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China during The Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II Through the Lens of Agnes Smedley

Agnes Smedley was an American journalist, writer, and activist. In the autobiographical novel Daughter of Earth (1929), she portrayed the emergence of her feminist and socialist consciousness in the context of poverty-stricken miners’ families in Missouri and Colorado. She organized support for India’s independence from the United Kingdom while a college student during World War I, receiving financial support from the German government. Following the war, she worked with Indian nationalists in Germany. As a journalist, she lived and worked in China between 1928 and 1941. She worked with the Eighth Route Army during the First Sino-Japanese War and lived for a time in the communist base at Yan’an during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Smedley worked as a correspondent for the Frankfurter Zeitung and Manchester Guardian in China. As a significant war correspondent, she covered many topics, including the Anti-Japanese War. She also broadcast in English for the rebels during the Xi’an Incident of December 1936. During the Second United Front, she reported on the Second Sino-Japanese War. In 1937, she traveled with the 8th Route Army, then from 1938–1939, she visited some units of the noncommunist Chinese army.

#1 The 124th Division of the 22nd Group Army captured a Japanese field gun and brought it down from the mountains by hitching oxen to it. 1937-1940

#2 The 124th Division of the 22nd Group Army camouflaged it with branches of trees and soldiers took turns riding it. 1937-1940

#3 The Japanese bombed the Red Cross Medical Corps’ Training Hospital at Kweiyang (Guiyang). 1937-1940

#4 The wounded who could walk had gone into the hills as the planes approached. After the raid men formerly wounded at the front, were brought in again on stretchers to be operated upon. 1937-1940

#5 Mass meeting of October 10th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Republic. Lihwang (Lihuang), Anhwei (Anhui). 1937-1940

#6 Soldiers and civilians come to a Field Hospital at Lihwang (Lihuang), Anhwei (Anhui), bearing gifts from civilians for the Army sick and wounded. 1937-1940

#7 Dr. Yeh (Ye), in charge of the Anhwei Provincial Hospital, receives the sick and wounded, all of whom were treated without charge. 1937-1940

#8 Dr. Yeh (Ye), in charge of the Anhwei Provincial Hospital, receives the sick and wounded, all of whom were treated without charge. 1937-1940

#9 The ancient “big sword” society Hwang Shih Hwei (Huang Shihui), North Hupeh (Hubei) with women members of the society. 1937-1940

#10 Men members who guide the Chinese armies against the enemy. 1937-1940

#11 In the Laboratory of the Chinese Red Medical Corps, Kweiyang (Guiyang), Kwangsi (Guangxi) Province. 1937-1940

#12 In the Supply Department of the Chinese Red Cross Medical Corps, Kweiyang (Guiyang), Kwangsi (Guangxi) Province. 1937-1940

#13 The way the students in Lihwang (Lihuang), Anhwei (Anhui) Province, live. 1937-1940

#14 Wall newspaper in the Administrative Training School, Lihwang (Lihuang), Anhwei (Anhui), in the enemy rear. 1937-1940

#15 The Japanese planes left the Red Cross Training Hospital in this condition. 1937-1940

#16 The Japanese planes left the Red Cross Training Hospital in this condition. 1937-1940

#17 Repair shop of the Red Cross Medical Corps. 1937-1940

#18 Ambulance of Chinese Red Cross Medical Corps – Dr. Eva Ho Tung in the foreground. 1937-1940

#19 Sometimes my armed escorts were tough warriors of the regular armies. 1937-1940

#20 We often halted before villages to talk to the people. 1937-1940

#21 On the way to the Field Headquarters of General Chang Tze-chung (Zhang Zizhong), we talk with young army men for hours. 1937-1940

#22 On the way to the Field Headquarters of General Chang Tze-chung (Zhang Zizhong), 1937-1940

#23 The Canossian Nuns of Nanyang, Honan (Henan), caring for the wounded. I was cold and they sheltered me; I was hungry and they gave me food. 1937-1940

#24 The Canossian Nuns of Nanyang, Honan (Henan), caring for the wounded. 1937-1940

#25 The village headquarters of the ancient “big sword” society, the Hwang Shih Hwei (Huang Shihui), in North Hupeh (Hubei), where I spent a day and night. 1937-1940

#26 The village headquarters of the ancient “big sword” society, the Hwang Shih Hwei (Huang Shihui), in North Hupeh (Hubei), 1937-1940

