The first read through this book is an emotional experience; the atrocities perpetrated against the Chinese are recorded humanly and vividly. Re-reading leaves you with a deep and abiding respect for John Rabe and his honesty and abiding respect for people.

Don't overlook the second part of the book, when Mr. Rabe describes the fall of the Reich, and all the difficulties an ordinary citizen encountered.

One would not expect a German Nazi to fight to save the lives of Chinese citizens, but that is exactly what John Rabe did. This book enlightens the reader to both the horror of the Nanking occupation and the mistake of labeling anyone ever associated with the Nazi party as bad. It is too bad there is not more about his opinions after his disassociation with the party. It is too bad his one time association prevented him from being reconized as the hero he was.

Warning: Contains graphic details of the atrocities.

Germany has been paying huge sums of money as War Compensation to Isreal ever since the end of the World War II, and they are still doing this. The Japanese government however, has not paid a penny. Not only that, their government has never appologized to the countries in Asia which they invaded and brutally killed their people. This book tells you how not to forget the history.

The Japanese can buy their seat at the Security Council of the UN, but they can never buy respect from the hundres of millions of people whose civilization were almost destroyed by the most uncivilized acts known to human history, unless the Japanese themselves can stop cheating. This book is a must-read for all Japanese, children and grown-ups alike.