Shanghai, Joint Trust Warehouse Museum
Whereas the German steel helmet stands for terror and dictatorship, here in China it is rather a symbol of pride and resistance against the Japense invasion. The 87th and 88th Division were both German-trained and equiped. They represented the best units China (under Chiang Kai-shek) had in those days and they were sacrificed in and around Shanghai in order to win time. Both units had already seen action in Shanghai against the Japanese in 1932 and later against the Communists in Jiangxi province. These men were not cooperating with the Communists and neither did the Communists support these men.
The pilar is a memorial for the fallen Chinese soldiers who had defended the building in WW2.
Joint Trust Warehouse or Sihang Warehouse is now a museum, located along Guangfu Road along Suzhou Creek.
Fighting took place here from October 26 to November 1, 1937 during the battle for Shanghai as part of WW2.
The 432 defenders (also known as Eight Hundred Heroes) of the warehouse held out against numerous waves of Japanese forces and covered Chinese forces retreating west during the Battle of Shanghai. These men belonged to the 88th Division, a German-trained crack division of the National Government of Chiang Kai-shek under the command of Xie Jinyuan. The division had fought previously against the Communists in Jiangxi province.
In total 10 Chinese were killed and 37 men wounded.
The successful defense of the warehouse provided a morale-lifting consolation to the Chinese army.
Source and further information: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_Sihang_Warehouse
Shanghai, Joint Trust Warehouse Museum
Whereas the German steel helmet stands for terror and dictatorship, here in China it is rather a symbol of pride and resistance against the Japense invasion. The 87th and 88th Division were both German-trained and equiped. They represented the best units China (under Chiang Kai-shek) had in those days and they were sacrificed in and around Shanghai in order to win time. Both units had already seen action in Shanghai against the Japanese in 1932 and later against the Communists in Jiangxi province. These men were not cooperating with the Communists and neither did the Communists support these men.
The pilar is a memorial for the fallen Chinese soldiers who had defended the building in WW2.
Joint Trust Warehouse or Sihang Warehouse is now a museum, located along Guangfu Road along Suzhou Creek.
Fighting took place here from October 26 to November 1, 1937 during the battle for Shanghai as part of WW2.
The 432 defenders (also known as Eight Hundred Heroes) of the warehouse held out against numerous waves of Japanese forces and covered Chinese forces retreating west during the Battle of Shanghai. These men belonged to the 88th Division, a German-trained crack division of the National Government of Chiang Kai-shek under the command of Xie Jinyuan. The division had fought previously against the Communists in Jiangxi province.
In total 10 Chinese were killed and 37 men wounded.
The successful defense of the warehouse provided a morale-lifting consolation to the Chinese army.
Source and further information: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_Sihang_Warehouse