#27 The paths of Central China are filled with men and animals carrying ammunition up to the front. 1937-1940

#28 The paths of Central China are filled with men and animals carrying ammunition up to the front. 1937-1940

#29 General Lai Kang (Li Kang), garrison commander of Lihwang (Lihuang), Anhwei (Anhui). 1937-1940

#30 Lt. General Ma Chi-ying (Ma Shiying), West Point graduate, 1924. 1937-1940

#33 A column of men of the New 4th Army Storm Guerrilla cross streams on boats. 1937-1940

#34 Unidentified group of civilians with army officers in foreground. 1937-1940

#35 Mr. Shong Yi (Song Yi), former General of the Army) 70 year old Magistrate of Hanchuran (Hanshou) district, Central Hupeh (Hubei); he was removed from office because he was too progressive and refused to conduct an anti-communist campaign. 1937-1940

#36 A guerrilla dramatic theatre giving a play to soldiers about Japanese and puppets against whom the Communist guerrillas fought. 1937-1940

#37 Commanders of the New Fourth Army Storm Guerrilla Detachment – A Communist Army in the enemy rear North of Hankow, 1937-1940

#38 Tao Chu, veteran Communist political leader and educator, 1937-1940

#39 Men under training as administrators of Anhwei (Anhui) Province, in the Administrative Training School – Lihwang (Lihuang), Anhwei. 1937-1940

#40 A Training Camp in Lihwang (Lihuang), Anhwei (Anhui) — photograph taken just before my lecture, 1937-1940

#43 General Li Chung-jen (Li Zongren), Commander-in-chief of the Fifth War Zone, told me his opinion of the Japanese — and of the Americans who gave China’s enemy a sword. 1937-1940

#45 The guerrillas and the wounded stood in long lines along the paths to welcome me. 1937-1940

#46 The guerrillas and the wounded stood in long lines along the paths to welcome me. 1937-1940

#47 To extreme right is Miss Li, a qualified woman nurse trained by American missionaries, who acted as physician, surgeon, Army Medical Director of the New Fourth Army Storm Guerrilla Detachment north of Hankow, 1937-1940

#48 In the hospital of the New Fourth Army Storm Guerrilla Detachment north of Hankow (Hankou). 1937-1940

#49 The railway workers of the destroyed town of Chumatien (Zhumadian) in Honan (Henan) took the steel rails and spans and beat them into big swords for the armies of liberation. 1937-1940

#50 General Chang Tze-chung (Zhang Zizhong), commander of the 33rd Group Army and commander-in chief of the Chinese Right Wing during the offensive of 1939-40. He fell in action at the front in May, 1940

General Chang Tze-chung (Zhang Zizhong), commander of the 33rd Group Army and commander-in chief of the Chinese Right Wing during the offensive of 1939-40. He fell in action at the front in May, 1940

He is here seen thanking a "Consolation Group" of civilians from Kwangsi (Guangxi) Province who toured the front to bring greetings to the soldiers.

#52 Men arrested as spies or agents of the Japanese in the region north of Hankow (Hankou); they were arrested by the New Fourth Army Storm Guerrilla Detachment. 1937-1940

#53 Chinese Red Cross Medical Corps ambulance units at work after a Japanese air-raid. These ambulance workers wear steel helmets and about their waists dressing belts presented to them from the American Red Cross, 1937-1940

#54 Women leaders in a guerrilla detachment in Central China, north of Hankow (Hankou). All are educated women. Woman in center was formerly a teacher in North China. 1937-1940

#55 In Central Anhwei (Anhui) the maimed soldiers of the New Fourth Army welcomed me and told me their stories. 1937-1940

#57 General Chang Tze-chung (Zhang Zizhong), commander of the 33rd Group Army, as he made a speech of thanks to a civilian delegation. 1937-1940

#59 The wounded were often transported on lumbering, jolting ox-carts from the Central and North China fronts, to the Han River in the rear. 1937-1940

#60 The last carts were filled with the wounded who died on the way. 1937-1940

#61 A conference of the gods (of the Shiu Hu Chuan, or Shui Hu Zhuan) in an open field near the Tsaoyang-Lishan (Zaoyang-Lishan) highway in North Hupeh. 1937-1940

