Timeline
The Nanjing Atrocities Timeline
A timeline of selected dates and events that align with the content explored in our resources on the Nanjing atrocities.
July 1937: Marco Polo Bridge Incident, outbreak of (Second) Sino-Japanese War
August 1937: Formation of the Shanghai Expeditionary Army
November 1937: Formation of the Central China Area Army (CCAA), establishment of the General Headquarters (GHQ)
December 1, 1937: GHQ orders attack on Nanjing
December 7, 1937: Chiang Kai-Shek and Madame Chiang flee Nanjing
December 10, 1937: General attack on Nanjing begins
December 12, 1937: Japanese planes sink USS Panay (Panay Incident)
December 13, 1937: Nanjing falls
December 17, 1937: Entry ceremony held in Nanjing
January 1, 1938: Nanjing Self-governing Committee established
February 1938: General Matsui relieved of CCAA Commander’s Post
March 1938: Republic of China Reform Government established in Nanjing