Refugees massed behind at the Porte du Nord iron gate (French Concession)

Title : Refugees massed behind at the Porte du Nord iron gate (French Concession)

Topic : Virtual Shanghai

Year : 1937

Location : Shanghai

Date (start) : 1937

Nature : B&W Photo

Support image : Paper

Caption on support : With refugee conditions in the French Concession almost unbearable, thousands of residents of the Native City clamoured for admission on November 15. For several days they had been waiting at the gates leading into the Concession, their belongings carried with them, or piled on some light vehicle, stranded in the sea of humanity that stretched as far as the eye could see. Here is one of the largest crowds of refugees ever witnessed at a single place, begging and pleading to be let into the safety of the Concession. But the French authorities deemed it advisable not to let them in, for sanitary and other reasons. Feeding was the most difficult problem that confronted the waiting crowds. With no to move they could not perform any culinary work, so many went hunfry for days. Even throwing food over the gates could not relieve their hunger. Only those nearest to the gates could get food. Taken at the end of the Porte du Nord, at B. des Deux Republiques.

Keywords : refugee;French;barrier;soldier;building;vehicle;furniture