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Unit 8—Handout 4
Nanking International Safety Zone in shaded area cctv
The International Safety Zone was a neutral area established inside of Nanking in 1937 to shelter Chinese
refugees whose lives had been threatened and homes destroyed by the invading Japanese Imperial Army. Many
of the Nanking Safety Zone committee members also served on The International Red Cross Committee
of Nanking. These brave individuals who opted to stay behind and help included: Germans, Americans,
Austrians, Brits and Russians. In addition, a number of Chinese worked to saved those in danger.
The International Safety Zone was bordered by roads on all four sides, with an area of approximately
3.86 km 2 with 25 refugee camps centered around the US Embassy. This is approximately the same size as
Central Park in New York (3.4 km 2 ). Using Red Cross fl ags for identifi cation, refugee camps were established
at Jinling Women’s University, the University of Nanking, Siemens Shelter, and in other shelters within the
Safety Zone, for example in houses that companies, such as Texas Oil Company, or Westerners had donated.
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