As many of you know, I have a curious streak when it comes to somewhat obscure world history events. What I mean is simply that I like to dig deep into major world events in history that for whatever reason, probably aren't covered well in Western history books. The unique thing here is how I tend to gravitate towards darker truth: stories of war and atrocity really strike me on an emotional level. I have always harbored a desire to learn more about and raise awareness of the current genocide in the Darfur region of the Sudan, as well as past genocides, tragedies, and atrocities such as the Rwandan Genocide, the Bosnian War, the 2004 Asian Tsunami, etc. Basically if the event is international and deals with issues of justice & injustice, I'm most likely interested in it. I believe that some of the most fascinating stories come out of histories darkest chapters. In the dark chaos of war and injustice, there are always a few individuals who rise to the challenge and let their light shine brighter because of it. So it's only natural that I've recently taken up an interest in the 'Rape of Nanking', the horrific events that unfolded in the Chinese capital during December 1937 when the Japanese invaded during WWII.
For the uninformed, do yourself a favor and either go to wikipedia and read up on this historical event, or better yet, if you have the time, pick up Iris Chang's graphic yet definitive work on the subject, The Rape of Nanking. There's even a recently released documentary called Nanking that brings the story to life through archival footage and interviews with survivors, as well as dramatic readings from journals of Nanking citizens by some of the best vocal actors in Hollywood. The Rape of Nanking is certainly not for the faint of heart, but I believe it to be a story worthy of being told. As an aspiring filmmaker, the thought has crossed my mind more than once to make a full fledged screenplay out of the events I'm about to briefly relate in the hopes of one day having this story recreated and told with the visual style that only a major Hollywood Epic can pull off. I don't mean to sound exploitative, but I would simply point to films like Schindler's List and Hotel Rwanda: these films were important in the way they educated everyday Americans about the events that went on during the Holocaust and the Rwandan Genocide.
What fascinated me about the rape of Nanking was the story of the international community living in the city at the time. Take Bob Wilson, an American doctor who stayed behind and quickly became known as the 'sole surgeon of Nanking' when it was left to him to perform surgery on hundreds of wounded Chinese soldiers and civilians. Or look at the case of Minnie Vautrin, the missionary in charge of Ginling Girls College who took in thousands of Chinese girls and saved them from rape and torture at the hands of the Japanese troops. Cases such as these fascinate me: these are the real heroes of history, men and women who have stood in the gap and put the lives of others ahead of their own in times of crisis. Sadly, many of these brave souls are never remembered or heralded in the mainstream record of history.
The sole individual who truly caught my eye though was John Rabe, because of his unique story and situation. Born in Germany, Rabe moved to Nanking shortly after joining the newly-established Nazi Party. He was in charge of the Siemen's office in Nanking, and when the Japanese invaded he was one of the key players in the formation of the international safety zone, and was responsible for saving the lives of thousands of Chinese in the process. Here we have a card carrying Nazi working hand in hand with Christian Missionaries to save lives in a time of war. In Rabe's defense, he wasn't a Nazi in the sense that they are remembered today, in fact, he was a good man of character and integrity, and was blind to the atrocities being committed back home by Hitler. His only source of news was a German newspaper that was a propaganda piece for the Nazi Party, and therefore obscured the truth from every reaching Rabe's ears about just what the Nazi's were quickly becoming known for everywhere else in the world. When he returned home after the war, he was arrested by the Gestapo and interrogated for hours about his knowledge of the Nanking massacre. He eventually was released because he was deemed innocent and harmless, only to be blacklisted as a Nazi and rearrested by the Soviets when they took Berlin at the end of the war. Unable to get a job and virtually lost in the fog of war, Rabe ended up eating roots out of his own garden to stay alive. Back in Nanking, the mayor of the city heard of this and together with the people of the city (people Rabe had saved no doubt), they compiled a load of food, clothes, and supplies to send to him. The theme of live saving had come full circle with Rabe owing his life to the very people he had protected only years earlier. Does this story not amaze anyone else besides me? Can't you just see this fantastic biography being adapted into a motion picture of some sort? I'm currently about to start reading Rabe's diaries, compiled in a book called The Good Man of Nanking: The Diaries of John Rabe.
The truth of it is, the Nanking Massacre left over 300,000 Chinese people dead, raped, and mutilated at the hands of the Japanese invaders. It's one of the darkest chapters of the second world war, and is virtually unheard of in the west. I would encourage everyone to get out and read about the Rape of Nanking, as well as see the documentaries and interviews on the subject. No doubt it will impact you as much as it has me, and you may lose some sleep over it, as did I. But you can never claim ignorance ever again and we can all walk away from such an atrocity with a greater appreciation for life, among other things. I have a friend who lives in Nanking, he says today you can go and visit the house John Rabe lived in, it's a museum now to commemorate the massacre and also highlights the lives of the other international ex-patriots living in the safety zone. Every December 13th they sound the air raid sirens and the whole city falls silent in remembrance of the day all those years ago that the Japanese bombed the city and invaded. For such an event to have taken place, and then to have fallen silent in the majority of history books, is a crime and shame indeed. Read the stories, hear the testimonies, and be touched by the tragedy and the inspiring actions that occurred in the city of Nanking.
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