Tong Yuru’s International Women’s Day during the Anti-Japanese War

On March 8, 1940, at an event to commemorate International Women’s Day in Yan’an, a women’s tug-of-war competition was held.

On March 8, 1940, the Women’s Self-Defense Force performed military subjects at the International Women’s Day commemoration event in Yan’an on March 8, 1940.

On February 25, 1942, the preparatory meeting for the Women’s Commemorative Conference in the Capital sent a letter to the Ministry of Social Affairs for the female staff of the organization to attend the commemorative conference.

More than 90 years have passed since China first publicly celebrated International Women’s Day in 1924. With the development of the times and the progress of society, in this peaceful era, women's rights and interests have been more respected and protected. During the Anti-Japanese War, International Women’s Day was no longer a pure women’s day. Because the celebration at that time also incorporated the mission of the times to mobilize women to support the Anti-Japanese War, it was closely related to current affairs. During that special period, International Women's Day became a "mobilization day" and "struggle day" to arouse women's enthusiasm for the war.

After the July 7th Incident in 1937, the anti-Japanese national united front was formed, the Kuomintang Communist Party cooperated for the second time, and the anti-Japanese war spread throughout the motherland. Under such difficult conditions, the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region government still held commemorative activities to commemorate International Women's Day on March 8th to unite women in the entire border region to participate in the Anti-Japanese National Self-Defense War and strive for national liberation.

On March 8, 1940, Yan'an held a grand commemoration event for International Women's Day. This is the largest commemorative meeting hosted by the Communist Party of China in the rear areas of the Anti-Japanese War. Leaders of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the border region government attended the meeting together with more than 20,000 women. At the meeting, women sang "The Internationale" and "March 8 Women's Day Song", with lyrics written by Sirk and music composed by Xian Xinghai. In addition to commending advanced women, the conference also rewarded 340 model women selected from study, production, work and anti-Japanese family members in the base areas.

The commemorative activities held in Yan'an are rich and colorful. The Women's Life Exhibition not only displays the study and life of rural women in various institutions, schools, and literacy groups in the border areas, but also displays magazines, songs, novels, poems, photos, etc. related to women's culture. Women made up more than half of the visitors that day. At the women's sports meeting held, women actively participated in women's tug-of-war competitions, women's self-defense force military subject performances, bomb-dropping drills, shooting competitions and other events, showing good qualities. In addition, mass meetings and evening parties were held that day.

Compared with the commemorative activities in Yan'an, the March 8th International Women's Day in the Kuomintang-controlled areas was a different scene. During the Anti-Japanese War, the Japanese army bombed the capital Chongqing for five and a half years, aiming to destroy the Chinese people's will to resist Japan. However, in such a war environment, Chongqing also held grand commemorative events every year to mobilize women to support the Anti-Japanese War.

On March 8, 1941, women from all walks of life in Chongqing held a commemorative meeting in Fuziqi to warmly celebrate International Women’s Day. Government officials from various ministries and commissions attended. Soong Meiling delivered a speech at the conference, "Men go to the front lines to serve as soldiers, and women increase economic production." More than 15,000 people attended the conference. After the meeting, a parade was held. The route starts from Fuzizi, passes through Duyou Street and Xiaoliangzi, and finally ends at Linsen Road. On the same day, a women's team production competition was also held to express condolences to the families of anti-Japanese soldiers and present gifts, premiums, banners, etc.

In addition to holding large-scale commemorative activities such as speeches and parades, Chongqing also holds various other activities every year to create a festive atmosphere. Every year on March 8, the entire city hangs the national flag for a day to celebrate, and the post office stamps the postmark "Commemorating the National Women's Unity on March 8." Female members of the group will also distribute propaganda slogans everywhere, such as "Down with Japanese imperialism", "Mobilize all Chinese women to participate in the Anti-Japanese War", "Long live the liberation of Chinese women", etc. Government agencies, schools, and factories will also give female employees and students a day off, providing convenience for women to participate in commemorative activities. Bookstores, shops, barber shops and other places provide preferential treatment to women. During the war years when prices were soaring, discounts on goods were more attractive to women than before. Major cinemas will also screen anti-Japanese war films, and theater troupes will stage plays that inspire women to seek liberation and devote themselves to saving the country. Women can watch at half price.

On March 8, 1943, the Chongqing Women's Association also launched a "Women's Number" donation activity. Some women's groups such as the Women's Steering Committee of the New Life Movement Promotion Association, the Chinese Women's Comfort Station, and the Wartime Parenting Association actively Donate. Donations of 1.2 million yuan were raised that day. Within half a year, *** raised 2.6 million yuan and purchased 13 aircraft. Women supported the construction of the national air force by donating their aircraft, demonstrating their determination to unite enemies and resist external humiliation.

During the Anti-Japanese War, the two parties of the Kuomintang mobilized as many women as possible to support the Anti-Japanese War through speeches, parades, exhibitions, distributing leaflets, organizing fund-raising, condolences to military families, and sports competitions. Under the difficult conditions during the Anti-Japanese War, women actively responded to the mobilization and went out to participate in various anti-Japanese and national salvation activities. To a certain extent, it promoted the development of the women's liberation movement and contributed to the victory of the Anti-Japanese War.