Research On Refugee District In Shanghai (1937-1940)

Shanghai is an excellent city in protecting a lot of refugees during the World War Ⅱ. In addition to the well-known Jewish Refugee Zone, the Shanghai Nantao Refugee Zone, which set up by the French priest Jacquinot during the Anti-Japanese War in Wusong and Shanghai, is also an outstanding example.The idea for Jacquinot to set up a specialized area to shelter the refugees comes from what he has seen with his own eyes: a large number of refugees become destitute and homeless due to the Anti-Japanese War in 1937. Because of the efforts of Jacquinot, both Chinese and Japanese finally agreed to his request to set up a refugee zone and ensured that this area will not subject to any military threats. The entire Refugee Zone accounts for about a third of Shanghai old city area. The boundary of the Refugee Zone in the east, the west and the north is Minguo Road(Renmin Road now) of which is the south of the French Concession. The south boundary is Fangbang Road. On November 9, 1937, the Nantao Refugee Zone officially opened.All transactions in the Refugee Zone are handled by the supervisory committee chaired by Jacquinot. In order to make the life more convenient, shelters, hospitals,schools and other institutions are built in the Refugee Zone. The charities in Shanghai also involved in a lot of work in this zone. When there is a lack of fund in the Refugee Zone, Jacquinot even goes to the United States, Canada and other regions to raise donations. By the time of 1940, the number of refugees is continually decreased and the funds are reduced badly. And the host Jacquinot returns to France. As a result, the Refugee Zone is ended on June 30 th, 1940.During the war time, refugees bring their family come to the Refugee Zone to seek shelter. Although the life was hard in the Refugee Area, the basic necessities can be guaranteed: children can go to school, mothers and patients can be looked after in the hospital. Although sometimes the refugees suffer unreasonable searches and beatings from the Japanese, their lives are saved.The Shanghai Nantao Refugee Zone leaves a precious legacy to us. During its two and a half years existence, 300,000 Chinese refugees are protected. This makes them get away from the Japanese massacre. After the establishment of the Nantao Refugee Zone, parts of China such as Nanjing, Wuhan, Guangzhou and other places also establish some protection areas for the refugees follow the pattern of NantaoRefugee Zone. Later, Nantao Refugee Zone is written into the Geneva Conventions and becomes a shining example for the protection of civilians in the wartime. The "Shanghai model" established by Jacquinot in the wartime to protect refugees still plays a role in some war-torn regions. It makes a tremendous contribution to our human civilization.