Date of letter:1993-03-11
Address of author:Hutubi County, Changji Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
Date of event:1941, 1943
Location of event:Wuxiang County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province
Name of author:Hao Zhiguo, Hao Zhibang, Zhang Aiying
Name(s) of victim(s):Hao Zhiguo’s big brother and sister-in-law, more than 170 townsmen, Zhang Aiying’s grandfather
Type of atrocity:Other Massacres, Slave Laborers, Air Bombings（OM, SL, AB)
Other details:I (Hao Zhiguo) am very pleased to read your letter. In 1941, the Japanese army surrounded our village and killed 70% of our villagers on the spot (about 190 people) by fire or gun, including my big brother and sister-in-law. I claim compensation from Japan. The letter contains a proof document stamped by Wuxiang County Village Committee. In the spring of 1943 Zhang Aiying’s grandfather was caught by the Japanese to do hard labor and got killed. In June their houses were bombed, for which Zhang also claims compensation from Japan.
Comrade Tong Zeng:
I was very touched from reading Comrade Zhang Hebei’s letter. Who would’ve known that we have such good comrades like you pursuing justice for us for something happened more than 50 years ago. First of all, I’d like to thank you on behalf of my whole family.
My parents were killed in 1941 when Japan was implementing the Three Alls policy in China. The Japanese army surrounded our village, rounded up 70% of the villagers and killed over 190 people on the spot by burning, shooting or by using torture devices. My eldest brother was taken away on a charge for being a Communist Party member. The Japanese soldiers burned his face badly. He has passed away now. My eldest sister-in-law was shot to death in the same day. All of our property was burned down. Then, I was less than 7 and my younger brother less than 4. One could image how we could have survived. We demand compensations against the Japanese government.
Best wishes to your health and your endeavor.
Hao Zhiguo
Hao Zhibang
March 11, 1993
Certificate
This is to certify that three members of Hao Zhiguo and Hao Zhibang’s family from Shimen Village, Shimen Township were killed at the end of 1941 by the invading Japanese army. They were their father Hao Genze, mother Wei Laxiang, and their eldest sister-in-law Wang Cailian.
Shimen, Shimen, Wuxiang, Shanxi (Villagers’ Committee seal)
January 10, 1993
We agree with the Villagers’ Committee of Shimen
People’s Government of Shimen, Wuxiang (Government seal)
Lunar January 11, 1993
Comrade Tong Zeng:
How are you?
I’ve read the piece of news that was cut off from the Jinhua Daily by Comrade Hong Bo. I think you’ve done something great for our Chinese people. Dozens of years have passed since Japan surrendered, but you are the only one speaking for us today. I thank you so much.
The following accounts for my family’s suffering during Japan’s war of aggression against China.
My grandfather was arrested by the Japanese army in the spring of 1943 to be a slave labor and subsequently died. In June of the same year, Japanese planes destroyed my family’s 11-room, 580㎡buildings of brick and wood by bombing and all the furniture and equipment inside the house were burned down. We demand compensation against the Japanese government.
Zhang Aiying
