former
capital of
China located in the east-
central part of the country. In 1937, before the start of
World War II (1939-1945), the city was captured by the Japanese. In addition to setting much of it on
fire, the Japanese started a great massacre and
committed numerous atrocities which became widely known as the "Rape of Nanking." In 1946,
following Japan's surrender, the city was again made the Chinese
capital and remained so until the
Communist takeover in 1949.