Who is John Rabe from The Rape of Nanking and what is their importance?

German businessman John Rabe is perhaps the most surprising character in the novel as a savior of Nanking, as he was also a German national as well as the leader of the Nazi Party in Nanking. As a wealthy man, Rabe had come to Nanking as a salesmen to the government. His faith in Nazi beliefs stemmed more from socialism that antisemitism, and his beliefs did not stretch to agree with the extermination of the Jews.