Shanghighlander
Encyclopedia
Foreigners of British origin who lived in Shanghai
in extraterritorial areas from 1842 (due to the Treaty of Nanjing) until 1943 when a Sino-British friendship treaty was signed and their livelihood, the treaty port system, was abandoned. These "Shanghailanders" were a minority in the International Settlement
in Shanghai, nevertheless they governed it as they were still connected to the British Empire. They elected their own "Shanghai Municipal Council" and employed their own "Shanghai Municipal Police
Force".
During World War II
these extraterritorial zones like the French Concession or the International Settlements were the only place left for Jews to emigrate to without visa
, certificate of profession or capital required. Thus, at that time a community of about 18.000 Jews – ca. 14,000 German
and 3,000 Austrian
– formed. Like other Jewish refugees they were able to flee the Third Reich
too, but weren't allowed to enter other countries, except for Shanghai: The Port of Last Resort.
After WW2 most of these refugees tried to leave Shanghai. The majority emigrated to the US or Israel
.
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...
in extraterritorial areas from 1842 (due to the Treaty of Nanjing) until 1943 when a Sino-British friendship treaty was signed and their livelihood, the treaty port system, was abandoned. These "Shanghailanders" were a minority in the International Settlement
International Settlement
International Settlement may refer to:* International Settlement , a red light district in San Francisco* Shanghai International Settlement, territory in Shanghai leased to Britain and the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries...
in Shanghai, nevertheless they governed it as they were still connected to the British Empire. They elected their own "Shanghai Municipal Council" and employed their own "Shanghai Municipal Police
Shanghai Municipal Police
The Shanghai Municipal Police was the police force of the Shanghai Municipal Council which governed the Shanghai International Settlement between 1854 and 1943, when the settlement was retroceded to Chinese control....
Force".
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
these extraterritorial zones like the French Concession or the International Settlements were the only place left for Jews to emigrate to without visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
, certificate of profession or capital required. Thus, at that time a community of about 18.000 Jews – ca. 14,000 German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
and 3,000 Austrian
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
– formed. Like other Jewish refugees they were able to flee the Third Reich
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
too, but weren't allowed to enter other countries, except for Shanghai: The Port of Last Resort.
After WW2 most of these refugees tried to leave Shanghai. The majority emigrated to the US or Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Famous Shanghailanders
- Werner Michael Blumenthal
- Peter Finkelgruen
- Fritz Hungerleider
- Ayya KhemaAyya KhemaAyya Khema , a Buddhist teacher, was born as Ilse Kussel in Berlin, Germany, to Jewish parents. Khema escaped Nazis persecution during World War II. She eventually moved to the United States. After travelling in Asia she decided to become a Buddhist nun in Sri Lanka in 1979...
- Jakob RosenfeldJakob RosenfeldJakob Rosenfeld , more commonly known as General Luo, served as the Minister of Health in the 1947 Provisional Communist Military Government of China under Mao Zedong....
- Franziska TausigFranziska TausigFranziska Tausig was an Austrian author. Her parents were deported to Theresienstadt and killed in Treblinka.She gave birth to her son, Otto Tausig in 1922 in Vienna. He later became an actor and director. In 1938, the persecution of Jews was heightening in Nazi-dominated Austria...
- Eva Ungar Grudin
- Margot FonteynMargot FonteynDame Margot Fonteyn de Arias, DBE , was an English ballerina of the 20th century. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest classical ballet dancers of all time...
- J.G. Ballard