𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗥𝗮𝗯𝗲 was born on November 23rd, 1882, and he is well known in China, especially in Nanjing (formerly Nanking).
Here is a very brief summary: John Rabe worked for Siemens and was sent to China by the company. When Japanese advanced onto Nanjing in 1937, many foreign nationals left the country. A small group of Westerners (20-30) stayed behind, among them German businessman and Nazi party member John Rabe.
Under his leadership the Nanking Safety Zone, a demilitarized zone, was established and around 200.000 Chinese soldiers and civilians found refuge there from the Japanese troops. During the Massacre of Nanking, Japanese killed and raped an estimated 300.000 Chinese.
John Rabe was ordered back to Germany, was interrogated by the Gestapo because he criticized the Japanese, an ally of Nazi Germany at the time. After WWII, he again came under scrutiny this time because of his involvement with and support of the Nazis. He underwent de-nazification twice and wasn't allowed to work.
When the mayor and people of Nanjing found out that he and his family were starving, they sent him money and care packages.
Rabe died in 1950 and left behind many diaries depicting the atrocities committed by the Japanese in 1937/38. His journals didn't become known until the 1990s and are considered important contemporary documents of the massacre.
I linked a couple articles and a youtube playlist here for further reading and watching.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/eng.../2020-08/26/c_139319251_2.htm
https://www.nytimes.com/.../at-the-rape-of-nanking-a-nazi...
https://www.theatlantic.com/.../the-nazi-leader.../251525/
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php...
https://www.facinghistory.org/.../question-morality-john...
https://youtube.com/playlist...
#johnrabe #massacreofnanking #thegoodnazi #germanhistory #geschichte