Historical Aspects of Humanity

1. Historical Aspects of Humanity • Throughout history there have been many instances of man’s inhumanity to man. • Yet there are many stories that portray the positive spirit of humanity…. • Quote “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. . . .”

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3. Historical Aspects of Humanity • The most significant aspect of my trip to China was becoming aware of the atrocities that occurred in Nanjing. • I was also overcome with admiration of the spirit of those that chose to oppose these events…..

4. Historical Aspects of Humanity • The Nanking Massacre or Nanjing Massacre, also known as the Rape of Nanking, was a mass murder and war rape that occurred during the six-week period following the Japanese capture of the city of Nanjing (Nanking) on December 13, 1937. This was during the Sino – Japanese War. • During this period, hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians and disarmed soldiers were murdered and 20,000–80,000 women were rapedby soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army.

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9. Historical Aspects of Humanity • John Rabe (November 23, 1882 – January 5, 1950) was a German businessman. He is best known for his efforts to stop the atrocities of the Japanese Army during the Nanking Occupation and his work to protect and help Chinese civilians during the event. • The Nanking Safety Zone, which he helped to establish, sheltered approximately 200,000 Chinese people from slaughter during the massacre.

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11. Historical Aspects of Humanity • John Rabe stated"... there is a question of morality here...I cannot bring myself to betray the trust these people have put in me. The zones were located in all of the foreign embassies and at Nanjing University. • Rabe was elected as its leader, in part because of his status as a member of the Nazi Party and the existence of the German–Japanese bilateral Anti- Cometrim Pact.

12. Historical Aspects of Humanity • The Nanking Massacre killed hundreds of thousands of people, while Rabe and his zone administrators tried frantically to stop the atrocities. His attempts to appeal to the Japanese by using his Nazi membership credentials only delayed them; but that delay allowed hundreds of refugees to escape.

13. Historical Aspects of Humanity • The movie “John Rabe” demonstrates the courage of a group of individuals experiencing a horrific time in China’s history.

14. Historical Aspects of Humanity Use your knowledge of the movie to highlight the courageous deeds of John Rabe. Find courageous individuals from Japan… “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. . . .”