Margot Grzywacz in Beijing & Tsingtao

An astounding collection of papers and photos auctioned on eBay revealed Margot Grzywacz’s life as a German professor in China from 1930-1947. Lets uncover the captivating story of this German woman right here and now.

Biography Margot Grzywacz Beijing Tsingtao

Margot was born in Hamburg on April 20, 1901. Her father was a former captain in the merchant navy and later served as the editor-in-chief of the Hamburg Correspondent. She attended the Emilie-Wüstenfeld-Lyzeum and later the Realgymnasium for Girls, led by Prof. Dr. Gustav Wendt in Hamburg. In 1920, she obtained her high school diploma from the “Unterrichtsanstalten des Klosters St. Johannis” in Hamburg. Unfortunately, both her parents passed away in 1920.

Education

In February 1921, she successfully completed her teaching examination for higher girls’ and middle schools, including those for elementary schools. She pursued studies in Modern Languages, Philosophy, and Pedagogy at the universities of Hamburg (1920-21), Munich (1921-25), Rome, and Berlin (1926). In March 1925, she earned her Ph.D. from the University of Munich with her thesis titled “Jealousy in Romance Languages: A Contribution to the Cultural History of the Middle Ages.” Margot Grzywacz Beijing Tsingtao

During the summer of 1927, she attended the University of Hamburg and informally studied medicine for four semesters. In November 1928, she passed the examination in Hamburg for teaching at higher schools in French, Italian, and Spanish.

Studies in Japan Margot Grzywacz Beijing Tsingtao

In 1929, with the help of former school director Prof. Wendt, she obtained a permit to study in Russia from the Foreign Office. However, due to challenging conditions there, she stayed only briefly before traveling to Japan to further enhance her Japanese language skills, acquired from Prof. Dr. Florenz at the University of Hamburg. Between 1929 and the autumn of 1930, she studied Japanese in Kyoto, where she also worked as a teacher at a Japanese girls’ school and contributed to a German-Japanese cultural magazine. Margot Grzywacz Beijing Tsingtao

Professor in Beijing and Tsingtao Margot Grzywacz Beijing Tsingtao

From 1930 to 1934, she pursued Chinese studies in Beijing (Peking) and concurrently served as a professor of French and German at Tsing-Hua University and the Reichsuniversität (1930-32). Subsequently, from 1934 until the end of 1937, she continued her study of the Chinese language and worked as a German professor at the Shandong University in Tsingtao (Tsingtau). During this period, she translated Chinese books. Throughout her student days and beyond, she embarked on extensive study trips across various European countries, North and South America, Japan, and China.

Japanese Occupation and involuntarily Repatriation to Germany

In January 1938, Tsingtao experienced Japanese occupation, resulting in the closure of the Shandong University. During 1939, temporary employment was given to her at the German School in Tsingtao, and her work there was later resumed from September 1942 to June 1946. Subsequently, in August 1947, she faced involuntary repatriation to Germany on the ship “General Black.” In response, a plan to jump overboard and swim to shore through the Suez Canal was devised, but it was thwarted.

In Germersheim, she initially worked as a lecturer at the local interpreting school until the early 1950s. Later, she emigrated to Canada, where she settled in Revelstoke, British Columbia, to teach French in a bilingual environment where English was predominantly spoken. During vacations, she continued to embark on trips around the world. Margot Grzywacz Beijing Tsingtao

After retiring as a Canadian citizen in 1966, she joined the Canadian Peace Corps and spent two years on the island of Antigua in the Caribbean. Later, she served in a former French colony in Central Africa (exact location unspecified).

She maintained an apartment in Vancouver and another in Spain, on the Costa del Sol, where she eventually passed away.

