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| The '''Nanjing Safety Zone''' (南京安全区) was a ] for Chinese civilians set up on the Eve of the Japanese breakthrough in the ] (], ]). Following the example of ] Father ] in ], the foreigners in ] created the Nanjing Safety Zone, managed by the ''Nanjing Safety Zone International Committee'' led by German businessman |
The '''Nanjing Safety Zone''' (南京安全区) was a ] for Chinese civilians set up on the Eve of the Japanese breakthrough in the ] (], ]). Following the example of ] Father ] in ], the foreigners in ] created the Nanjing Safety Zone, managed by the ''Nanjing Safety Zone International Committee'' led by German businessman and Nazi party member ]. Some people refer to the city as Nanjing, and some others call the city Nanking. | ||
| ==Area== | ==Area== | ||
| The Safety Zone bordered roads on all four sides and had an area of approximately 3.86 ], with 25 refugee camps centred around the US Embassy. |
The Safety Zone bordered roads on all four sides and had an area of approximately 3.86 ], with 25 refugee camps centred around the US Embassy. This is approximately the same size as ] in New York. | ||
| ==The Position of the Zone== | |||
| The City of ] affirmed the existence of the Safety zone, sent cash and food, and staffed security personnel in the zone. The Japanese army did not recognise its existence, but promised that as long as it remained demilitarised the Japanese army would not invade the area. | The City of ] affirmed the existence of the Safety zone, sent cash and food, and staffed security personnel in the zone. The Japanese army did not recognise its existence, but promised that as long as it remained demilitarised the Japanese army would not invade the area. | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| Please note that the guerrilla attacks, the Chinese Nationalist Government frequently used, was illegal according to the International Treaty, because as stated above, guerrilla attacks endanger the life of innocent citizens. | |||
| ==What Happened in the Zone== | ==What Happened in the Zone== | ||
| A common chronology of events accepted by the majority of credible researchers is: | |||
| In January 1938, there are two main views in the Safety Zone. | |||
| ⚫ | :The Japanese Army claimed that there were guerrilla soldiers in the Safety Zone and blamed it on ] allowing anyone not wearing uniforms to enter. Citing this reason, Japanese soldiers forcibly entered the Zone. | ||
| * Scholors who support the ]: | |||
| :The Japanese soldiers committed atrocities in the Safety Zone that were part of the much larger ]. The International Committee appealed a number of times to the Japanese army, with John Rabe using his credentials as a ] member, but to no avail. From time to time the Japanese would enter the Safety Zone at will, carry off a few hundred men and women, and either summarily execute them or rape and then kill them. | |||
| ⚫ | :In late ] ], the Japanese army forced all refugees in the Safety Zone to return home, and claimed to have "restored order". On ] 1938, the Nanjing Safety Zone International Committee was forcibly renamed <!--not sure by whom, probably IJA-->"''Nanjing International Rescue Committee''", and the Safety Zone effectively ceased to function. The last refugee camps were closed in ] ]. | ||
| ⚫ | :After the months-long Nanjing Massacre, John Rabe and his International Committee were credited with saving 50,000 - 250,000 lives despite the ongoing massacre. | ||
| ⚫ | In late ] ], the Japanese army forced all refugees in the Safety Zone to return home, and claimed to have "restored order". On ] 1938, the Nanjing Safety Zone International Committee was forcibly renamed <!--not sure by whom, probably IJA-->"''Nanjing International Rescue Committee''", and the Safety Zone effectively ceased to function. The last refugee camps were closed in ] ]. | ||
| However, certain right-wing and nationalist Japanese authors and politicians claim that: | |||
| * Scholors who decline the ]: | |||
| In ] ], the citizens in the Safety Zone started realizing that the Japanese Army was friendly rather than enemy. Even a Japanese |
:'''''' In ] ], the citizens in the Safety Zone started realizing that the Japanese Army was friendly rather than enemy. Even a Japanese-hating Christian Father, John Maggie, stated that he saw only one homicide case in the small Safety Zone. This is the one of the reasons why the population of the Safety Zone increased from 200,000 to 250,000. The population of the Safety Zone was 200,000 before the Japanese entering Nanking. The population was reported by the Chief of Nanking Police Department to International Committee, according to "Documents of the Nanking Safety Zone" issued by Kelly and Walsh, Shanghai. However, according to the publicity, the population of The Safety Zone on ] 14th was 250,000. In ], the citizens went back to the home because of restoration of the city's security. | ||
