ChinaTalk WWII's Legacy in China with Rana Mitter
Jan 17, 2021
Rana Mitter, a Professor of Chinese history at Oxford, delves into China's World War II legacy and its effect on modern nationalism. He discusses how the recent film 'The Eight Hundred' reflects a changing narrative around this pivotal period. Mitter emphasizes the shift in historical recognition, comparing the significance of 1945 to 1949. He also highlights the once-stigmatized Kuomintang heroes and how oral histories help preserve their stories. Intriguingly, he draws parallels between China's suffering during the war and Holocaust narratives, exploring their impact on current diplomatic relations.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
WWII's Forgotten Legacy
- The 75th anniversary of Japan's defeat resonated strongly within China.
- However, it held little significance in the West, highlighting a gap in historical understanding.
Manchuria's Untold Story
- Rana Mitter's interest in WWII's impact on China began with his study of Manchuria's occupation in 1931.
- He examined how local responses to the invasion differed from the diplomatic narrative and how historical myths were constructed.
China's Crucial Role
- China's WWII experience, the longest theater for the Allies, is often overlooked in Western narratives.
- Despite being under-resourced, Chinese troops tied up half a million Japanese soldiers for years.