What a woman, what a life

Margot Grzywacz, a German professor, led a fascinating life in China from 1930 to 1947, as revealed by a remarkable collection of documents and photos auctioned on eBay. Her journey took her from studying modern languages and philosophy to becoming a professor in Beijing and Tsingtao, where she immersed herself in Chinese culture and language. After enduring the Japanese occupation, she faced an involuntary repatriation to Germany, but her strong spirit and passion for exploration led her to eventually settle in Canada, where she continued her teaching career and embarked on global adventures. Margot Grzywacz in Beijing & Tsingtao

 

The repatriation of Germans from Tsingtau and Tsinan aboard the “General Black” in August 1947.

In the summer of 1947, it became known that the Americans urged the Nanking government to repatriate China-Germans. The Chinese government agreed since it incurred no costs, as the zealous Americans covered all transport expenses. Nonetheless, those to be repatriated were informed in time – with some exceptions, as we will see. They received the following letter from the German Relief:

Circular No. 42/47 Tsingtau, August 2, 1947 – To all German nationals!

Name of all Germans to expatriate, two groups…
Please provide the home addresses: location, province, zone. The maximum luggage allowed per person is 150 kg, and the maximum amount of cash allowed to carry is US $100. Children are allowed half the amount.

The list indicates that group 1) was meant to be repatriated forcibly, while group 2) seemed willing to go to Germany, likely due to their lack of means. As they had no travel expenses (the Americans covered all costs), they seemingly chose to accompany the repatriation.

The forcibly repatriated individuals had the right to submit a request for removal from the list to Mayor Li Hsien-liang of Tsingtau. Many did so and apparently received an indirect indication that they would not be repatriated as a result.

Behind the scenes

Enlightening information was found from the documents examined at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., regarding the records of the American Consulate General in Tsingtau. The information pertained to the behind-the-scenes happenings leading up to the departure to Shanghai on August 28, 1947.

It appears that the Chinese side, represented by Mayor Li’s secretary, Samuel Li, who was responsible for the Foreigners’ Office, took a relaxed approach, while the U.S. Consulate played a significant role, led by Consul General Spiker, Consul Richard Service, and Vice Consul Hein. Mayor Li himself remained discreet, repeatedly turning away the insistent Americans with the usual excuse: “The mayor is not available, we don’t know where he is, we can’t find him,” and so on.

On August 22nd, things became serious Margot Grzywacz in Beijing & Tsingtao

The Americans received instructions that the individuals to be repatriated must be in Shanghai by August 25th, although the affected individuals were still unaware of this (or were they?). On August 22nd, the Tsingtau Consulate reported the name list, as given in Part 1 of the German Relief Circular, to the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai with slight variations.

For instance, where it had been stated as “Dr. Wallmüller,” the American list mentioned: “Hans Wallmüller, 61 years old, wife Magda, 55 years old, and son Robert, 27 years old.” However, Mrs. Wallmüller and her son had not been in Tsingtau for at least 8 years! Moreover, even though Erich Jungmann, 70 years old, belonged to group 2), he was listed along with his Chinese wife, Wang Teh-ming, 39 years old.

Where are the people?

The list also indicated that some people were not in Tsingtau at all: Gustav Ahrens’ family was in Shanghai, David Kiesow was in Tsinan, W. Klahn had apparently already gone to Germany in 1940(!), Friedrich Klicker was in communist captivity, but his family was in Tsingtau; Heinrich Kliebenstein, 57 years old, from Tsinan, was said to be staying with the Klickers.

Carl Löwenstein was an advisor to General Yen Hsi-shan in Taiyuan, Shansi Province, while his family was in Tsingtau; Karl Reichel was in Changsha, Hunan; Helmut Schwabe had recently been in Taiwan as an advisor to Chen Yi in the government, but was likely in Shanghai now. Margot Grzywacz in Beijing & Tsingtao

According to the Chinese administration, Anatol and Tamara (von) Malsch were Soviet Russians; furthermore, Friedrich Schirmer and Heinrich Woltemade were in Tsingtau, but nothing was known about their personal information.

