by John Rabe
Just within the so-called Safety Zone, which thanks to the Rabe committee has essentially been saved from destruction, there have been hundreds of cases of bestial rape, all incontrovertibly documented by Germans, Americans, and their Chinese coworkers. The file of letters that the committee has sent to the Japanese authorities contains a plethora of truly shocking material. As soon as time allows, I shall forward copies, with reference to this report. I would, however, like to note at this point that foreign nationals, and above all Herr Rabe and Herr Kröger, both functionaries of the NSDAP, as well as Herr Sperling, have caught Japanese soldiers in flagranti at such violations and have risked their own lives in scaring them away from their victims.
In many cases, members of Chinese families who attempted to resist these fiends were themselves killed or wounded. Even within the offices of the German embassy, the employee Chao was ordered at gunpoint to hand over any women present on the property. Having previously lived in Dairen, Chao can speak a little Japanese and was able to explain to the Japanese that this was the German embassy and there were no women present. The threats continued even after Chao had explained to them that this was the German embassy.
At the American Mission Hospital women are constantly being admitted, the most recent case occurring only yesterday, who have suffered grave bodily harm from rape committed by packs of men, with the subsequent infliction of bayonet and other wounds. One woman had her throat slit half-open, a wound so severe that Dr. Wilson himself is amazed that she is still alive. A pregnant woman was bayoneted in the belly, killing the unborn child. Many abused girls still in their childhood have likewise been admitted to the hospital, one of whom was violated 20 times in succession.
On 12 January, my English colleague, Consul Prideaux-Brune, the English military attaché Lovat-Fraser, and the English air-force attaché Commander Walser visited the house of Mr. Parsons of the British-American Tobacco Company and discovered there the body of a Chinese woman into whose vagina an entire golf club had been forced. There are documented cases in which accomplices have forced the husbands and fathers of victims to witness the violation of their domestic honor. In several instances, officers are known to be accessories, as was the case when Reverend Magee attempted to protect a group of Chinese Christians in the house of an absent German military advisor.
There is no evidence that any action has been taken—or if so, of what sort—by higher authorities against individual perpetrators, since the Japanese are silent about these matters and refuse to understand that a ruthless cauterizing of these offenses would accomplish more than all attempts to cover them up.
It is considered a self-evident matter of honor for the Japanese army to murder without further ado (indeed, there are thousands of such cases) every enemy soldier no longer actively engaged in combat, as well as any man judged to be such by some noncommissioned officer, whose decision cannot be appealed.
Given such a collapse of military discipline and order, it should therefore come as no surprise that no respect is shown the German flag. Thus various German buildings have been deliberately torched, others looted terribly, and almost all of them subjected to more or less minor theft. Given the cult status that the Japanese accord pictures of their emperor, it is perhaps especially remarkable that the looters did not shy from taking pictures of the Führer and Field Marshal General von Hindenburg.
I have left no doubt in the minds of the Japanese that we demand full restitution for all such losses, since there was no military necessity whatever for them and indeed some of them are the deliberate result of Japanese actions taken well after the occupation of the city, and likewise that I regard the term “consolation money” (solatium) favored by the Japanese as perhaps one that may sound better to them, but is in no way acceptable as an expression of partial payment.
ROSEN
11 JANUARY
I visit the British embassy, where I meet with Mr. Prideaux-Brune, Colonel Lovat-Fraser, Dr. Rosen, Mr. Allison, and Hürter. At our request, the gentlemen from all three embassies declare themselves willing to accept our daily reports listing the offenses of Japanese soldiers and to make use of them by forwarding them both to the Japanese embassy and their own governments. That takes a great weight off our committee. If from now on it’s the embassies who are registering the protest, order will soon be restored.
The Japanese have cut off our rice supply today. At noon the transport of rice, which we had undertaken on behalf of the Autonomous Government Committee, was halted.
This afternoon, while I was still at the office, the Japanese police arrived to search our headquarters. They were allegedly looking for a bundle of old clothes that a refugee had stolen. The bundle had been taken away from him several days ago and stored at our headquarters in Director Fitch’s office. Every room in the building was unlocked this afternoon except Mr. Fitch’s, which roused Japanese suspicion. Before they could break down the door, Kröger arrived, sent for a key, and promptly handed over the bundle.
This woman’s head was half severed from her body by a sword blow. Another victim’s skull was laid open by a bayonet.
Japanese soldiers waiting to take their turns in a makeshift brothel
The behavior of the Japanese police was truly mysterious. If they had peaceably asked to be allowed in, the bundle would have been handed over to them just as promptly. There was really no need to surround the entire grounds. Evidently they want to turn this matter I’ve just described into some kind of “incident,” since the clothes were stolen from a Chinese refugee. And now I’ll have to contact the embassy to find out precisely how I am to react to this police raid.
12 JANUARY
A month ago today Nanking fell into the hands of the Japanese. The body of that Chinese soldier shot while tied to a bamboo sofa is still lying out in the street not 50 yards from my house.
