Frenchman Donates Grandfather's Photos of 1930s Shanghai to China

A Shocking Discovery and a Journey for Truth

a civilian with their head blown off, lying lifeless on the ground. This stark contrast to the peaceful scenes of lakes and bustling streets thrust Detrez into the horrifying reality of war.

This discovery sparked a journey for truth. The collection of 622 photographs, taken by his grandfather, documented not only the wartime atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers during China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) but also the resilience of the local residents.

Determined to share this historical record, Detrez, accompanied by two friends, arrived in Beijing in 2023 to donate the photos to China. They also planned to visit Shanghai, retracing the steps captured in the images.

"I was very shocked when seeing the horrible pictures of the war with corpses and bombings," Detrez shared. "My mom told me the story of my grandfather, his life in Shanghai, his struggles, the Japanese invasion and the war crimes he witnessed."

Through these photographs, Detrez hopes to shed light on a dark chapter in history and honor the memory of those who suffered during the war. His grandfather's legacy serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict and the importance of remembering the past to ensure a peaceful future.