John Rabe and International Safety Zone Memorial Hall, Nanjing University

John Rabe and International Safety Zone Memorial Hall, Nanjing University

The John Rabe and International Safety Zone Memorial Hall of Nanjing University is located at No. 1 Xiaofen Bridge, Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, within the campus of Nanjing University.

In the summer of 1934, John Rabe (1882–1950), manager of the Nanjing branch of Siemens in Germany, signed an agreement with Xie Jinsheng, Dean of the Agricultural College of University of Nanking, for the university to build a combined office and residence building to be rented to Rabe. The entire structure covers an area of about 380 square meters, including a two-story Western-style main building spanning 650 square meters, and six additional single-story Western-style auxiliary rooms totaling 240 square meters. The courtyard originally featured a small garden and an underground air-raid shelter on the northwest side, with lush lawns and rows of green trees throughout.

During the Japanese occupation of Nanjing, Rabe led a group of international friends to establish the “International Committee for the Nanjing Safety Zone” and was elected its chairman. Within the 3.86-square-kilometer safety zone, 25 refugee shelters were set up, providing asylum to approximately 250,000 Chinese. At his residence at No. 1 Xiaofen Bridge and his small garden alone, Rabe protected over 600 Chinese refugees. In his former home, Rabe meticulously documented the atrocities committed by the Japanese army in Nanjing through diaries and other documents. Upon publication, the diaries caused an international sensation, making John Rabe’s name known worldwide as the “Oskar Schindler of China.” His former residence at No. 1 Xiaofen Bridge in Nanjing was subsequently rediscovered and recognized.

Starting in 1997, with the support of the Nanjing Municipal People's Government, Nanjing University began preserving Rabe’s former residence and planning its renovation into a memorial hall.

In September 2003, then German President Johannes Rau expressed concern about Rabe’s former residence during his visit to Nanjing University. Following the presidential visit, Mr. Erwin, Vice President of Siemens (China) Ltd. and General Manager of Siemens Jiangsu, along with Mr. Gerke, President of Bosch and Siemens Home Appliance Group Sales Co., Ltd. Jiangsu, engaged in comprehensive discussions with Nanjing University regarding the renovation project starting in the summer of 2004. Through persistent efforts from all parties, the renovation of Rabe’s former residence successfully commenced in late 2005.

In December 2005, the German Consulate General in Shanghai, Siemens (China) Ltd., and Bosch and Siemens Home Appliance Group Sales Co., Ltd. Jiangsu, together with Nanjing University, jointly signed an agreement to establish the “John Rabe and International Safety Zone Memorial Hall” and the “John Rabe Research and Exchange Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution.” Funding was donated by the German side, while Nanjing University was responsible for the restoration, construction, and management of the memorial hall.

On the morning of October 31, 2006, the fully restored Rabe’s former residence officially opened to the public as the “John Rabe and International Safety Zone Memorial Hall.”

On September 5, 2007, the Publicity Department of the CPC Nanjing Municipal Committee, Nanjing University, the German Consulate General in Shanghai, Siemens (China) Ltd., Bosch and Siemens Home Appliance Group Sales Co., Ltd. Jiangsu, and Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical-BASF Co., Ltd. signed an agreement at the Nanjing Sofitel Galaxy Hotel to establish the “Development Fund for the John Rabe and International Safety Zone Memorial Hall and the John Rabe Research and Exchange Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution.” The fund was jointly financed by the six parties and will be used to cover the daily operational costs of Rabe’s former residence, thereby maximizing its educational and social functions.