The Eternal Echo
Rabe stayed on in Nanjing because of his friendship with the people here, and so his life history was written. He had been an average as well as a righteous businessman. But the fall of Nanjing created in him a hero and his name was carried into history and commemorated forever.
Biography of John Rabe
Ms. Huang Huiying started writing the Biography of John Rabe in May 1999 and completed it in three years. Published by Baijia Publishing House in Shanghai in December 2002, the book has helped people to better understand Rabe and to greatly promote and spread the humanitarian spirit reflected by Rabe and the other committee members of the International Committee for Nanjing Safety Zone.
Covers of Biography of John Rabe
Statue of John Rabe
In 2005, at the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, Chinese overseas students in Berlin and Hamburg voluntarily organized a donation to erect a statue of Rabe. Inscribed on the pedestal of the 70cm bronze bust were the Chinese words of heart-felt praise: the Good Man of Nanjing.
Rabe’s bronze bust with the inscription of “The Good Man of Nanjing” in Heidelberg, Thomas Rabe, grandson of John Rabe (right), and Mr. Erwin Wickert, former German ambassador to China
The statue of John Rabe, jointly erected by Siemens Numerical Control Ltd. and the Administrative Committee of Jiangning Economic and Technological Development Zone
The statue of John Rabe, in the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders
Monument of John Rabe
On December 11, 2013, the inauguration ceremony of John Rabe’s Monument sponsored by the city of Nanjing was held in Berlin, Germany. The monument was built to honor John Rabe, a German who saved 250,000 Chinese people during the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese invaders.
Thomas Rabe, grandson of John Rabe, lays a wreath during the inauguration ceremony
Message from visitors（Monument in people’s heart）: “In Nanjing, the place he loved so much, Mr. Rabe sowed the seeds of peace and love. And I hope his spirit will live on forever”
Establishment of John Rabe and International Safety Zone Memorial Hall
and John Rabe International Research and Exchange Center for Peace and Reconciliation
In September 2003, the then President of Germany Johannes Rau visited Nanjing University and paid close attention to John Rabe after hearing his story. As soon as he went back, President Rau began to see to the renovation and reconstruction project of the former residence of John Rabe. The related governmental organizations of both Jiangsu Province and Nanjing City also attached great importance to this matter. In August 2005, Nanjing Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau included Mr. Rabe’s former residence into the third group of historical and cultural sites under permanent protection.
German president Johannes Rau (fourth from the left in the front row) met with two survivors (a couple) protected by John Rabe from the Nanjing Massacre, Mu Xifu (second from the right) and Li Shizhen (third from the right), on 13 September 2003, at Siemens Numerical Contral Ltd. Nanjing in Jiangning
Since 2004, Nanjing University, the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Shanghai, Siemens Ltd., China, Bosch-Siemens Home Appliances Sales Co. Ltd. in Jiangsu, have jointly decided to renovate Mr. Rabe’s former residence.
Representatives of Nanjing University, the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Shanghai, Siemens China and Bosch-Siemens Home Appliances Sales Co. Ltd. in Jiangsu, discussing the renovation of Rabe’s former residence
On December 6, 2005, the signing ceremony of the agreement was held for the Sino-German joint-establishment of John Rabe and International Safety Zone Memorial Hall and John Rabe International Research and Exchange Center for Peace and Reconciliation.
From left: Professor Zhang Rong, Vice Party Secretary of Nanjing University; Dr. Wolfgang Roehr, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Shanghai; Mr. Erdal Elver, Vice-President of Siemens Ltd., China and Mr. Roland Gerke, President of Jiangsu BS Home Appliance Sales Co. Ltd., were signing the agreement
On May 24th 2006, a delegation from Germany headed by Mr. Michael Glos（third right）, Minister of Economy and Trade visited Nanjing University and the former residence of John Rabe after its renovation had just been completed. (left) Dr. Volker Stanzel，the then German Ambassador to China; (second left) Prof. Zhang Yi bin, Vice-President of Nanjing University; (second third) Mr. Erdal Elver, Vice-President of Siemens Ltd., China; (right) Dr. Juergen Hambrecht, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF; (second right) Mr. Roland Gerke, President of Jiangsu BS Home Appliance Sales Co. Ltd.
In August of 2006, guided by Dr. Zou Yajun, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges of Nanjing University, Ms. Ebba Scholl, Consul of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Shanghai (left) and Dr. Peter Kreutzberger, the Deputy Consul General of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Shanghai (middle) came to inspect the progress of the renovation of the former residence of John Rabe
Thomas Rabe, grandson of John Rabe with Nanjing University’s staff collecting historical documents in Germany (second from the right: Wang Zhenyin, Deputy Director of the History Museum of Nanjing University), beside John Rabe’s bronze bust
John Rabe’s statue, created by Wu Weishan, Prof. of Institute of Sculpture Art of Nanjing University
In May 2011, John Rabe Heidelberg Exchange Center (second from the right：Wu Mei, curator of Nanjing University John Rabe Memorial Hall)
The grand opening ceremony on October 31, 2006
The museum is of immeasurable significance in recording a period of catastrophic history, learning painful lessons, commemorating Mr. Rabe and other members of the International Safety Zone as well as promoting world peace, cultural communication and global humanitarianism.