#62 The Children’s Army of war-orphans sent a message to American children. 1937-1940

#63 The Children’s Army of war-orphans sent a message to American children. 1937-1940

#64 Disabled, crippled Chinese soldiers, from cooperatives of various kinds. These are trainees as tailors and have their own cooperative tailoring establishment. 1937-1940

Disabled, crippled Chinese soldiers, from cooperatives of various kinds. These are trainees as tailors and have their own cooperative tailoring establishment. 1937-1940

The earn their living and make uniforms for the Chinese Red Cross Medical Corps and the Army. These men own and manage their own cooperative

#65 A column of Chinese puppet soldiers who fought for the Japanese. Captured by the New Fourth Army Storm Guerrilla Detachment in battle. These men were either conscripted or captured and put in the Japanese puppet forces.1937-1940

#66 The secret anti-Japanese “Ten Man Group” captured the head of a Japanese controlled puppet Government who tried to bribe his captors and the martial court that tried him. He was a greasy old degenerate.

#67 A typical group of Chinese students singing patriotic songs. 1937-1940

A typical group of Chinese students singing patriotic songs. 1937-1940

These boys and girls were formerly cultural workers in the 21st Group Army in Anhwei (Anhui), but deserted and joined the Communist guerrillas in Anhwei (Anhui) and north Kiangsu (Jiangsu) Province because they refused to obey orders of growing Fascist reaction in that Army.

#68 A hospital of the New 4th Army in an ancestral temple in North Kiangsu (Jiangsu) province, north of Shanghai. I spent 8 months with this Army in the field and helped care for their wounded. 1937-1940

#69 Guerrillas of the New 4th Army Storm Guerrilla Detachment in Central Hupeh (Hubei). 1937-1940

#70 Unidentified photographs of various civilian and military persons. 1937-1940

#75 Two Chinese Boys sliding down the balustrade of the old Confucian Temple in Sian(Xi’an). 1937-1940

Two Chinese Boys sliding down the balustrade of the old Confucian Temple in Sian(Xi'an). 1937-1940

The balustrade is of stone and the pants of China's children are made open at the back

#76 They Grind corn on such mills in China’s Northwest.

#78 The wounded were brought into dressing stations a short distance off the battlefield. 1937-1940

#79 General Tang En-po’s (Tang Enbo) Army moved up to the front. 1937-1940

#81 Air-raid victims were brought into Chinese Red Cross Medical Corps Headquarters in Changsha.

#82 Air-raid victims were brought into Chinese Red Cross Medical Corps Headquarters in Changsha.

#83 Soldiers of the 173rd Division drawn up for the high military Inspectors from the Central Military Council in preparation for the Chinese winter offensive, 1939-40.

#84 Soldiers of the 173rd Division drawn up for the high military Inspectors from the Central Military Counci, 1939

#85 In the wards of the Training Hospital of the Chinese Red Cross Medical Corps at Kweiyang, 1937-1940

#86 Training Hospital of the Chinese Red Cross Medical Corps at Kweiyang, 1937-1940

#88 A KMT military medical officer having a surgery for the wounded. 1937-1940

#89 Chinese Red Cross doctors worked in hospital trains Hsuchow (Xuzhou) front. 1937-1940

#90 Field dressing stations of the Chinese Red Cross Medical Corps. 1937-1940

#91 An officer of the New Fourth Army in South Anwei (Anhui), who deserted, was captured and shot. 1937-1940

#92 A commander of the New Fourth Army explains to the troops the reason it was necessary to shoot a deserter. 1937-1940

#97 Educated youth were trained as Red Cross Ambulance workers. General Joseph Stilwell and Col. Evans F. Carlson secured the first American Red Cross appropriation to help in their training. 1937-1940

#98 General Joseph Stilwell and Col. Evans F. Carlson secured the first American Red Cross appropriation to help in their training. 1937-1940

#99 Chinese guerrillas (farmers) who have arisen in the tracks of the Japanese, along the lower Yangtze (Yangzi) River Valley, to fight the invader. They were on their way to join the Communist guerrillas.

#100 Delegates of first Women’s National Salvation Association (11 districts represented) in the enemy rear in Central China. All are simple village woman who have learned to speak and think independently since the war began.

#101 “Chu-Teh’s (Zhu De) Death Fully Confirmed”. “Chu Teh’s Death Confirmed Again”.

