Date of letter:1992-07-08
Address of author:Xinjiang County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province
Date of event:1938-05-26
Location of event:Hejin County, Hejin City, Shanxi Province
Name of author:Wei Jitang
Name(s) of victim(s):Wei Wenying (Wei Jitang’s father), Wei Jinyang, Wei Lihu (townsman)
Type of atrocity: Other Massacres（OM）
Other details:The Japanese invaded my village, discovering a dozen people including my father hiding in cellar and killing them all. Over 100 people were killed in the village that time.
Comrade Tong Zeng,
Thank you for your hard work.
You are demanding damage compensation from Japan for Chinese victims of Japan’s war of aggression against China after finding adequate theoretical bases by reading a large amount of materials. Your act represents the will of victims and lets the Japanese army get what they deserve. My whole family would like to express our support and gratitude to you for your righteous act. Please reply to contact us.
Best regards,
Discipline Inspection Commission, Xinjiang Textile Factory, Shanxi
Wei Jitang (Personal seal)
July 7, 1992
Letter of Claim for Damage Compensation from Japan
Comrade Tong Zeng,
In 1992, Shanxi Daily published an article entitled “Wave of Civil Claims” about the Chinese people demanding damage compensation from Japan. My family are serious victims of Japan’s invasion of China. We hereby demand damage compensation from Japan through this letter of claim. Please forward this letter to the Japanese government and reply me after you receive the letter so I’ll know I’ve found the right person and will keep in touch with you in the future.
I am Wei Jitang, 57, born in Weijiajiang Village, Hejin County, Shanxi Province. I now work in Shanxi Xinjiang Textile Factory.
On May 26, 1938, the Japanese army occupied my village. At that time, ten villagers hid in a cellar including my father Wei Wenying and other family members. Unfortunately, the Japanese army found them and threatened to throw grenades and release poison gas in the cellar to force them out. After they came out of the cellar, the Japanese army immediately tied up my father, Wei Jinbang, Wei Lijiang, Zhi Longshu and Zhilongjia, all men of the hiding villagers, took them away and then killed them by cutting off their head or feet. My father was a primary school teacher, while the other four were farmers. The Japanese army only killed four people on that day. But, they later committed a massacre in Dongshe Village, Hejin County, killing over 100 people. The massacre is the largest one that the Japanese army committed in southern Shanxi Province.
Back then, my family had six members. Both my parents were less than 30, my oldest brother 7, my second oldest brother 5, me 3 and my younger brother a little over 1. After my father’s death, my family had no one to depend on. My mother couldn’t take care of us four brothers, so she poisoned my younger brother to death using opium. She also lost me several times when we tried to hide from the enemy. Luckily, I was taken in by kind people. My two older brothers became illiterates as they couldn’t receive education due to lack of money. So when they were less than 10, they began to do heavy work for the Japanese army and were often beaten. It’s so sad that they couldn’t make a good living. In a word, my family suffered a lot during the 8 years when the Japanese army occupied my hometown. I strongly demand damage compensation from Japan.
I’ll stop here. If you need to know about anything moreor need my help, please write to me and I’ll be glad to help.
Wei Jitang (Personal seal)
July 8, 1992
Address:
Wei Jitang, Discipline Inspection Commission, Xinjiang Textile Factory, Yuncheng District, Sanlin Town, Xinjiang County, Shanxi Province
