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http://news.sohu.com/

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Sohu Home > News Channel > Domestic News > Special Topics Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan >related news

Overseas Chinese imprisoned by the Japanese army thank the Chinese people for their assistance (Photos)

Time: 06:12, August 18, 2005 Source: People's Daily Online-People's Daily Overseas Edition

Foreign nationals detained in concentration camps that year.

European and Americans who participated in the commemorative event were warmly welcomed by the masses.

Two Europeans and Americans cried when they saw the familiar buildings in front of the former camp site.

Sixty years ago, 1,500 foreign nationals were imprisoned by the Japanese invaders in Weixian concentration camp in Shandong. On August 17, 67 people from the United States, Britain, Canada and other countries who had been imprisoned by the Japanese army and their families came to Weifang City, Shandong Province, to gather in front of the former camp where they were held, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Weixian concentration camp

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　　In March 1942, the Japanese army invaded China in retaliation for restricting Japanese Americans from restricting their activities in the United States. An alien concentration camp was set up at the then Lexian Academy in Weixian, Shandong, China, and more than 2,000 foreign nationals were detained. 500 people) from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Belgium, Iran, the Philippines, Cuba, Greece, Norway, Uruguay, and Palestine. Most of them are Europeans and Americans, with 327 children.On August 17, 1945, the concentration camp was liberated.

　　On August 17 this year, the people of Weifang, Shandong Province, China welcomed the guests who spent their childhood here with salutes, balloons and peace pigeons. Sixty salutes resembled the sky, representing the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Weixian Concentration Camp; 1,500 peace-winged flying pigeons, representing 1500 concentration camp refugees, and 327 colorful balloons representing 327 children who were reborn.

　　■ I didn't expect to meet with friends

　　David [David Birch] from Canada couldn't think of it. After 60 years, he was able to return to the old concentration camp where he was detained by the Japanese army that year and meet with his former friends.

　　Today's Weifang No. 2 Middle School and Weifang People's Hospital are the Weixian concentration camps of that year. According to historical sources, the Weixian concentration camp was the largest Allied civilians' concentration camp in China during World War II. From 1942 to 1945, the Japanese invaders imprisoned 2008 foreign expatriates living in China at the time, mainly European and American expatriates, including 327 children, which the Japanese called "the living quarters of the enemy."

　　In the morning of August 17th, drizzle. 67 concentration camp survivors and their families from the United States, Britain, Australia and other countries were invited to return to Weifang No. 2 Middle School to participate in the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Weixian concentration camp. These survivors were children in concentration camps; they reunited 60 years later, and most of them were already elderly people with mobility problems.

　　There are many celebrities among adult hard friends, including Lei Zhenyuan [Father Raymond deJaegher (?)], an American who was a consultant to Chiang Kai-shek, Heng Anshi [Arthur Hummel (?)], a secondary school teacher at Fu Jen University who served as the U.S. ambassador to China in the 1980s, and Eric Leigh [Eric Liddell], the champion of the 400 meters in the 1924 Olympics Deere. Nowadays, most of the adult friends are dead.

　　David said that the day of the liberation camp-August 17th, 60 years ago, was the most exciting day in his life. "I was playing table tennis that day, and suddenly I saw the plane with the Stars and Stripes flying at low altitude, dropping many small notes, which said, 'Note: You are about to be released, Japan has surrendered to the Allies'"

　　"We were all crazy at the time, and everyone ran out of the barracks and sang and celebrated victory." 77-year-old Australian writer Joyce [Joyce Bradbury-Cooke] said, "The Japanese government refused to compensate the Chinese, refused to formally apologize, and did not tell the historical truth of their offspring. It is difficult to forgive. "

　　■ Thank you very much for the people of Weifang

　　Dai Aimei [Mary Previte-Taylor], a member of the United States New Jersey congressman and one of Weixian's difficult friends, said: "We are very grateful to the farmers in Weixian. They risked their lives and secretly managed to send us food from the high wall."

　　She said that it was a Chinese hero who helped two friends, including Heng Anshi [Arthur Hummel (?)], to escape the concentration camp, and a cleaner who cleaned the dung pit often hid a note in his mouth and secretly ventilated a message to the friends in the concentration camp.

　　Local people also donated money to help most of the camps live through years of captivity.

　　■ War is not the way to peace

　　Many of these old people who have experienced war and suffering face many bricks and tiles and precious historical photos of their childhood life, many of whom can't help tearing up and crying.

　　Some of the diasporas imprisoned in the past have become well-known figures in the political circles and business circles of their countries. They contacted each other, organized Weixian concentration camp camp friends, established a website, and wrote a memoir. Ms. Shadra Sima was born in Weixian concentration camp. In order to express her nostalgia for her birth place and her concern for education, she used her savings to set up a scholarship in Weifang No. 2 Middle School. Mary Privett [Mary Previte-Taylor], currently a member of the State of New Jersey, was detained by the Japanese with her brother, sister, and brother at the age of nine. She said emotionally: "Those of us who were once detained in concentration camps are here today to tell you through personal experience: War, hatred, and violence are not the way to peace!"

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http://news.sina.com.cn/s/2005-08-18/

[click here]

　On August 17, European and Americans who participated in the commemorative activities were warmly welcomed by the local people. On the same day, 67 people from the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and other countries who had been imprisoned in the "Weixian Concentration Camp" by that time and their families came to Weifang City, Shandong Province. Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of this concentration camp as a winner. At the same time, an unveiling ceremony was held for the "Weixian Concentration Camp Exhibition Hall". Xinhua News Agency

http://www.flyingtigers69thdrs.org/china2005/

ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE CREW WHO
FLEW the B-24, CALLED the "ARMORED ANGEL"?

Mary Taylor Previte, who was liberated from the Weihsien Concentration Camp in Shantung Province, China, wants to find members of the crew who flew the B-24 that carried the 7-man DUCK MISSION that parachuted from the bomber to liberate the camp on August 17, 1945.

Mary was 12 years old. She and her 2 brothers and a sister had not seen their missionary parents for 5 1/2 years.

The flight is believed to have departed from Hsi-An (now called Xi-An), Shensi Province, China, in the early hours of August 17, 1945, and flew about 600 miles to Weihsien where members of the DUCK MISSION parachuted at about 400 feet. The team liberated 1,500 Allied prisoners.

If you have information about the crew of the ARMORED ANGEL, please contact

Mary Taylor Previte
351 Kings Highway East
Haddonfield, NJ 08033

Phone: 856-428-4909
E-mail: mtprevite@aol.com