Descendants of international veterans who supported the Chinese people during the war of resistance against Japanese aggression vow to uphold their antecedents' spirit and legacy to maintain peace and cooperation.
Danish citizen Bernhard Arp Sindberg risked his life to save tens of thousands of Chinese civilians during the Nanjing Massacre in 1937.
From December 1937 to March 1938, the 26-year-old Sindberg set up a refugee camp and hospital near the Jiangnan Cement Plant, providing shelter and medical aid to nearly 20,000 Chinese refugees. He also documented Japanese war crimes through photographs and letters, revealing the truth of the Nanjing Massacre to the world.
"We have to learn from history and not repeat it. We have learned to see that we need each other. So we have to work together," said Mariann Stenvig Andersen, niece of Bernhard Sindberg.
General Claire Lee Chennault, a legendary American aviator who led the Flying Tigers in defense of China during WWII, remains a symbol of courage and friendship between the two nations.
Nell Chennault Calloway, granddaughter of U.S. General Chennault, was invited to attend China's Victory Day commemorations in Beijing on Wednesday.
"My grandfather made a statement and said it is harder to maintain peace than to fight a war. So I think their job, we can't take that lightly. So I think that's just something as adults, as older people -- I have children, grandchildren -- that we have to make sure they understand, that it's something that they're gonna have to maintain and carry forth from here," said Calloway.
Some 87 years ago, Indian doctor Dwarkanath Kotnis left his family for China, a country struggling in resistance against Japanese aggression. Amidst the chaos of war, Kotnis saved many lives of Chinese civilians and soldiers and helped train batches of medical personnel, until he succumbed to illness from overwork at the young age of 32. For over eight decades years, Kotnis' spirit of internationalism has transcended time and space.
"He sacrificed his life for the Chinese people during the war. I really think his legacy should be taken forward. His spirit of internationalism should be definitely held high. And I will definitely carry forward his legacy," said Mangesh Rajan Borkar, grand-nephew of Dwarkanath Kotnis.
Descendants of int'l veterans in China's fight against fascism to uphold legacy of peace, cooperation
