On the morning of July 4, Berlin time, Wang Yanwen, member of the standing committee of Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee and head of the publicity department, Chen Yong, member of the standing committee of Nanjing Municipal Party Committee and head of the publicity department, as well as Jiangsu provincial cultural delegation and the representatives of crew of the opera The Diaries of John Rabe, went to pay a visit to the cemetery of John Rabe with gratitude. Mr. Thomas Rabe, the grandson of John Rabe, was there with members of the Rabe Institute. Ling Xi, deputy curator of the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, also attended the ceremony.

Chinese People will Never Forget John Rabe and Other Foreign Friends for Their Humane Spirits and Fearless Meritorious Deeds！

After Rabe's death in January 1950, his relatives buried him in the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church cemetery on the western outskirts of Berlin. Since Germany has a deadline for cemetery use, Rabe cemetery has expired by 1985.

In January 1997, Rabe's granddaughter Mrs. Rinehart made her son retrieve Rabe's tombstone and place it in the family garage. Since then, Rabe's grandson Thomas Rabe told the Chinese Embassy in Germany his wish to continue to rent and reconstruct Rabe cemetery. The Nanjing municipal government attached great importance to the message and decided to provide necessary support.

The Rabe memorial cemetery was completed in October 2013. A memorial service was held at Rabe memorial cemetery on December 11 that year. Today, Rabe cemetery is surrounded by bamboo, plum blossoms, and chrysanthemums brought from Nanjing. Far outside the cemetery came the sound of traffic, like history rolling forward. The love between Mr. Rabe and Nanjing will continue to be written...

Minister Chen Yong held the ceremony. He said:

"The opera ‘The Diaries of John Rabe’ tells this true story in artistic terms. Yesterday, a touring version of the opera premiered successfully at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden (Berlin State Opera House). We gather here today to once again pay tribute to John Rabe and express Chinese people's aspiration to oppose war, love peace and join hands to build a community of shared future for mankind."

Mr. Tang Jianping, composer of the opera said in his speech:

"A work of art with a historical theme originates from history but should transcend it. The musical creation of the opera ‘The Diaries of John Rabe’ follows such an artistic concept.

Yesterday's premiere crossed time and space, travelling through the smoke of war. This good German man in our endless memories, lit like a candle in the dark night, and brought a glimmer of courage and justice to that dark period of history."

John Rabe's grandson, Mr. Thomas Rabe and members of the Rabe Institute, Mr. Riddick and Mr. Friedman, were also present.

Deputy Curator Ling Xi (left) Thomas Rabe (middle) Staff Wu Yi (right)

We will keep our old friend in everlasting memories!