雙城記憶：倫敦·重慶大轟炸

□ 文/本刊記者 楊艷

1938年2月至1944年12月，侵華日軍對(duì)重慶實(shí)施了6年10個(gè)月的狂轟濫炸，歷史上稱“重慶大轟炸”。同一時(shí)期，1940年9月至次年5月，相隔萬(wàn)里的倫敦，也在遭受德軍實(shí)施的戰(zhàn)略轟炸……

70余年后，一場(chǎng)名為“共度時(shí)艱：倫敦·重慶大轟炸”的圖片展，以“大轟炸”為主線，將二戰(zhàn)時(shí)期中英兩國(guó)戰(zhàn)時(shí)首都重慶與倫敦聯(lián)系起來(lái)，展示了兩城遭受德日法西斯狂轟濫炸、兩國(guó)人民的戰(zhàn)時(shí)友誼，以及軍民的頑強(qiáng)不屈。

“共度時(shí)艱：倫敦·重慶大轟炸”圖片展在倫敦展出。

在倫敦展出期間，參觀者絡(luò)繹不絕。

一場(chǎng)中英跨國(guó)合作的展覽

這場(chǎng)由重慶圖書館和英國(guó)牛津大學(xué)共同主辦的“共度時(shí)艱：倫敦·重慶大轟炸”圖片展已于今年4月30日在英國(guó)牛津大學(xué)中國(guó)中心展出，3個(gè)月后移回重慶，并于8月15日日本宣布無(wú)條件投降73周年之際，在重慶圖書館繼續(xù)展出。

歷史上，倫敦大轟炸、重慶大轟炸、柏林大轟炸與東京大轟炸，被稱為二戰(zhàn)時(shí)期的四大轟炸。重慶與倫敦，兩座城市經(jīng)歷了相同的災(zāi)難。展覽上，134張圖片，再現(xiàn)二戰(zhàn)時(shí)期兩地人民在殘酷的戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)面前流露的堅(jiān)韌，如同一條精神紐帶，牽動(dòng)每一個(gè)參觀者的神經(jīng)。

“今年是重慶大轟炸80周年，也是英國(guó)牛津大學(xué)中國(guó)中心與重慶圖書館開展合作交流10周年?！敝貞c圖書館館長(zhǎng)任競(jìng)表示，雙方共同舉辦這場(chǎng)展覽，既為了讓第二次世界大戰(zhàn)的史實(shí)在中西方主流社會(huì)中被正確認(rèn)識(shí)和廣泛傳播，又以展覽為契機(jī)，持續(xù)深化中英兩國(guó)的親密伙伴關(guān)系，拓展雙方人文合作的新領(lǐng)域。

緣起一場(chǎng)國(guó)際學(xué)術(shù)交流活動(dòng)

此次展覽最早緣于10年前的一次國(guó)際學(xué)術(shù)交流活動(dòng)。2009年，長(zhǎng)期致力于中國(guó)抗日戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)史的研究，創(chuàng)辦了牛津大學(xué)中國(guó)抗日戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)研究中心，并出版《中國(guó)，被遺忘的盟友》一書的拉納·米德教授，受邀到重慶參加學(xué)術(shù)研討會(huì)。他在考察重慶大轟炸等抗戰(zhàn)遺址后，提議能否與重慶方面合作，對(duì)重慶大轟炸和倫敦大轟炸進(jìn)行比較研究。

直至2013年，中日戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)國(guó)際共同研究第五次會(huì)議在重慶召開，當(dāng)初的想法變成了現(xiàn)實(shí)。牛津大學(xué)中國(guó)中心和西南大學(xué)、重慶圖書館簽訂戰(zhàn)略合作框架協(xié)議，雙方在人員交往、文獻(xiàn)搜集、學(xué)術(shù)研究三方面展開了深入交流和合作。于是，“共度時(shí)艱：倫敦·重慶大轟炸”圖片展作為合作項(xiàng)目之一，就正式啟動(dòng)。

“重慶大轟炸”圖片在倫敦反響熱烈

整個(gè)展覽分為“二戰(zhàn)時(shí)期的中英同盟關(guān)系”“倫敦大轟炸”“重慶大轟炸”“二戰(zhàn)勝利”4個(gè)部分。據(jù)展覽策展人，重慶圖書館研究咨詢中心主任唐伯友介紹，在牛津大學(xué)只展出了“倫敦大轟炸”“重慶大轟炸”兩個(gè)部分。自開展后，觀展的有牛津大學(xué)師生、學(xué)者、當(dāng)?shù)厥忻?，絡(luò)繹不絕。

