Nanjing Safety Zone
Bhavya Kamisetty, Nila Krishnasami, Sristi Bhattacharjee
(Period 4)
Topic
What It Was
- Imperial Japanese Army Forces were murdering thousands of people in Nanjing, China
- November 22, 1937: International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone created
- meant to be a refuge for the people in Nanjing
Japanese army forces took control of Nanjing in the Battle of Nanking.
John Rabe lead the organization of the International Committee of the Nanking Safety Zone.
Topic
Who Was Involved
- John Rabe: German national and Nazi party member, sent letters of protest to Japanese commander of Nanking
- Doctors Robert Wilson & C.S. Trimmer: treated patients who were raped and tortured
- Willhelmina Vautrin/Minnie Vautrin: protected hundreds of thousands of women from rape
Where
- China
- Nanking (today Nanjing), China's capital at the time
- included area from Nanjing University to city's northern gates
- Japanese did not want to attack an unoccupied place
Topic
map of China, including city of Nanjing
Characteristics
- the aiding and ensurance of the survival of thousands of Chinese people from the brutality of the Japanese army
- the westerners also recorded events and wrote letters, which brought foreign attention to the things the Chinese people were going through and for later record (would not have been known otherwise)
Topic
Letter by Minnie Vautrin describing her memories during the Nanjing Safety Zone
Impact
- saved the lives of 250,000 Chinese people from the violence of the Nanjing Massacre
- Strengthened bonds between westerners and the Chinese, an act of mass kindness against all the ugliness of war -> inspired people and showed not everything was hopeless
Topic
This is a map of the Nanjing Safety Zone in which thousands of Chinese people were saved from massacre.
Civics
Topic
Civics: It is one's civic duty to help those in need.
Nanjing Safety Zone: The foreigners who helped Chinese civillians performed their civic duty.
Topic
Health
- Health: We're taught about how to keep our bodies and our mind healthy.
- Nanjing Safety Zone: The Westerners did their best to ensure that the Chinese had healthy bodies and minds.