Experience the Untold Story
of The Rape of Nanking.
NANKING SAFETY ZONE novel brings to vivid life one of history’s most tragic events through the struggles and courage of those forced to make impossible choices. When Japanese forces advance on China’s capital in December 1937, George Fitch, director of the YMCA, faces a devastating decision: evacuate to safety or stay to protect the Chinese civilians who have become his family.
His choice to remain forced him into an unlikely partnership with John Rabe, head of Nanking’s Nazi Party, to establish a sanctuary for 250,000 refugees. But as the city falls and systematic massacre begins, Fitch discovers something that changes everything—Mei Lan, a young college student caught in the chaos, may be the daughter he never knew he had, born from a forbidden love affair eighteen years past. Complicating this revelation is Ming, a Chinese soldier who loves Mei Lan but despises Fitch as a Western collaborator who forced Chinese troops to surrender. As Mei Lan finds herself torn between the father she’s never known and the soldier she loves.
This meticulously researched novel weaves the documented history of the 'Rape of Nanking' with searing human drama, exploring how love, loyalty, and moral courage collide when survival itself hangs in the balance. As Japanese violence escalates and the Safety Zone teeters on collapse, the triangle between Fitch, Mei Lan, and Ming reaches its breaking point when Ming’s desperate act threatens to destroy everything they’ve built.
Based on real people and events, with research drawn from original diaries and testimonies, NANKING SAFETY ZONE offers a unique perspective on a tragedy that claimed 300,000 lives yet remains largely unknown in the West. It stands as both an important work of historical fiction and a timeless testament to how shared humanity can transcend even the deepest hatred—and remind us that history is shaped not just by armies and nations, but by individuals who refuse to look away when confronted with evil.
“What I am about to relate is anything but a pleasant story; in fact is so very unpleasant that I can’t recommend anyone without a strong stomach to read it. For it is a story of such crime and horror as to be almost a unbelievable, The story of the depredation of a horde of degraded criminals of incredible bestiality, who have been, and now are, working their will, unrestrained, on a peaceful, kindly, law-abiding people. Yet it is a story which I feel must be told, even if it is seen by only a few. I can not rest until I have told it, and unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, I am one of a very few who are in a position to tell it.”
– George A. Fitch (Nanking, China, Christmas Eve, 1937)
The International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone
“It is hard to talk about a bright spot in the horror that is the Rape of Nanking, but if one can, it is surely to shine a light on the actions of a small band of Americans and Europeans who risked their lives to defy the Japanese invaders and rescue hundreds of thousands of Chinese refugees from almost certain extermination. These courageous men and women created the International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone.”
– Iris Chang (Author of the Rape of Nanking)
Questions about the Rape of Nanking and the Safety Zone
Is Nanking Safety Zone novel based on true events?
"Nanking Safety Zone is inspired by the real-life events that took place during the Japanese invasion of Nanking in 1937, following George Fitch's own written account of his experiences during this harrowing period. The novel blends historical facts with fictional storytelling to illuminate the personal experiences of those who lived through that tragic time. Remarkably, some of the most extraordinary moments in the book—though they may seem fictional—are based on true events recorded in Fitch's own words and the accounts of other survivors."
How many women were raped during the Nanking occupation?
According to the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, an estimated 20,000 cases of rape were committed by Japanese soldiers in Nanjing during the first month of the occupation. Some sources suggest even higher figures, with estimates reaching 80,000 cases of rape. It is documented that many women who were raped were subsequently killed.
Why aren't more people aware of The Rape Of Nanking?
In summary, the limited awareness of the Rape of Nanking stems from a complex interplay of historical, political, and social factors, including the global focus on World War II in Europe, post-war political considerations, Japanese governmental denial and downplaying of war crimes, and historical challenges in disseminating information about the atrocities.
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