Accounts Quote by Koki Hirota
“I investigated reported Japanese atrocities committed by the Japanese Army in Nanking and elsewhere. Verbal accounts of reliable eyewitnesses and letters from individuals whose credibility is beyond question afford convincing proof that the Japanese Army behaved and is continuing to behave in a fashion reminiscent of Attila and his Huns. Not less than 300,000 Chinese civilians were slaughtered, many in cold blood.”
About This Quote
Source Historical Report: Nanking Massacre Documentation, 1937‑1938
The quote documents massive civilian casualties by the Japanese Army, comparing their brutality to historical barbarism.
In simple terms: Japanese forces committed large‑scale atrocities in Nanking.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and remember historical atrocities.
Themes
history
war crimes
human rights
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
historical
educational
When to use this quote
- education curricula
- human rights advocacy
- memorial events
Key Concepts
genocide
collective memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does remembering past atrocities prevent future ones?
- What responsibilities do societies have to victims?
A Different Perspective
Complex political contexts may affect interpretation of events.
![“It [the Holocaust] is something like a religion… The Intellectual Adventure is that we are reversing this entire trend within the space of one generation - that in a few years time no one will believe this particular legend anymore. They will say, as I do, that atrocities were committed. Yes…” quote by David Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0cb/david-irving-32679_adventure_it-the-holocaust-is-something-like-a-rel_2098784.jpg)
