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In 1948, a strange country sent a huge donation to save a family that was about to starve to death. The family's story began in World War II, but took a wonderful turn in China.
Before the outbreak of World War II, there was a German named Johann Rabe. He spent a long 30 years in China, making it his second home because of his love of Chinese culture. In 1911, he was recruited to work for Siemens AG in Germany, where he served until his death. However, his trip to China is not just work, but also a mission to document Chinese history.
In 1931, Rabe began documenting his life, initially as a simple diary. However, when the Japanese invasion of China broke out, his diary became a real-time witness to the evil. In December 1937, the Japanese army captured Nanjing, triggering a horrific massacre that lasted for more than 40 days. While thousands of Nanjing citizens suffered unspeakable suffering, Rabe did not hesitate to open his home, which hosted more than 600 refugees. Rabe and his friends saved nearly 250,000 innocent lives at great risk in the "Nanjing Safety Zone," which is less than 4 square kilometers.
During this difficult time, the Japanese army constantly tried to violate the safe zone, but Rabe did not flinch, even risking his life to protect these refugees who had nothing to do with him. He once prevented Japanese soldiers from crossing the wall late at night, firmly showing his true colors as a hero. In less than two months, Rabe recorded as many as 500 atrocities committed by the Japanese army in his diary. Although this diary cannot fully present the full range of tragic conditions experienced in Nanjing, it is enough to reveal the cruelty and evil deeds of the Japanese army.
In addition to protecting refugees, Rabe seeks international assistance to ensure their survival. On New Year's Day 1938, the citizens of Nanjing presented him with three respectful bows and a red silk cloth with the inscription "You are a living bodhisattva of hundreds of thousands of people." At that moment, the light of humanism transcended borders.
Surprisingly, Rabe was a member of the German Nazi Party at the time and an ally of Japan. However, he recorded this war of aggression in an objective and impartial manner, making his "Rabe's Diary" full of real historical vicissitudes and touching emotions.
In 1938, Siemens recalled Rabe, but he did not back down, holding several lectures to share the truth he had seen. However, his efforts were not given the attention they deserved at the time, and he himself faced great risks.
After the end of World War II, Rabe was arrested, and although he was released, his life was very difficult. By 1948, his family was even starving. When the news reached Nanjing, Nanjing citizens spontaneously organized donations and raised 100 million yuan. The money eventually went to Rabe and rescued his family.
Rabe was moved the moment he received the remittance, but he did not know that the gratitude of Nanjing people to him did not stop there, but passed down to this day.
Time flies, and in 2020, there was a global outbreak and many countries urgently needed medical supplies and medicines. It was at this critical moment that Dr. Thomas Rabe, Rabe's grandson, sent an urgent call for help from China. All parties responded positively and delivered a large amount of materials to him. Thomas Rabe, who received the Chinese Government Friendship Award, once again underscores the deep friendship between China and Germany.
It is worth mentioning that in 2016, the Central Archives of the National Archives Bureau of China received the "Rabe Diary" donated by Thomas Rabe, which became one of the precious iron evidence of the Japanese invasion of China.
From Rabe's saving 250,000 compatriots at risk of personal safety, to his granddaughter's publication of Rabe's Diary under great pressure, to his grandson's outstanding contributions in the field of medicine, Sino-German friendship has lasted for nearly a century and will continue to be passed on. Rabe will always be remembered by Chinese people, who represented the spirit of love and recorded the truth of history, which will never be forgotten.
Thank you, Rabe. Your story will always inspire us to remember history, cherish friendship and uphold human values.
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