"Chu-Teh's (Zhu De) Death Fully Confirmed". "Chu Teh's Death Confirmed Again".

Reds lose one of 'Big Three'--Chu Teh Killed!" These headlines screamed across the press of China and the world a dozen times in the past ten years during the wars of Nanking (Nanjing) against the Chinese Workers and Peasants Red Army. Chu Teh, on the right (Lin Piao on the left, or Lin Biao), the much-killed Red Commander-in-chief, laughs in amusement when he hears of his repeated deaths.

#102 Meeting of Chinese officers around a night light. 1937-1940

#103 Human Trafficking and Commanders

Human Trafficking and Commanders

For sale: the child of famine victims. Price: two sacks of flour; or maybe one; or even a half of one.

#104 Commander and vice-commander of the 4th Regiment of the New 4th Army Storm Guerrilla Detachment. 1937-1940

Commander and vice-commander of the 4th Regiment of the New 4th Army Storm Guerrilla Detachment. 1937-1940

This Regiment was made up of local peasants, fishermen and artisans. Both commanders were sent by the 8th Route Army from the far northwest. I was in the field with this regiment for one month.

#105 New Fourth Army Storm Guerrilla Detachment north of Hankow (Hankou) in the enemy rear. 1937-1940

#106 Guerrilla soldiers of the New Fourth Army Storm Guerrilla Detachment. 1937-1940

#107 Guerrilla soldiers of the New Fourth Army Storm Guerrilla Detachment.

#108 Qualified women nurse conducting a physical examination of guerrilla troops along the Tientsin-Nanking (Tianjin-Nanjing) railway in Anhwei (Anhui) Province. These young women were formerly nurses in Nanking (Nanjing).

#109 It was a bloody era in which workers, peasants and communists were beheaded in the streets. 1937-1940

#110 Soldiers of the 84th Kwangsi (Guangxi) Army at Tsaoyang (Zaoyang), Hupeh (Hubei) Province, Central China front, carve Chinese characters (words) out of bamboo and put up slogans against the Japanese.

Soldiers of the 84th Kwangsi (Guangxi) Army at Tsaoyang (Zaoyang), Hupeh (Hubei) Province, Central China front, carve Chinese characters (words) out of bamboo and put up slogans against the Japanese.

They left the bamboo unpainted save for the top edge or a corner here and there, which they touched with a bright red, giving it a beautiful effect.

#111 Railway workers on the Peking-Hankow (Beijing-Hankou) railway tore up steel railways and girders and made big swords for the guerrillas and the army from them. 1937-1940

#112 A former Korean soldier in the Japanese Army of China. Captured by the Chinese new 4th army. 1937-1940

A former Korean soldier in the Japanese Army of China. Captured by the Chinese new 4th army. 1937-1940

He immediately joined the Chinese as a political worker to win over other Korean and Japanese soldiers.

#113 Lt. Gen. Cheng Su-yuan (Cheng Suyuan), commander of the 124th Division of the 22nd Group Army on the North Hupeh (Hubei) front.

#114 Children’s Dramatic Corps of the New 4th Army Storm Guerrilla Detachment – Central Hupeh (Hubei). 1937-1940

#116 The first democratic elections of the lower officials in the territory of the New 4th Army Storm Guerrilla Detachment. 1937-1940

#117 An election wall newspaper in the enemy rear. 1937-1940

#118 The election of officials of the lien pao, second high organ after the village and town, followed conference of town and village delegates to discuss problems before voting by secret ballot.

#119 Communist-led New Fourth Army after a raid made by this detachment on a Japanese air-drome. Note the trophies of guns, bicycles, flags and coats. 1937-1940

Communist-led New Fourth Army after a raid made by this detachment on a Japanese air-drome. Note the trophies of guns, bicycles, flags and coats. 1937-1940

The Chinese wrote the brief history of this raid in Chinese characters in the film, giving the trophies captured. This photograph was given to me by the New 4th Army.

