Bernhard Arp Sindberg

Bernhard Arp Sindberg (19 February 1911 – 1983), also known as "Mr. Xin" or "Xinbo",[1] "The Greatest Dane",[2][3] or the "Shining Buddha"[2][3] was born in Aarhus, Denmark.

Sindberg tried to help Chinese refugees by allowing them to stay in the concrete factory where he worked as a security guard; his photos, letters and experiences later played a role in the understanding of the massacre.

[1] His efforts saved from 6,000 to 20,000 Chinese from a cruel fate,[4] and he has been honoured on several occasions, including the title "A friend of China".

He joined the Foreign Legion,[1] but was disappointed by the people and the harsh environment in the Moroccan desert; after 10 months of service, he ran off into the mountains and managed to get out of the country as a stowaway on a ship.

[1] When the Japanese troops occupied Shanghai, Sindberg was hired as a chauffeur for the English journalist, Pembroke Stephens, who worked for The Daily Telegraph.

Smidth was at that time building a concrete factory in the Chinese capital, Nanjing, and wanted to protect their investment against the Japanese rampage, so they hired Sindberg as a guard.

[1] The evidence, faded black-and-white photos and his own comments thereto, is assembled in an album, which is currently displayed at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin.

Sindberg and Gunther took them in, set up a makeshift hospital and risked their lives, as they repeatedly drove out to collect food, medicine and supplies from the Red Cross for the refugees.