A Shanghai Suicide – December 31st 1940

On the last day of 1940 these Chinese women attempted suicide by jumping into the Whangpoo River (Huangpu River) tied together. Passersby pulled them out and they did not drown. The newspaper speculated that the harsh life in Shanghai since the 1937 Japanese invasion was probably to blame – and maybe it was (stagflation, hunger, shortages, unemployment, dislocation, death, disease – take your pick?) but maybe they had another story…who knows! It’s certainly quite a haunting picture.