CHAPTER 9: THE FATE OF THE SURVIVORS
183. According to Karen Parker: Karen Parker, telephone interview with the author. For Parker’s legal analyses on jus cogens and Japan’s debt to its World War II victims, see Karen Parker and Lyn Beth Neylon, “Jus Cogens: Compelling the Law of Human Rights,” Hastings International and Comparative Law Review 12, no. 2 (Winter 1989): 411–63; Karen Parker and Jennifer F. Chew, “Compensation for Japan’s World War II War-Rape Victims,” Hastings International and Comparative Law Review 17, no. 3 (Spring 1994): 497– 549.
At a seminar for the 58th anniversary of the Japanese invasion of China, scholars urged Chinese victims to demand reparations from Japan. Tang Te-kang, a professor at Columbia University, said that the victims have a precedent in pressing Japan for compensation—set by Japan itself when it demanded and received reparations from China after it and seven other countries invaded China during the Qing dynasty. According to the historian Wu Tien-wei, Chinese victims are entitled to these reparations according to international law; Lillian Wu, “Demand Reparations from Japan, War Victims Told,” Central News Agency, July 7, 1994.
184. One man who was nearly roasted alive: Author’s interview with a survivor (name withheld on request).
184. Another woman whose father was executed: Liu Fonghua, interview with the author, Nanking, July 29, 1995.
185. In the local newspaper, Lewis Smythe saw articles: Oral history interview with Lewis Smythe by Cyrus Peake and Arthur Rosenbaum, Claremont Graduate School, December 11, 1970, February 26, and March 16, 1971, box 228, record group 8, Yale Divinity School Library.
185. “not only responded well to the imperialist policies”: “Zhuiyi Rikou zai Nanjing da tusha (Remember the Great Massacre at Nanking),” reprinted in Xinhua Yuebao 3, pp. 988–91.
185. “Dr. Smythe, there are 100,000 people in this city”: Peake and Rosenbaum oral history interview with Smythe.
186. In 1951 he left his position: “Biographic Sketch and Summary of Contents,” in Peake and Rosenbaum oral history interview with Smythe.
186. Bates also left Nanking: Morton G. Bates, letter to the author, October 7, 1996.
186. David Magee, son of the Reverend John Magee, is certain: David Magee, telephone interview with the author.
186. For example, Edith Fitch Swapp: Edith Fitch Swapp, telephone interview with the author; Fitch, My Eighty Years in China, p. 125. In his book, Fitch describes his problems with memory loss and his visit to a neurologist. “To my considerable relief the doctor reported there was nothing wrong with my brain; I was just suffering from nerve fag. I had been leading a pretty strenuous life, of course, and possibly the terrible memories of those Nanking days had something to do with it too” (p. 125).
186. Robert Wilson, the University of Nanking Hospital surgeon: Marjorie Wilson, telephone interview with the author.
187. “I’m about at the end of my energy”: Minnie Vautrin, diary 1937–40, April 14, 1940, p. 526.
187. “In May 1940 Miss Vautrin’s heath broke”: Minnie Vautrin, diary 1937–40, handwritten note on the bottom of the last page.
187. Her niece recalls that Vautrin’s colleagues: Description of Vautrin’s journey back to the United States, her electroshock treatment, her last communication with her family, and her suicide comes from Emma Lyon, telephone interview with the author.
187. Before he was summoned back to Germany: For Rabe’s last days in Nanking, see Minnie Vautrin, diary 1938–40, February 21, 1928, entry, p. 199; George Rosen report “Deutsche Botschaft China,” document no. 122, National History Archives, Republic of China.
188. Also, an oral history interview with one of his friends: Peake and Rosenbaum oral history interview with Smythe.
189. “I am happy I could help you”: Martha Begemann, letter to the author, April 26, 1996.
189. Rabe kept his promise to the Chinese: Description of Rabe’s efforts to publicize the Nanking atrocities and his downfall in Germany comes from Ursula Reinhardt, letters to the author, 1996–97.
190. “My grandfather looked embarrassed”: Ursula Reinhardt, letter to author, April 27, 1996, p. 2.
191. “There is no job for me at Siemens”: John Rabe diary, entry for the years 1945 and 1946, translated September 12, 1996, by Ursula Reinhardt in letter to the author, September 18, 1996.
191. “Last Sunday I was with Mommy”: Ibid.
191. “Now Mommy weighs only 44 kg”: Ibid.
191. “We suffer hunger and hunger again”: Ibid., April 18, 1946.
191. “Yesterday my petition to get de-nazified”: Ibid., April 18, 1946.
192. “If I had heard of any atrocities”: Ibid., April 18, 1946.
192. “On June the 3rd finally I was de-nazified”: Ibid., June 7, 1946.
193. “Today Mommy is out”: Ibid., June 7, 1946.
193. Within a matter of days: Renmin Zibao (People’s Daily), December 25, 1996, p. 6.
193. According to Reinhardt, the family of W. Plumer Mills also sent packages of food (CARE packages) to Rabe, which helped cure him of the skin disease that was caused by malnutrition.
193. The Kuomingtang government even offered Rabe free housing: Ibid.; see also Ursula Reinhardt, letter to the author, April 27, 1996; and Renmin Zibao, December 27, 1996.
193. In June 1948 the city of Nanking learned: Renmin Zibao, December 25, 1996.
194. Rabe died from an artery stroke: Ursula Reinhardt, letter to the author, April 27, 1996.
194. Reinhardt was pregnant and immersed in school examinations: Renming Zibao, December 27, 1996.
194. Rabe’s previous status as a Nazi: Ursula Reinhardt, telephone interview with the author.
195. Shortly after the discovery of the Rabe papers: Peter Kroger, letter to the author, October 23, 1996.
195. “Contrary to the current opinions of the Hitler government”: Kroger, “Days of Fate in Nanking.”
195. The contents were violent beyond her wildest expectations: Renming Zibao, December 27, 1996.
195. She saw the diaries as political dynamite: Ursula Reinhardt, presentation, December 12, 1996, New York City; Reinhardt, telephone interview with the author.
195. She spent fifteen hours: Ursula Reinhardt, letter to the author, December 3, 1996.
195. Shao, who was fearful that right-wing Japanese: Shao Tzuping, telephone