#120 Lt. Col. Evans F. Carlson and I meet in the Eighth Route Army. 1937-1940

#121 In the wards of the Training Hospital of the Chinese Red Cross Medical Corps at Kwaiyang. 1937-1940

#122 In the wards of the Training Hospital of the Chinese Red Cross Medical Corps at Kwaiyang. 1937-1940

#123 Guerrillas of the Hanchuan District self Defense Corps in the enemy rear northwest of Hankow (Hankou). 1937-1940

#125 The guerrillas fought in the Ta Hung (Da Hong) mountain range. 1937-1940

#126 Our beloved “Vinegar Joe” Lieutenant General Joseph F. Stillwell of the American Army. 1937-1940

#127 Lieutenant Colonel Evans F. Carlson, “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

#128 My friends of Hankow Days: Major Frank Dorn; General Chou En-lai (Zhou Enlai), representing the Chinese Communists in the Chinese Government; Lieutenant Evans F. Carlson; Mr. Robert Jarvis, American Consular official. Agnes Smedley is in the center. 1937-1940

#129 The first hill in the background with a long path leading up the ridge is the tomb of Ch’in Shin Huang Ti (Qin Shi Huang Di, 255 B.C.) whom the Chinese call the great tyrant.

#130 Ancient bas reliefs on the old Confucian Temple in Sian.

#131 Hung Shan (Huang Shan), Buddhist monk in charge of Government refugee relief work in Anhwei (Anhui) Province. 1937-1940

#134 The official figures of the Shanghai Municipal Council revealed that from 32,000 to 35,000 dead bodies were picked up in the streets of the city each year and buried in pauper’s graves.

#135 Four thousand workers, peasants, soldiers and students were mowed down in the counter-revolution which followed the Canton Commune, December 11, 1927.

#136 Mass meetings of troops and civilians. 1937-1940

#137 Mass meetings of troops and civilians. 1937-1940

#138 Under-nourished war-orphans in the Government orphanage at Kioshan (Qiaoshan) Honan (He’nan) Province. 1937-1940

#139 Under-nourished war-orphans in the Government orphanage at Kioshan (Qiaoshan) Honan (He’nan) Province. 1937-1940

#140 In the center is a doctor of the New Fourth Army, wounded, whose dressing is being changed. 1937-1940

#141 Dr. Eric Landauer, member of the League of National Anti-Epidemic Commission, lectures on public health in the Medical Training School of the New Fourth Army. Dr. Gung (Gong) translated.

#142 New Fourth Army guerrillas marched against the Japanese During a snowstorm. 1937-1940

#143 New 4th Army in the Ta Hung (Da Hong) mountain range.

#144 A group of guerrillas along the Yangtze (Yangzi) Valley. 1937-1940

#145 Men of the Anti-Japanese “Ten Man Group” in the enemy rear north of Hankow (Hankou). 1937-1940

#146 A peasants mass meeting in the enemy rear where I spoke. 1937-1940

#148 I caught a Red Army truck and disappeared from what is known as civilization. 1937-1940

#149 Mao Tun (Mao Dun), one of the most noted novelists of modern China. 1937-1940

#151 Where child slaves in a Peking (Beijing) match factory slept.(Bottom photo) At the front I travelled like this.

#152 Demonstrations of soldiers, civilians, and officials in the streets of Sian (Xi’an), demanding the end of civil war, and a united front against Japan. 1937-1940

#153 After the war-orphans had been dressed in clean new uniforms and had been bathed and shaved, they began their first regular meals. 1937-1940

#154 Chinese soldiers, taught reading and writing in the Army, carving Chinese words from bamboo and arranging them into anti-Japanese slogans across the walls of buildings and towns. 1937-1940

#155 Political Director, and his assistant, of the Yinchang Self-Defense Corps, in the enemy rear north of Hankow (Hankou). 1937-1940

Political Director, and his assistant, of the Yinchang Self-Defense Corps, in the enemy rear north of Hankow (Hankou). 1937-1940

The Political Director (left) in the captured Japanese overcoat, is a graduate of the American-maintained Tsingwa

#156 Leaders of the New 4th Army Storm Guerrilla Detachment in the enemy rear, talk with some of my party. To the extreme left is Commander Chen Ta-ji (Chen Taiji), a woman.

#157 Chow-Sho (Zhou Shao, Chow Ming-Ching or Zhou Mingqing) – Fascist – Blue Shirt – guerrilla commander in Central China whose business is was to fight the New Fourth Army Storm Guerrilla Detachment instead of the Japanese.(Bottom photo) Headquarters guards of the Blue Shirt military chieftain.

#158 Headquarters guards of the Blue Shirt military chieftain. 1937-1940

Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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