03_JohnRabe Biography Episode 3 Peking: Marriage and repariation to Germany 1919

Описание: Welcome to this channel.

This channel is dedicated to the life and humanitarian actions of John Rabe, a German civilian who helped protect more than 250,000 Chinese civilians during the events in Nanjing in 1937 and 1938.
At a time when violence and chaos overwhelmed the city, John Rabe helped organize and lead the Nanjing Safety Zone, a neutral area that provided shelter, food, and relative protection for hundreds of thousands of people.

John Rabe – From Europe to China (1908–1919)

In 1908, John Rabe arrived in Beijing after an extraordinary journey across Eurasia on the Trans-Siberian Railway. China would soon become not just his workplace—but his second home.

One year later, in 1909, his fiancée Dora Schubert followed him on a long sea voyage, traveling alone by ship from Hamburg to Shanghai, and then onward to Beijing. The couple married soon after and began building a family in China.

Their children were born in Beijing:

Margarete Rabe in 1910

Otto Rabe in 1917

Siemens in Beijing and World War I

In Beijing, John Rabe worked in various positions for Siemens, gaining deep experience in administration, engineering, and international business.

When World War I broke out in 1914, Rabe—unlike many other foreigners—was allowed to remain in Beijing. As a civilian and official representative of Siemens, he continued his work throughout the war years, even as global politics collapsed around him.

Forced Return to Germany

After the war ended, the situation changed dramatically. In 1919, the Allied powers—in this case the British authorities—ordered all Germans in China to leave. John Rabe and many others were repatriated on merchant transport ships, originally intended for trade, and sent back to Germany.

Germany, however, was in chaos. The country was shaken by political unrest, including uprisings, strikes, and the Kapp Putsch of 1920. Stability was nowhere to be found.

Back to China – Under a Cover Name

Unwilling to stay in a country consumed by crisis, John Rabe made a decisive move. In July 1920, he boarded a Japanese transport ship, traveling via Japan back to China.

Once in Beijing, he quietly reopened the Siemens office under a cover name, navigating political restrictions and international tensions with caution and determination.

Why This Chapter Matters

These early years explain who John Rabe was long before Nanking:
a man shaped by global travel
committed to China and its people
and willing to take risks to protect responsibility and continuity

This was the beginning of a lifelong bond with China—one that would later define John Rabe’s place in history.

Thank you for being here.

Thomas Rabe, grandson of John Rabe

For more information in english and chinese language see my chinese Douyin channel: https://www.douyin.com/search/ThomasR...
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