Frenchman recognized for gifting anti-fascist war era photos to China

The Chinese Embassy in France held a handover ceremony on Monday for a major gift of wartime photos, China Central Television has reported.

The 618 images, donated by French citizen Marcus Detrez, have been permanently added to the collection of the Shanghai Songhu Memorial Hall for the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).

Chen Dong, a minister of the Chinese Embassy in France, presented Detrez with an official donation certificate and letter of appreciation on behalf of the museum.

The photos originally belonged to Detrez's grandfather, Roger Pierre Laurence, who lived in Shanghai in the 1930s. They were authenticated as gelatin silver prints dating from the 1930s to 1950s, according to local authorities in Shanghai's Baoshan district, the Paper News reported.

Experts have noted their historical value for research on the war against Japanese aggression and the global fight against fascism, and have confirmed their authenticity as original prints, the report said.

"While ownership has been transferred to the museum, copyright remains undetermined, as the original photographer could not be clarified," said a spokesperson for the Baoshan authorities.

The collection includes photos from the Battle of Songhu, also known as the Battle of Shanghai, offering diverse perspectives on the conflict, including evidence of atrocities committed by Japanese forces during China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).

In February, Detrez travelled to China to donate the collection. Most of the photos have annotations written by his grandfather, adding context to scenes such as the bombing of Shanghai and atrocities committed by Japanese troops during the invasion.