Source 2 Anon (1937) Refugees massed behind at the Porte du Nord iron gate (French Concession)

Source 2 Anon (1937) Refugees massed behind at the Porte du Nord iron gate (French Concession)

Battle of Shanghai

This photograph depicts the swell of refugees seeking refuge in the French Concession after Shanghai was turned into a battlefield in the early stages of the Sino-Japanese War. The French authorities, overwhelmed by the masses of refugees decided to close the gates to the French Concession. A solution, however, was found by Father Jacquinot, a Jesuit priest who negotiated a demilitarised safe zone in the city to host refugees.

Copyright @ Virtual Cities Project (Institut d’Asie Orientale).