h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Thanks for writing that, Dmitri. I'm not sure I've ever heard of it before. What a horrible episode in both country's history. No wonder the Chinese hate the Japanese.

Thanks, Elentari. I didn't know if anyone had noticed this one.

Just one more terrible thing that happened in the 20th Century.

I was proud of that man for what he did. I thought he deserved a mention. A contemporary of his once said that all that was required for evil to triumph was for good men to do nothing.

I suspect Herr Rabe realised that, too.

I confess I missed this one too, Dmitri - many thanks for writing it

So, how many people is Rabe thought to have sheltered in his compound? (Apologies if you said so - I didn't spot it)

You know, Icy, I'm not sure how many people fit in the Siemens compound. I know he packed them in, so I'd say a few thousand.

The safety zone he and the others set up was responsible for the 250,000 figure. I think they crowded in there until the place couldn't hold any more.

That's a fair sized safety zone. I'm just trying to get my head around the logistics of it all. There were around a million left homeless in Haiti recently, but they were in well-serviced camps (eventually). How many would have helped Rabe, I wonder?

...ah, you say "fewer than 2 dozen". Incredible.

Yes, it was incredible. I'm thinking that the capacity of these refugees to endure crowding to that extent earns my admiration. It must have been nearly unendurable.