BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- On August 13, 1937, the Japanese aggressors attacked Shanghai, triggering a battle that would rage for more than three months and leave hundreds of thousands dead. But there is one defensive last stand in part of the city that is often overlooked.
77 years ago, this place was a battlefield. It witnessed the brave defense of a Chinese battalion facing impossible odds. Xie Jimin’s father commanded the battalion during that battle.
"The battle took place from October 26, it lasted for four days and four nights, aiming to cover the Chinese forces retreating. To minimize losses, only one division was left to fight against the enemy and became known as the 88th Division," Xie said.
The battle took place in a warehouse just across from the foreign concessions in Shanghai. Defenders were hoping to get international support against the Japanese invasion.
"Local residents were very moved by courage of this battalion, who fought hard to safeguard the city. People gathered together, some stood on the rooftop to watch the battle. If they saw that the enemy was about to attack, they would shout to the warehouse to inform the soldiers," Xie said.
The isolated battalion, numbering some four hundred Chinese soldiers were given the title "eight hundred heroes" by a local newspaper because of their courageous defense… The successful defense of the warehouse provided a great morale boost to Chinese soldiers and civilians.
"We shall not forget the history as it closely related to our own development and world peace. It is not saying that we want to linger on the miserable past, to us history is like a textbook to help to build a better and peaceful future," Xie said.
This song named Eight Hundred Heroes was composed to honor the soldiers’ defense of the warehouse. It quickly spread all over the country during the war, encouraging soldiers and the public to continue the fight.
Walking here you can hardly imagine those days when flames of battle raged everywhere…History is the best textbook to teach us to remember the torment of war and the importance of peace.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
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