| ⚫ | Most researchers and scholars believe the Japanese soldiers committed atrocities in the Safety Zone. However, a minority of predominantly right-wing Japanese politicians and authors disagree. John Rabe sent the Japanese Army a letter of appreciation that he "appreciate the Japanese Army secured the safety of the Safety Zone and the citizens inside had been saved." | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| <!-- I'll come up with a map instead of this lengthy description, for now I need this as a reference. 国际委员会划定的南京安全区以美国大使馆所在地和金陵大学等教会学校为中心，占地约3.86平方公里，四面以马路为界：东面以中山路为界，从新街口至山西路交叉路口；北面从山西路交叉路口向西划线至西康路；西面从上面提到的北界线向南至汉口路中段（呈拱形）再往东南划直线，直至上海路与汉中路交叉路口；界内分设交通部大厦、华侨招待所、金陵女子文理学院、最高法院、金陵大学等25处难民收容所。 | <!-- I'll come up with a map instead of this lengthy description, for now I need this as a reference. 国际委员会划定的南京安全区以美国大使馆所在地和金陵大学等教会学校为中心，占地约3.86平方公里，四面以马路为界：东面以中山路为界，从新街口至山西路交叉路口；北面从山西路交叉路口向西划线至西康路；西面从上面提到的北界线向南至汉口路中段（呈拱形）再往东南划直线，直至上海路与汉中路交叉路口；界内分设交通部大厦、华侨招待所、金陵女子文理学院、最高法院、金陵大学等25处难民收容所。 | ||
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The Nanjing Safety Zone (南京安全区) was a demilitarised zone for Chinese civilians set up on the Eve of the Japanese breakthrough in the Battle of Nanjing (November 22, 1937). Following the example of Jesuit Father Robert Jacquinot de Besange in Shanghai, the foreigners in Nanjing created the Nanjing Safety Zone, managed by the Nanjing Safety Zone International Committee led by German businessman and Nazi party member John Rabe. Some people refer to the city as Nanjing, and some others call the city Nanking.
Area
The Safety Zone bordered roads on all four sides and had an area of approximately 3.86 km², with 25 refugee camps centred around the US Embassy. This is approximately the same size as Central Park in New York.
The City of Nanking affirmed the existence of the Safety zone, sent cash and food, and staffed security personnel in the zone. The Japanese army did not recognise its existence, but promised that as long as it remained demilitarised the Japanese army would not invade the area.
What Happened in the Zone
A common chronology of events accepted by the majority of credible researchers is:
- The Japanese Army claimed that there were guerrilla soldiers in the Safety Zone and blamed it on John Rabe allowing anyone not wearing uniforms to enter. Citing this reason, Japanese soldiers forcibly entered the Zone.
- The Japanese soldiers committed atrocities in the Safety Zone that were part of the much larger Nanjing Massacre. The International Committee appealed a number of times to the Japanese army, with John Rabe using his credentials as a NSDAP member, but to no avail. From time to time the Japanese would enter the Safety Zone at will, carry off a few hundred men and women, and either summarily execute them or rape and then kill them.
- In late January 1938, the Japanese army forced all refugees in the Safety Zone to return home, and claimed to have "restored order". On February 18 1938, the Nanjing Safety Zone International Committee was forcibly renamed "Nanjing International Rescue Committee", and the Safety Zone effectively ceased to function. The last refugee camps were closed in May 1938.
- After the months-long Nanjing Massacre, John Rabe and his International Committee were credited with saving 50,000 - 250,000 lives despite the ongoing massacre.
However, certain right-wing and nationalist Japanese authors and politicians claim that:
- In January 1938, the citizens in the Safety Zone started realizing that the Japanese Army was friendly rather than enemy. Even a Japanese-hating Christian Father, John Maggie, stated that he saw only one homicide case in the small Safety Zone. This is the one of the reasons why the population of the Safety Zone increased from 200,000 to 250,000. The population of the Safety Zone was 200,000 before the Japanese entering Nanking. The population was reported by the Chief of Nanking Police Department to International Committee, according to "Documents of the Nanking Safety Zone" issued by Kelly and Walsh, Shanghai. However, according to the publicity, the population of The Safety Zone on February 14th was 250,000. In May, the citizens went back to the home because of restoration of the city's security.
Most researchers and scholars believe the Japanese soldiers committed atrocities in the Safety Zone. However, a minority of predominantly right-wing Japanese politicians and authors disagree. John Rabe sent the Japanese Army a letter of appreciation that he "appreciate the Japanese Army secured the safety of the Safety Zone and the citizens inside had been saved."