Weihsien: A WWII Camp, an Olympic Hero, and a Legacy of Peace

China Minutes

Weihsien: A WWII Camp, an Olympic Hero, and a Legacy of Peace

Peace Monument — On May 8, 1945, Germany’s surrender marked the victory of the World Antifascist War and the end of a war nightmare that swept across the European continent. Europe and the United States often designated May 8th as Victory Day in World War II. Peace Monument at the Weihsien Concentration Camp, Shandong Province, China.

Eric H. Liddell's books — When people commemorate the great victory today, the name of an Englishman should be remembered by the world. Eric H. Liddell—A British Olympic champion who came from a Japanese concentration camp. After the outbreak of the Pacific War during World War II, the Japanese Army occupied the Courtyard of the Happy Way in Weihsien County, Shandong Province, China, and set up a concentration camp for foreigners. Some published books in memory of Eric H. Liddell.

The Eric H. Liddell Foundation — The Weihsien Concentration Camp held more than 2000 foreign residents from March 1943 to August 1945. They come from more than 20 countries, including British Olympic sprint champion Eric.Henry.Liddell and others have been imprisoned there. The Eric H. Liddell Foundation set up the Eric H. Liddell Monument in Weihsien in 1991. The monument is made of granite from Eric Liddell’s hometown of the Isle of Mull, Scotland.

Eric H. Liddell's photos — Eric H. Liddell was a Scotsman born in Tianjin. His Chinese name was Li Airui, also known as Li Da. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh. In the 19th century, when his parents came to China to preach, they settled in Tianjin. Eric won the 400-meter sprint at the Olympic Games in 1924. After the Games, he returned to China and worked as a teacher in a middle school in Tianjin for nearly 20 years. Some photos of Eric H. Liddell’s life.

sports activities — During the three years in the camp, Liddell was not afraid of violence and worked hard. He helped other prisoners to learn, took care of others, and organized various sports activities. Thus, he earned respect from other imprisoned civilians. Because of the miserable life, malnutrition, and no effective treatments, Eric H. Liddell died of a brain tumor on February 21, 1945, at the age of 43. Just 175 days later, Japan surrendered. Eric H. Liddell won the 400m sprint at the Olympics in 1924.

anti-Japanese guerrillas — On the night of 9 June 1944, Arthur W. Hummel Jr., a young American teacher, and Laurance Tipton, a former U.K. naval operator and a sales manager of a U.K. and U.S. tobacco company in China after retirement, fled the camp. Soon after, the headquarters of the U.S. Army in China quickly allocated a batch of military supplies and funds to instruct them to join in the work of the Chinese anti-Japanese guerrillas there.

hand molds — The hand molds of some refugees or their children as a memorial to history.

Exhibition — Exhibition of the Weihsien Concentration Camp.

concentration camp — They have transformed the buildings of the concentration camp into a museum to help more people remember this period of history.

Photos taken by Xiangyu Chen.

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