Israel Epstein, born in Poland on April 20, 1915, emigrated to China with his parents in 1917 and lived in Harbin as a child. In 1920, the family moved to Tianjin, where they lived for 18 years. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Epstein, as a journalist, traveled to Nanjing and Wuhan successively to participate in the work of the League for the Defense of China led by Soong Ching-ling. During the same period, he also used the reporter's unique keen observation to record the real scene of China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and wrote the book "History Should Not Forget", leaving a valuable historical document.
Build an "indestructible fortress" relying on the power of the people
In July 1937, at the beginning of the outbreak of the all-out war of resistance, the Kuomintang army was defeated at the front. What is the situation in the anti-Japanese base areas behind enemy lines under the leadership of the Communist Party of China? How did the people in the base areas resist the invaders? Can the CCP guerrillas withstand the military, economic, and political pressure of Japan? Epstein gave clear answers to these questions with detailed interviews and analysis.
On the one hand, organize the people. Epstein observed: Behind enemy lines in North China, "indestructible fortresses" can be built on the strength of the people. The book mentions that under the leadership of Nie Rongzhen, an experienced organizational expert, the military's political workers began to build such a "Great Wall". This is actually the mass mobilization led by the Communist Party of China in the anti-Japanese base areas, and it is also what Mao Zedong said: "The deepest root of the great power of war lies in the people." On the question of how to mobilize the people, Epstein wrote: "The organizers held village-by-village meetings, gave speeches, persuaded and mobilized the peasants, and encouraged them to stand up and speak their minds." The new county magistrates did not sit in their own comfortable offices, but went out to the masses to do propaganda and organizational work. "Thanks to the efforts of the Chinese Communists, the masses began to act consciously. Japan could conquer part of the land and cities, but in any case it was impossible to completely conquer the already organized people. It's like what Epstein observed: the Japanese could burn houses with fire and bayonets, stabbing tens of thousands of men, women, and children to death. But they could not destroy the gradually awakening power of the people of North China.
On the other hand, to carry out armed struggle. On the basis of organizing the people, the Communist Party of China built up and developed the army, dragging the Japanese army into the vast sea of the people's war. At that time, self-defense regiments and guerrilla units were organized in most villages in the North China base areas, and the most capable and enthusiastic guerrillas were allowed to voluntarily join the regular army. Fighting, sometimes dominated by guerrillas, sometimes by regular troops, and at the same time, "village governments, mass organizations, and militias constantly provide information". Such a multi-layered and in-depth armed system dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese army. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the will and hope of millions of people have fused together to form the "iron fist of the people".
"Yan'an is a microcosm of China's future"
In May 1944, Epstein visited Yan'an as part of a delegation of Chinese and foreign journalists to the Northwest. More than half a century later, at the age of 90, he looked back on the past and said with infinite emotion: "The trip to Yan'an had a great impact on the path I took in my life, and I will never forget it for the rest of my life. ”
At that time, General Wang Zhen was in charge of greeting them, and what they saw along the way was the large-scale production movement in Nanniwan. Epstein wrote: Every barren hilltop and slope has been planted with millet, wheat, beans, flax, or cotton. Before the Kuomintang imposed the blockade, cotton was not grown in this area, so for two years the people in the border areas were almost unclothed, but last year the situation was different, and half of the cotton in the border areas was self-sufficient. Epstein was right when he said that the mass production movement did alleviate the shortage of materials in the base areas, and at the same time effectively supported the military struggle on the front. In addition, Epstein visited oil wells and refineries in Yanchang County and saw the efforts of people to achieve industrial production under difficult conditions, writing that despite all the difficulties, "in the border areas, everything that can be done is being done."
The spiritual outlook of the people in Yan'an also left a deep impression on Epstein. At that time, the society was in chaos, the people were not able to make a living, and the discipline of the stragglers was corrupt, and many people were terrified when they saw the army. But Yan'an is different. Epstein wrote: "The peasants we met along the way seemed to be well fed and clothed—some of them had patches on their clothes, but they didn't look ragged." In other parts of China, the common people avoided the GIs at the sight of them, and if they could not dodge, they stared at them with a sad face, but in the border areas, where our troops were resting, the scene was completely different. When the common people saw the soldiers of the Eighth Route Army escorting us, they went forward to talk to them, asked what our 'strange' people were here for, gave hot water to the soldiers to drink, and took the initiative to take care of the horses without being instructed. Our general impression is that the common people treat the soldiers as if they were their own family members away from home, and we want them to rest well and be happy. This description truly and vividly presents the fish and water situation of the Yan'an military and civilians.
For Epstein, who came from the Kuomintang region, everything in Yan'an made him convinced that the Communist Party was the future of China. In a letter to his wife, he excitedly wrote: this border region is not a miserable place where heroic people are blocked, but a great country on a small scale. The people here are also much more active than people from other regions. They fully believe that they represent China and represent China's future. They don't say it, but it's clear in their confident words and actions, in their every smile and every expression. He added: "I am truly convinced that Yan'an is a microcosm of China's future, and it will prove in the next 10 years." ”
"The most outstanding is undoubtedly Mao Zedong"
During his trip to Yan'an in 1944, Epstein interviewed Mao Zedong twice, leaving behind his observations and records of Mao Zedong, and he wrote, "The most outstanding is undoubtedly Mao Zedong."
First, Mao Zedong's personal style was approachable and very simple. Epstein saw that Mao Zedong would often walk through the dusty streets, without guards, and talk casually with ordinary people. He is not always in the center of the group photoshoot. This is the case, for example, when taking photos with Chinese and foreign journalists. On several occasions, Epstein dined with Mao Zedong and other leaders at the same table, and there was no special etiquette or rules, "everyone sat around two or three small square tables, the conversation was casual, and the food was very simple." This was in stark contrast to the hierarchical and extravagant waste he had seen in Chongqing.
Second, Mao Zedong's leadership art of "being neat and tidy" and "lifting weights like light" left a deep impression on Epstein. At that time, Mao Zedong led more than a dozen anti-Japanese base areas, fought constantly, had a complicated administration, and had to deal with international issues at the same time, but he was methodical and calm. Chiang Kai-shek, on the other hand, "was always putting on a show, appearing unnatural, nervous, and nervous." Epstein lamented that "the contrast between Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek could not be more stark."
Third, Mao's analysis of the problem was concise and to the point, which impressed Epstein. In his book, he wrote, Mao Zedong's greatest strength was that "he was able to express very complex strategic ideas in extremely simple and profound words, so that even uneducated people could understand the meaning and truth of his words." It's not some simplification, it's a talent – his mind is very clear, and he can convince people concisely and visually." It should be said that in his brief encounter, Epstein did grasp an important characteristic of Mao Zedong Thought -- that is, based on the land of China, he expounded the universal truth of Marxism concisely and clearly in a language that the people could understand. In fact, this is the Sinicization of Marxism.