Justin Carlson
“The Nanking Incident”
The city of Nanking, China was being broken down and marauded by Japanese Imperial forces. During these weeks Japanese murdered and raped the people of Nanking. With amounts of over 200,000 killed and 300,000 victims, the Chinese were distraught (Dowell). Through a Nazi and a group of foreigners these civilians had suck refuge, while the Chinese had left the city to burn.
Due to this event one of my conclusions is that you cannot judge by a title given. John Rabe was a Nazi businessman who had been visiting China. (Taylor) On this visit and during the events of his hosting of The Nanking Safety Zone he had many diary entries.
“It is not until we tour the city that we learn the extent of destruction. We come across corpses every 100 to 200 yards. The bodies of civilians that I examined had bullet holes in their backs. These people had been presumably fleeing and were shot from behind. The Japanese march through the city in groups of ten to twenty soldiers and loot the shops ...” (Nanking).
Rabe witnessed the destruction and sought out to help. Rabe took over 600 Chinese into his estate and had let them seek refuge under a swastika flag to stop Japanese bombings.
When the Chinese Government left a group of foreigners formed The Nanking Safety Zone.
When the committee assembled the new Nazi leader assembled with the Japanese. With the Nazi and Japanese relations it was much easier for the committee to get the required land and agreement among the Japanese.
We appreciate that the artillerymen of your army didn't attack to the Safety Zone. And we hope to contact with you to make a plan to protect general Chinese citizens who are staying in the Safety Zone. The agreement than arose between the two parties and the Japanese had respected the Safety Zone for most of the Japanese invasion. (Nanking)
The Japanese held honor to most of their word. One day the Japanese came to the University demanding that they give them all the men in the Safety Zone. The Committee and the Japanese had hit a stone wall. (Nanjing) The Japanese threatened to kill every man, woman and child within the perimeter of the Safety zone.
The Committee of the Safety Zone had come to a point where they had to give the Japanese some of their refugees. The Japanese had agreed that they would only take the men who had military experience. The Committee agreed and let them have 700 of the men. (New) The Japanese took those men to the river and disposed of them.
The safety from rape for women and children inside the safety zone was major. The Japanese army had reportedly raped 20,000 women and children on the march to Nanking and inside the walls of Nanking. The Japanese were promised that they could rape and pillage if they had continued their journey. This was a major morale booster for the imperial soldiers.
Although, these woman and children were in a safe haven away from rape, they were still subject to it due to untrusting Japanese soldiers. One night Japanese officers and soldiers had broken the fence and carried out 100 young women with them. It was a misfortunate event in the Safety zone’s existence, yet it did not discourage the committee. (Nanking)
The level of commitment from these Western and European people was amazing. When the city of Nanking fell there were only 27 foreigners left within the walls. After a few days of tyranny from the imperial forces, five reporters had left to give the story to the world. Out of the 22 foreigners within the walls 15 of them had been part of the Nanking Safety Zone committee. (Taylor)
When most people see a Nazi swastika flag flying they think of death and mass murder. Now I just don’t see that. I see a new resemblance for the Nazis. It makes me wonder if all Nazis were as extreme as Hitler. I believe that most weren’t, considering this Nazi man flew a giant swastika over his house to shelter hundreds of scared Chinese.
There are always two perspectives in every story. On the Japanese side I see one point of view and that is denial. Most Japanese see this event as an “incident”. (Nanjing) This is very ignorant and shows the lack of knowledge and the portrayal of this mass war rape and murder.
Through all of this I believe this genocide has taught me to not judge a book by its cover and to not deny what is fact. Before this project I could never see a Nazi helping to save thousands of lives. Yet, John Rabe saved many Chinese and risked his life and status among his society for the “Enemy”.
The Japanese should have not tormented the Chinese, for their governments were at war. The people of China never declared war on the Japanese and axis forces given by the government of China. The government of China, should have been responsible for its people instead of leaving foreigners to take care of the civilians. I believe when this 200,000 people found refuge from a Nazi instead of their own government, it shows the Chinese government abandonment on its people. John Rabe is a hero and believed in these Chinese while the Chinese Government didn’t.
The denial of the Japanese should be forgiven yet they should recognize the pain and humility they forced on these Citizens of the once great city of Nanking.
Sources
“Dowell, Pat. "Shelter Under The Swastika: The John Rabe Story." NPR. NPR, 14 June 2010. Web. 29 Jan. 2013.”
"Nanking Atrocities - Fall of Nanking." Nanking Atrocities - Fall of Nanking. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013.
"Nanking Atrocities - Reign of Terror." Nanking Atrocities - Reign of Terror. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013
"Nanjing Massacre-Chpt.XI: Rob Gray." Nanjing Massacre-Chpt.XI: Rob Gray. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013.
"Nanjing Massacre-Chpt.XII: Rob Gray." Nanjing Massacre-Chpt.XII: Rob Gray. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2013.
"New Research on the Nanjing Incident :: JapanFocus." New Research on the Nanjing Incident :: JapanFocus. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2013.
Taylor, Jay. "The Aftermath of the Chinese Nationalist Revolution." Google Books. Belknap Press, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2013.