I visited the German, American, and English embassies and discussed the police search of our headquarters yesterday with Dr. Rosen, Mr. Allison, and Mr. Prideaux-Brune. All are agreed that the Japanese police are not permitted forcibly to enter a building belonging to a European without having first notified the embassy involved or having someone from that embassy with them.
In the meantime, all sales of rice have stopped. Not only can we not bring rice into the Zone, we are forbidden to bring coal in as well. The Japanese have had wall posters put up in the Zone, however, demanding that residents of the Zone return to their homes. The fact that their homes have been burned down or looted is not even considered.
I have come up with a plan for making friends with the Japanese. I shall try to dissolve the Zone Committee and found an International Relief Committee, on which the Japanese will also be represented.
Report from the Nanking Office of the German Embassy (Rosen) to the Foreign Ministry
Upon our entry in Nanking on 9 January, we were greeted by members of the Japanese embassy, by the captain of the gunboat, and by a cavalry Major Hungo from the staff of the garrison commandant. In his welcoming speech, which was translated for us, the latter used the unfortunate and less than tactful term “obedience” in describing our relationship to the occupying power. The English consul did not, of course, mention this tactlessness in his response, but assured the Japanese of our “cooperation.” Then we were brought to the embassy by car, where our countrymen who had remained behind were waiting for us, Herr Rabe at their head. As I was getting into the car, Major Hungo said goodbye to me in German, and also questioned me as to why we had arrived together with the English. I ignored this new bit of tactlessness with a simple “Why not?”
On 13 January, while driving with Herr Kröger beyond the Chung Shan Gate in the area around the Sun Yat-sen mausoleum, we twice encountered officials from the Japanese embassy, accompanied by Major Hungo and other officers. They stopped me and claimed I had broken my word, inasmuch as I had sworn obedience to the Japanese army! Also, I had been told that I was not to drive outside the city under any circumstances.
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p; In my response to these gentlemen, I pointed out that as a German official I could swear obedience to no other government than my own, and that indeed I had never done so. I added that despite repeated requests for a pass, I had received none and therefore considered myself fully justified in relying upon the flag of the Reich when driving my car outside the city, as I had done on previous occasions without incident. Major Hungo then expressed his amazement that I was “disobedient” in light of German-Japanese friendship based on the Anti-Comintern Pact. At the same time Mr. Hungo and the others pointed photographic equipment at me. Fukuda, the attaché, pulled out pen and paper and composed a confession of guilt that I was then supposed to sign!
I crossed out the words and noted briefly below that, as before, I am quite willing to offer the Japanese authorities my cooperation, but nothing else, and most certainly not my subordination. I defended my right to my own likeness by stating that I did not yet feel quite ready to be included in a book of mug shots. And in particular I objected to such an overextended application of the Anti-Comintern Pact. If anyone here had the right to question German-Japanese friendship, then surely it was we Germans, given the systematic bombardment of German officials on neutral ships and, above all, the Japanese military’s repeated and flagrant failure to respect the German flag here in Nanking.
Since this incident, I have twice been visited by Consul General Okazaki, General Matsui’s diplomatic advisor, and, after I had reported to him the previous tactlessness of Mr. Hungo, he expressed his regret over these incidents and others about which I also protested (e.g., the confiscation of a car from the grounds of the Italian embassy only three days before). On that occasion I told Mr. Okazaki that I would be glad to have an opportunity at some point to speak to him about fundamental questions regarding the status of embassy officials in Nanking, adding that I could be content with treatment no worse than that shown to the members of the Japanese embassy in Berlin.
My only previous experience with this method of first constructing one-sided declarations of subservience and then trying to extort confessions of guilt was its use by the Japanese military mission in northern China; but it is in no way applicable for diplomatic representatives of another normal power, let alone against one on friendly terms with Japan.
During this conversation with Mr. Okazaki, which despite the ticklish subject matter took place in a calm and businesslike atmosphere, I established more precise agreements about our future cooperation. I can therefore only hope that with these unpleasant incidents behind us, the performance of my duties and indeed my personal presence will not be regarded by the military, as it thus far has been, as a disagreeable disturbance and an unwelcome surveillance of current conditions here.
There is no objective basis for restrictions on our freedom of movement, nor for foreigners’ currently being prohibited from leaving Nanking itself, but rather these have their basis in the personality of Mr. Hungo, as well as in a desire to cover up atrocities. Nanking is a military base, pure and simple, a conclusion one can draw from the fact that the Japanese have brought along their geishas, whom they apparently view as essential.
The local population is only too glad to speak a candid word with Germans and bewail the fate of family members who have been dragged off. Knowing as I do, on the basis of my experience with the Japanese military in Manchuria, that all-too-easy compliance is regarded as a weakness, I would respectfully ask the Foreign Ministry energetically to support my endeavors.
ROSEN
From a Private Letter of Chancellor Schar fenberg to Legation Councilor Lautenschlager in Hankow 36
. . . Upon our arrival and then later again as well over dinner at the Japanese embassy, Major Hungo, the son of a field marshal, a polished and sedate cavalry officer, asked him [Rosen] why we had arrived together with the English, and he took the question to be tactless, without ever inquiring why it was asked. I assume that Hungo had something special in mind for us Germans.