“國(guó)外民眾對(duì)重慶大轟炸以及中國(guó)人民抗日戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)史知之甚少，所以他們對(duì)重慶大轟炸的圖片表現(xiàn)出極大的興趣，其中就有不少參觀者在一張寫有標(biāo)語(yǔ)‘愈炸愈強(qiáng)’的經(jīng)典照片前合影留念?！碧撇颜f(shuō)，因展覽反響熱烈，原本計(jì)劃于6月底結(jié)束的展覽，延展至7月底才結(jié)束。

在倫敦學(xué)術(shù)界，此次展覽也受到不少關(guān)注。展出期間，牛津大學(xué)中國(guó)中心就中國(guó)抗戰(zhàn)史主題舉辦了學(xué)術(shù)研討會(huì)?！霸跁?huì)議上，我們結(jié)識(shí)了國(guó)外同一領(lǐng)域的學(xué)者，從他們口中，了解到國(guó)外對(duì)中國(guó)抗戰(zhàn)史的研究情況，這對(duì)我們往后的研究以及中英雙方的深入交流與合作起到很大作用?！?/p>

關(guān)于中國(guó)抗戰(zhàn)史的學(xué)術(shù)研討會(huì)在牛津大學(xué)中國(guó)中心舉行。

50余張圖片首次在重慶出現(xiàn)

“本次展覽有50余張照片是首次與重慶市民見面?！碧撇颜f(shuō)，籌備之初，項(xiàng)目組收到牛津大學(xué)中國(guó)中心提供的倫敦大轟炸歷史照片，共計(jì)300余張；重慶中國(guó)三峽博物館、重慶圖書館、重慶市檔案館等機(jī)構(gòu)提供的大轟炸照片上萬(wàn)張。其中倫敦大轟炸的照片皆典藏于英國(guó)戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)博物館。

為了讓整個(gè)展覽凸現(xiàn)人民的樂(lè)觀與堅(jiān)韌，選片之初，主辦方也頗費(fèi)心思?！按舜握钩霾辉僦饕故緫?zhàn)爭(zhēng)的慘狀，而是以戰(zhàn)時(shí)人民積極的生活狀態(tài)為‘主角’，這一想法得到了中英雙方的一致贊同?！碧撇颜f(shuō)。

記者在展覽現(xiàn)場(chǎng)看到不少此類照片，如一張?jiān)趥惗乇眳^(qū)防空洞里，避難的市民圍在一臺(tái)留聲機(jī)前收聽消息，神情自若；還有一張無(wú)家可歸的孩子在倫敦磨坊山約翰基布爾教堂享受茶點(diǎn)，笑容依舊。類似的照片在“重慶大轟炸”部分也能看到：日機(jī)轟炸重慶后，城中小什字一帶變成廢墟，市民積極參與滅火，讓人印象深刻。

據(jù)介紹，為讓更多人了解倫敦與重慶大轟炸的基本史實(shí)，該展覽還將在國(guó)內(nèi)外其他城市和高校進(jìn)行巡展。截止目前，項(xiàng)目組已收到香港樹人大學(xué)、西南大學(xué)等高校承辦巡展的意向。

50余張圖片首次在重慶展出。

The Bombing of Chongqing refers to the terror bombing operation conducted by the Japanese invaders from February 1938 to December 1944, which even lasted for 6 years plus 10 months. During the same period,London, thousands of miles away from China, was also suffering strategic bombing by the German army from September 1940 to May 1941.

Over 70 years later, a photo exhibition entitled “Tiding Over Hard Times Together∶ The Chongqing Bombing and The London Blitz” linked the Chinese and British wartime capitals Chongqing and London during World War II through the main line “big bombing”, showing the indiscriminate bombing on the two cities by the German and Japanese fascists and the wartime friendship between the two peoples, as well as the unyielding spirit of the militaries and civilians.

A Cross-border Cooperation between China and Britain

The photo exhibition of “Tiding Over Hard Times Together∶ The Chongqing Bombing and The London Blitz” co-sponsored by the Chongqing Library and the University of Oxford was first held at the University of Oxford China Center on April 30th this year, and moved back to Chongqing three months later. On the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of the unconditional surrender of Japan on August 15, it continued to be exhibited in the Chongqing Library.