“The Nanking Incident”
The city of Nanking, China was being broken down and marauded by Japanese Imperial forces. During these weeks Japanese murdered and raped the people of Nanking. With amounts of over 200,000 killed and 300,000 victims, the Chinese were distraught (Dowell). Through a Nazi and a group of foreigners these civilians had suck refuge, while the Chinese had left the city to burn.
Due to this event one of my conclusions is that you cannot judge by a title given. John Rabe was a Nazi businessman who had been visiting China. (Taylor) On this visit and during the events of his hosting of The Nanking Safety Zone he had many diary entries.
“It is not until we tour the city that we learn the extent of destruction. We come across corpses every 100 to 200 yards. The bodies of civilians that I examined had bullet holes in their backs. These people had been presumably fleeing and were shot from behind. The Japanese march through the city in groups of ten to twenty soldiers and loot the shops ...” (Nanking).
Rabe witnessed the destruction and sought out to help. Rabe took over 600 Chinese into his estate and had let them seek refuge under a swastika flag to stop Japanese bombings.
When the Chinese Government left a group of foreigners formed The Nanking Safety Zone.
When the committee assembled the new Nazi leader assembled with the Japanese. With the Nazi and Japanese relations it was much easier for the committee to get the required land and agreement among the Japanese.
We appreciate that the artillerymen of your army didn't attack to the Safety Zone. And we hope to contact with you to make a plan to protect general Chinese citizens who are staying in the Safety Zone. The agreement than arose between the two parties and the Japanese had respected the Safety Zone for most of the Japanese invasion. (Nanking)
The Japanese held honor to most of their word. One day the Japanese came to the University demanding that they give them all the men in the Safety Zone. The Committee and the Japanese had hit a stone wall. (Nanjing) The Japanese threatened to kill every man, woman and child within the perimeter of the Safety zone.
The Committee of the Safety Zone had come to a point where they had to give the Japanese some of their refugees. The Japanese had agreed that they would only take the men who had military experience. The Committee agreed and let them have 700 of the men. (New) The Japanese took those men to the river and disposed of them.
The safety from rape for women and children inside the safety zone was major. The Japanese army had reportedly raped 20,000 women and children on the march to Nanking and inside the walls of Nanking. The Japanese were promised that they could rape and pillage if they had continued their journey. This was a major morale booster for the imperial soldiers.
Although, these woman and children were in a safe haven away from rape, they were still subject to it due to untrusting Japanese soldiers. One night Japanese officers and soldiers had broken the fence and carried out 100 young women with them. It was a misfortunate event in the Safety zone’s existence, yet it did not discourage the committee. (Nanking)
The level of commitment from these Western and European people was amazing. When the city of Nanking fell there were only 27 foreigners left within the walls. After a few days of tyranny from the imperial forces, five reporters had left to give the story to the world. Out of the 22 foreigners within the walls 15 of them had been part of the Nanking Safety Zone committee. (Taylor)
When most people see a Nazi swastika flag flying they think of death and mass murder. Now I just don’t see that. I see a new resemblance for the Nazis. It makes me wonder if all Nazis were as extreme as Hitler. I believe that most weren’t, considering this Nazi man flew a giant swastika over his house to shelter hundreds of scared Chinese.
There are always two perspectives in every story. On the Japanese side I see one point of view and that is denial. Most Japanese see this event as an “incident”. (Nanjing) This is very ignorant and shows the lack of knowledge and the portrayal of this mass war rape and murder.
Through all of this I believe this genocide has taught me to not judge a book by its cover and to not deny what is fact. Before this project I could never see a Nazi helping to save thousands of lives. Yet, John Rabe saved many Chinese and risked his life and status among his society for the “Enemy”.
The Japanese should have not tormented the Chinese, for their governments were at war. The people of China never declared war on the Japanese and axis forces given by the government of China. The government of China, should have been responsible for its people instead of leaving foreigners to take care of the civilians. I believe when this 200,000 people found refuge from a Nazi instead of their own government, it shows the Chinese government abandonment on its people. John Rabe is a hero and believed in these Chinese while the Chinese Government didn’t.
The denial of the Japanese should be forgiven yet they should recognize the pain and humility they forced on these Citizens of the once great city of Nanking.
Sources
“Dowell, Pat. "Shelter Under The Swastika: The John Rabe Story." NPR. NPR, 14 June 2010. Web. 29 Jan. 2013.”
"Nanking Atrocities - Fall of Nanking." Nanking Atrocities - Fall of Nanking. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013.
"Nanking Atrocities - Reign of Terror." Nanking Atrocities - Reign of Terror. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013
"Nanjing Massacre-Chpt.XI: Rob Gray." Nanjing Massacre-Chpt.XI: Rob Gray. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013.
"Nanjing Massacre-Chpt.XII: Rob Gray." Nanjing Massacre-Chpt.XII: Rob Gray. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2013.
"New Research on the Nanjing Incident :: JapanFocus." New Research on the Nanjing Incident :: JapanFocus. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2013.
Taylor, Jay. "The Aftermath of the Chinese Nationalist Revolution." Google Books. Belknap Press, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2013.