It is not Hungo who is tactless, but rather H. R. [Herr Rosen], who in every meeting with the Japanese keeps harping, usually in an offensive tone, on the same old things: the bombardment of Nanking, the artillery shelling of the Whangpu,the dive bombings on 12 December, etc.
The second confrontation at the Sun Yat-sen mausoleum could have been avoided if he had listened to the advice of first engineer Ch. Kröger and driven back into the city after receiving his first warning from Japanese officials and Hungo at the Ming graves. Like a spoiled child, however, he angrily refused to do so and instead obstinately insisted that they drive to the golf course. Kröger gave in, unfortunately, although he knew that over dinner Hungo had politely but clearly stated that we were not allowed to leave the city without special permission.
And so a nasty encounter resulted, in which H. R., already furious because of the first warning, carried on like a raving maniac, recited his whole long list of sins committed by the Japanese army, navy, and air force, and attempted to assert his total freedom of movement, in particular his right to drive about without any gendarme along, to visit Lotus Lake, or to leave the city if he liked. Kröger was shocked.
CHAPTER 8
CLOSING DOWN THE SIEMENS NANKING BRANCH
13 JANUARY
THE OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS do not agree with my suggestion that the Zone Committee be transformed into an International Relief Committee for Nanking. In their opinion, the Japanese have given our Zone Committee de facto recognition, and they’re afraid that if we voluntarily dissolve the old committee, they could simply ignore us completely. And of course I accede to the majority, for we must absolutely remain united.
By way of the English navy I receive a telegram from Siemens Shanghai, dated 10 January, telling me to wind up business here and for Han and me to come to Shanghai as soon as possible.37I’ll reply tomorrow, saying that at present neither foreigners nor Chinese are allowed to leave the city. Kröger has tried on various occasions to get Japanese permission to travel to Shanghai and has thus far been regularly turned down.
Dr. Rosen and Kröger were outside the city wall today to inspect Schmeling’s house near the Veterans’ Orphanage and Dr. Eckert’s house in the vicinity of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park. Driving back in Dr. Rosen’s embassy car, the two gentlemen were halted by Japanese officers in the company of Fukuda. The exchange between Dr. Rosen and the Japanese grew heated when they wanted to know why he was outside the city wall and asked him, “Why don’t you obey the Japanese military regulations?”
Dr. Rosen replied he had never promised to obey orders of the Japanese military. He demanded that he be able to pursue his diplomatic duties, particularly since he was busy determining to what extent German property in Nanking had been destroyed by the Japanese. The Japanese demanded and received a statement to that effect from Dr. Rosen, who reported the incident by telegram to Shanghai. I’m anxious to see what comes of it.
4:00 P.M.
At a meeting of the International Red Cross at Kulou Hospital, with John Magee, McCallum, Kröger, Low, and Pastor Chen attending, it was agreed that in the future McCallum should decide whether patients admitted on the recommendation of the Red Cross should be treated gratis or not. John Magee has been admitting too many free patients of late, including one woman who was admitted as penniless, but when someone was changing her bed, 300 dollars were found in it.
Chang’s wife has recovered sufficiently to be discharged from the hospital. We bring her home in the car. Chang has given the hospital his last month’s salary of 30 dollars, and I shall pay the rest.
Letter from the Siemens China Co. Central Office to Rabe
Shanghai, 3 January 1938
Dear Herr Rabe:
First, best wishes for the New Year; you have some troubled times behind you, with all sorts of experiences. I hope you are well. We would have liked to have heard from you whether you intend to remain there much longer. I recently spoke with Dr. Baur (of Carlowitz), and he was of the opinion that there is no longer any real point in your
staying on.
We intended for you to leave Nanking at the opportune moment, that is before its fall and proceed to Hankow in order to maintain contacts with governmental agencies there. We telegraphed you three times to that effect. Dr. Probst is in Hong Kong at present. I have asked him whether it might be advisable to station you in Hong Kong. As soon as I have a reply, I will try to get word to you. I don’t know what your current living conditions are, but I would assume that you have already packed your belongings. Might it not be possible to store your things at the embassy if you haven’t already?
As for your trip to Shanghai, that won’t be an easy matter, but perhaps it can be arranged sooner or later.
We would like to hear news of you if at all possible.
Best regards,
W. MAIER38
Letter from Rabe to Siemens Management, Shanghai (Excerpts)
Nanking, 14 January 1938
Re: Letter from Herr. W. Maier, Director, 3 January 38
This is to confirm receipt today of said letter via the German embassy. Your previous message that I should move on to Hankow came too late. When your telegram arrived, the Germans were already making for Hankow aboard the Kutwo.Moreover, I thought it my duty not to desert our Chinese employees, Mr. Han and his family, our fitters, etc., all of whom had fled to join me in the hong.39As I informed you then in reply to your telegram, I assumed the chairmanship here of an International Committee being organized for establishing a Safety Zone, which would be the last resort for 200,000 Chinese noncombatants. The establishment of the Zone was not easy, particularly since we could not get any clear recognition of the Zone from the Japanese and because high-ranking Chinese military and their staff remained behind until the last moment, that is, remained within the Zone until they fled.