through generations, making it irreplaceable and extraordinary compared to other research texts or historical records. We firmly believe that these living historical records, "are beneficial to us in summarizing historical experience, promoting patriotism, advancing the patriotic united front and the unification of the motherland, and in broadening our perspective on the world and correctly understanding the international situation" (Hu Qiaojiu, "Letter to the Founding Conference of the China Anti-Japanese War History Society").
We also hope that the publication of this book can contribute to our comprehensive understanding and in-depth research of the history of the Anti-Japanese War, and at the same time, provide a unique and vivid text for patriotic education in the new era. In terms of organization, we have slightly categorized the selected materials based on their thematic content. First, we focus on reflecting the heroic deeds of the Chinese people at that time who bravely resisted the barbarous invasion of the Japanese Empire and fought to protect the beautiful homeland of the Chinese nation, sacrificing themselves and fighting with blood. On this basis, we comprehensively reveal the historical truth of the Japanese invaders' atrocities, such as the city massacres and inhumane acts committed by them on Chinese soil. All the texts are arranged in chronological order based on the time of the events.
Additionally, it should be noted that although the selected texts contain many traces of the historical context of that time, we generally make no changes to preserve the original appearance and authenticity of these documents. Similarly, regarding the evaluations of historical events and figures mentioned in the selected texts, we do not make arbitrary judgments, believing that historical facts will endure and be universally acknowledged. However, due to the difficulties and limited scope of our research, there are undoubtedly many omissions and gaps, which we sincerely ask experts and readers to criticize, correct, and understand.
The victory of the Anti-Japanese War has already reached its 60th anniversary. In remembering history, all should follow the ancient saying, "Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it," and reflect deeply. Amidst the vast changes of the past century, as we look to the future, we should always remember the truth that "those who follow the right path will receive more help, while those who follow the wrong path will face solitude," and strive to improve ourselves endlessly!