Historically, The Chongqing Bombing, the London Blitz, the Bombing of Berlin in World War II and the bombing of Tokyo were known as the Four Bombings of World War II. Among them,Chongqing and London have experienced the same disasters and sufferings. In the exhibition, 134 pictures and photos have showed the great tenacity of the peoples facing the brutal war during the World War II. It is like a spiritual bond that tugs the nerves of every visitor.

“This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Chongqing Bombing. It is also the 10th anniversary of the cooperation between the University of Oxford China Center and the Chongqing Library.”Chongqing Library Director Ren Jing said, the exhibition jointly held by the two sides will make the historical facts of the World War II correctly understood by and widely disseminated in the mainstream society of China and the West. Besides, it is also an opportunity to continuously deepen the intimate partnership between China and Britain and expand the new field of bilateral cultural cooperation.

Originating from An International Academic Exchange

The exhibition originated from an international academic exchange event 10 years ago. In 2009, Rana Mitter, the author of Forgotten Ally∶ China’s War with Japan who has devoted himself to the study of China’s anti-Japanese war history and founded the Oxford University Research Center of the Chinese Anti-Japanese War, was invited to participate in academic seminars in Chongqing. After investigating the the Chongqing bombing ruins and other anti-war sites, he proposed whether he could cooperate with Chongqing to conduct a comparative study on the Chongqing Bombing and the London Blitz.

Until 2013 when the Fifth International Joint Research Conference on Sino-Japanese War was held in Chongqing, the original idea became a reality. the University of Oxford China signed a framework agreement on strategic cooperation with Southwest University and Chongqing Library.The two sides conducted in-depth exchanges and cooperation in personnel exchanges, literature collection, and academic research. As a result,the photo exhibition “Tiding Over Hard Times Together∶ The Chongqing Bombing and The London Blitz” was officially launched as one of the cooperation projects.

The Photos of Chongqing Bombing Evoked Strong Public Responses in London

The exhibition is divided into four parts∶ “China-UK Alliance during World War II”, “the London Blitz”, “the Chongqing Bombing” and “the Victory of the World War II”. According to Tang Boyou, the curator of the exhibition and director of the Chongqing Library Research and Consulting Center, only two parts, namely “the London Blitz” and “the Chongqing Bombing”, have been shown at University of Oxford. Since its launching, a number of teachers,students and scholars from Oxford and local citizens came for a visit.

“Foreign people know little about the history of the Chongqing Bombing and the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japan, so they showed great interest in the pictures and photos of the Chongqing Bombing. Many of them took a group photo in front of a classic photo with the slogan “Fighting Stronger for the Heavier Bombing”. Tang Boyou said, due to the enthusiastic response of the exhibition, the exhibition originally planned to conclude at the end of June was extended until the end of July.

In the academic world of London, the exhibition also received a lot of attention. During the exhibition, the University of Oxford China Center held an academic seminar themed on the history of Chinese Sino-Japanese Warfare.“At the meeting, we met scholars from the same field abroad and learned about the foreign study of the history of Chinese Sino-Japanese Warfare. It will play a significant role in our future research and the in-depth exchanges and cooperation between China and the UK.”

Over 50 Pictures Appeared in Chongqing for the First Time

“There are more than 50 pictures and photos appeared in this exhibition for the first time and met with Chongqing citizens.” Tang Boyou said, the project team received a total of more than 300 photos of the London Blitz history provided by the University of Oxford China Center at the beginning of the preparation; Over ten thousand photos were provided by Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum, Chongqing Library, Chongqing Archives and other institutions. Among them, the photos of the London Blitz were all collected in the British War Museum.

In order to make the whole exhibition highlight the optimism and tenacity of the people, the organizers also tried to rack brains at the beginning of the film selection. “This exhibition no longer takes showing the horror and misery of war as its main purpose, but makes the active life in wartime a main line.This idea has been unanimously endorsed by both China and Britain.” Tang Boyou said.

The reporter saw many photos like these at the exhibition site. One of them describes a shelter in the North District of London, where the citizens seeking refuge are crowding in front of a phonograph, listening to the news with an easy grace; Another one shows a homeless child is enjoying refreshments at the John Kibble Church in the Mill Hill in London, and his simile is brightly shining. Similar photos can be seen in the Chongqing Bombing section∶ After the Japanese bombing of Chongqing, Xiaoshizi became a ruin, and the citizens was actively fighting the fire, which is really impressive.

According to reports, in order to make more people understand the basic historical facts of the London Blitz and the Chongqing Bombing, the exhibition will also tour in other cities and universities at home and abroad. Up to now, the project team has received the letter of intent of the Hong Kong Shue Yan University, the Southwest University and other universities to undertake the tour.