John Rabe House
Encyclopedia
The John Rabe House located at Xiaofenqiao No. 1 (小粉桥1号) in Nanjing
, was where John Rabe
, former Siemens
China Representative and Chairman of the International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone
, resided from 1932 to 1938. Today it accommodates the “John Rabe and International Safety Zone Memorial Hall” and the “John Rabe Research and Exchange Centre for Peace and Reconciliation.”
The John Rabe House is located in the center of Nanjing
, on the campus of Nanjing University
. John Rabe stayed here during the Nanking Massacre
and protected more than 600 Chinese refugees in this house, and within its garden, from Japanese persecution. It was also in this house where he wrote the famous “Diaries of John Rabe
”
For almost half a century, Rabe's former residence in Nanking (as it then was) received little recognition until its location was publicized by the publication of Rabe's diaries in December 1996 by his granddaughter Ursula Reinhardt. When German president Johannes Rau
visited Nanjing University
in 2003, he expressed concern about the dilapidated condition of John Rabe’s former residence. After Rau’s visit and with his great encouragement to renovate the house, the project kicked off successfully in 2005. The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
in Shanghai
, together with Siemens Ltd. China, Bosch-Siemens Home Appliances
signed an agreement with Nanjing University to renovate the house and construct the “The John Rabe and International Safety Zone Memorial Hall” and “John Rabe Research and Exchange Centre for Peace and Reconciliation.” The German side was to provide financing while Nanjing University was responsible for the renovation and maintenance of the John Rabe House as well as for the establishment and management of the Memorial Hall and Research Center.
sends a Peace Servant
to work at the Memorial Hall and Exchange Center every year.
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, was where John Rabe
John Rabe
John Rabe was a German businessman who is best known for his efforts to stop the atrocities of the Japanese army during the Nanking Occupation and his work to protect and help the Chinese civilians during the event...
, former Siemens
Siemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
China Representative and Chairman of the International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone
Nanking Safety Zone
The Nanking Safety Zone was a demilitarized zone for Chinese civilians set up on the eve of the Japanese breakthrough in the Battle of Nanking...
, resided from 1932 to 1938. Today it accommodates the “John Rabe and International Safety Zone Memorial Hall” and the “John Rabe Research and Exchange Centre for Peace and Reconciliation.”
The John Rabe House is located in the center of Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, on the campus of Nanjing University
Nanjing University
Nanjing University , or Nanking University, is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning in China...
. John Rabe stayed here during the Nanking Massacre
Nanking Massacre
The Nanking Massacre or Nanjing Massacre, also known as the Rape of Nanking, was a mass murder, genocide and war rape that occurred during the six-week period following the Japanese capture of the city of Nanjing , the former capital of the Republic of China, on December 13, 1937 during the Second...
and protected more than 600 Chinese refugees in this house, and within its garden, from Japanese persecution. It was also in this house where he wrote the famous “Diaries of John Rabe
The Good Man of Nanking
The Good Man of Nanking: The Diaries of John Rabe is a collection of the personal journals of John Rabe, a German businessman who lived in Nanjing at the time of the Nanking Massacre in 1937–1938. The book contains the diaries that Rabe kept during the Nanking Massacre, writing from his personal...
”
For almost half a century, Rabe's former residence in Nanking (as it then was) received little recognition until its location was publicized by the publication of Rabe's diaries in December 1996 by his granddaughter Ursula Reinhardt. When German president Johannes Rau
Johannes Rau
Johannes Rau was a German politician of the SPD. He was President of Germany from 1 July 1999 until 30 June 2004, and Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia from 1978 to 1998.-Education and work:...
visited Nanjing University
Nanjing University
Nanjing University , or Nanking University, is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning in China...
in 2003, he expressed concern about the dilapidated condition of John Rabe’s former residence. After Rau’s visit and with his great encouragement to renovate the house, the project kicked off successfully in 2005. The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, together with Siemens Ltd. China, Bosch-Siemens Home Appliances
Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, is the largest manufacturer of home appliances in Europe and one of the leading companies in the sector worldwide...
signed an agreement with Nanjing University to renovate the house and construct the “The John Rabe and International Safety Zone Memorial Hall” and “John Rabe Research and Exchange Centre for Peace and Reconciliation.” The German side was to provide financing while Nanjing University was responsible for the renovation and maintenance of the John Rabe House as well as for the establishment and management of the Memorial Hall and Research Center.
John Rabe and International Safety Zone Memorial Hall
On October 31, 2006, the “John Rabe and International Safety Zone Memorial Hall” officially opened to the public. On 1628 square meters, 6 exhibition areas, more than 300 photographs, files and historical material tell Rabe’s life story. It’s main focus is to commemorate the heroic efforts of John Rabe and the other members of the Nanking Safety Zone, to save innocent lives during the Nanking Massacre. The Memorial Hall in Rabe’s former residence can be visited Tuesday – Sunday from 8:30 to 16:30. Since 2008 the Austrian Service AbroadAustrian Service Abroad
Austrian Service Abroad is a non-profit initiative and was founded in 1998 by Andreas Maislinger and Andreas Hörtnagl. Since 2001 Michael Prochazka is part of the managing committee.-General Information:...
sends a Peace Servant
Austrian Peace Service
The Austrian Peace Service is the smallest of the three sectors of the Austrian Service Abroad.The Austrian Peace Service is one of the three sections of the Non-Profit-Organisation Austrian Service Abroad and offers a twelve month long alternative to the nine month long orderly civilian service.-...
to work at the Memorial Hall and Exchange Center every year.
See also
- John RabeJohn RabeJohn Rabe was a German businessman who is best known for his efforts to stop the atrocities of the Japanese army during the Nanking Occupation and his work to protect and help the Chinese civilians during the event...
- Nanking MassacreNanking MassacreThe Nanking Massacre or Nanjing Massacre, also known as the Rape of Nanking, was a mass murder, genocide and war rape that occurred during the six-week period following the Japanese capture of the city of Nanjing , the former capital of the Republic of China, on December 13, 1937 during the Second...
- Nanking Safety ZoneNanking Safety ZoneThe Nanking Safety Zone was a demilitarized zone for Chinese civilians set up on the eve of the Japanese breakthrough in the Battle of Nanking...
- The Good Man of NankingThe Good Man of NankingThe Good Man of Nanking: The Diaries of John Rabe is a collection of the personal journals of John Rabe, a German businessman who lived in Nanjing at the time of the Nanking Massacre in 1937–1938. The book contains the diaries that Rabe kept during the Nanking Massacre, writing from his personal...
- The International Committee for Nanking Safety ZoneThe International Committee for Nanking Safety ZoneThe International Committee was established in order to protect and reinstate the Nanking Safety Zone. Many Westerners were living in the city at that time, conducting trade or on missionary trips. Following the departing Chinese government, most foreigners also decided to leave the city. As the...