Lesson 7 - Second Sino-Japanese War

Question 1

What reason did Japan use for launching their invasion of China?

Answer 1

Claimed that they had been attacked by Chinese troops on the 7th July 1937 at Marco Polo Bridge outside Beijing.

Question 2

Why did Japan want to invade the rest of China?

Answer 2

The invasion would allow them to assert their dominance as the pre-eminent Asian power and would provide it access to valuable natural resources.

Question 3

What happened during the Nanjing Massacre?

Answer 3

Japanese troops brutally murdered between 200-300,000 Chinese civilians and POWs.
This included using prisoners as target practice, competitions to kill the most Chinese people and burning prisoners alive.

Question 4

Why did the Nanjing Massacre take place?

Answer 4

• Japanese Army had considerable contempt for the Chinese population inc. civilians and felt they were racially superior.
• Japanese military culture viewed surrender as a cowardly act and did not consider the good treatment of POWs to be a priority.
• Frustration was growing amongst the Japanese troops at the level of resistance being given by the Chinese forces (esp. at Shanghai).
• They were also frustrated at the lack of supplies (esp. food) and the lack of rest they were being provided by their commanding officers.
• Many troops needing an outlet for their growing anger.

Question 5

How did the international community respond to the Japanese invasion and the Nanjing Massacre?

Answer 5

• The League of Nations criticised the Japanese actions but did nothing more.
• America and Britain placed no sanctions on the Japanese.
• Australian dock workers refused to load pig iron onto ships heading to Japan.