During the darkest days of 1937, more than 20 international friends stayed in Nanjing to help Chinese victims, demonstrating the brilliance of humanity. They secretly filmed the atrocities of the Japanese soldiers, or wrote down the crimes committed by them, or exposed the truth behind the Nanjing Massacre in the newspapers ... In the terrifying days of the Nanjing Massacre, Chinese people helped and supported each other, and many foreigners protected Nanjing residents and recorded the atrocities of the Japanese invaders, despite the risks, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping said while addressing a state commemoration for China's first National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims. “The Chinese people will never forget their humanitarian spirit and brave and righteous acts,” he added.

In May, the Memorial Hall launched the first two episodes of the “They Were in Nanjing” Series Feature Story. Episode 1 features Paramount Newsreel journalist Arthur von Briesen Menken who witnessed the horrible scene in Nanjing and sent out a report from China: “Witness Tells Nanking Horror as Chinese Flee,” published on Page 4 of The Chicago Daily Tribune on December 17, 1937. Episode 2 focuses on American friend Minnie Vautrin who stayed at Ginling College and righteously protected women and children.

Menken (fourth from right) was standing on the city wall of Nanjing to capture images of Japanese aircraft bombing Nanjing. A photograph donated by Lu Zhaoning

 “Witness Tells Nanking Horror as Chinese Flee,” a report sent by Menken from China, was published on Page 4 of The Chicago Daily Tribune on December 17, 1937

A group photo of Minnie Vautrin (fourth from left, front row) and some staff of the refugee camp at Ginling College

Cindy Vautrin (left), grandniece of Minnie Vautrin, and her daughter came to Nanjing and donated Minnie Vautrin’s diaries and more than 100 items of precious historical materials to the Memorial Hall on July 20, 2002

After the two episodes were published, quite a few readers left comments online. “You are as great as an angel. Thank you for becoming the warmest light that brightened up Nanjing in its darkest days. We will miss you forever,” internet user “Xiaoyaoyao” wrote. “With kindness, a sense of justice and courage, she helped protect many people. She will always have the gratitude and respect of people,” internet user “Weiqiuqishi” wrote.

The next episodes in this series will focus on stories of other international friends including John Magee, George Fitch, Clifford Trimmer, Christian Kröger, Robert Wilson, Archibald Steele, John Rabe, and Karl Günther.