Several memoranda from the Tsingtau U.S. Consulate document the events that unfolded in the 48 hours from August 23rd to 25th, 1947. They will be quoted here verbatim, in italics. The mentioned “Fonoff” refers to the Chinese Foreign Office, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nanking. (American Consulate General, Tsingtao, Saturday, August 23, 1947.)

M E M O R A N D U M Margot Grzywacz in Beijing & Tsingtao

Subject: German Repatriation from Tsingtao

Consul General Spiker, Vice Consul Hein and I (R. Service) commenced work on above subject (in connection with Conf. telegram from ComNavWesPac specifying departure of repatriates from Tsingtao at 0900 Aug 25) at about 2:30 this afternoon. After some difficulty I contacted Sam Lee at the International Club, and sent a car for him. In the meantime we received and commenced deciphering the U.S. Embassy’s telegram of Aug. 23, 8 a.m. (urgent). I made up a brief summary of points to take up with Sam Lee, taken from the Navy telegram, and discussed them with him after his arrival.

We went over list of Germans. Lee told me that this morning Mayor had received telegram from Fonoff, instructing him to arrange for travel of German’s by boat to Shanghai, to arrive there not later than Aug. 25 (sic). Lee said that Mayor had decided that only those would be sent who had made no petition for permission to remain; that is, those who had not petitioned would go. He marked those who had petitioned on our list, including Bälz, Bock, Dietsch, Frinke, Hübotter, Kiesow, Ludwig, Müller, and Wallmüller. The individuals listed to depart were: Carl Ahrens (1), von Alemann (3), Düsing (7), Geschke (9), Hirsch (10), Janisch (12), Klicker family (15), von Malsch (19, with unrecognized Soviet citizenship), Sperber (23), Jungmann, and Woltemade (from Shanghai) (25). He mentioned that Schirmer, previously reported in Tsingtao from Shanghai, had returned there on August 12. Lee was sent in the car to locate the Mayor.

Lee telephoned several times after his visit, and he said that he had been unable to locate the Mayor, but that he was holding a committee meeting on this matter in his office with police officials, etc. He said that the Garrison Commander’s secretary had telephoned to state that the Garrison Commander would see the Mayor this evening to arrange for Düsing to be removed from the list; later he said that Düsing was off the list, in compliance with instructions from the Garrison Commander, General Ting. Once when checking the list he stated that the Klicker family would not go, although he had listed them when he was at this office (see above).

I told Lee that this office desired to know the exact list in order that it might be telegraphed to the Embassy. I asked that we be informed of any changes between now and the departure of the repatriates. I said that the Embassy was very much interested in knowing who would be sent. Lee asked me various questions during several calls: would we arrange with Shanghai Garrison Headquarter to meet the plane & take custody of repatriates; an officer & four police would be sent down on the plane; etc. I said that the Shanghai authorities would be informed of the arrival times of planes, and that the Marines would be responsible in flight for the repatriates, so that no guards were necessary. Margot Grzywacz in Beijing & Tsingtao

During our interview he mentioned that it was Saturday afternoon and that little could be done, with police off duty, etc. I replied that this was an emergency, and he agreed. Later, by phone, he remarked that he was afraid that urgent orders from the Fonoff might not be delivered until Monday, as the weekend was a holiday. Lee himself gave me the impression of comprehending the importance of the matter, but I suspected that his colleagues were not much impressed. At 7 p.m. Lee said that the Mayor still had not been found; it struck me that he did not sound worried, and I suspect that the Mayor had talked with Lee, but had asked that Lee not mention it.

The final list as given me by Lee was: Carl Ahrens and wife, von Alemann and wife, Geschke, Hirsch, Janisch, von Malsch and wife, Sperber, Jungmann and Woltemade. Lee mentioned to me once during our conversations that General Ting had petitioned for Bock.

gez. R.M. Service

On the evening of Saturday, August 23rd

only 12 people remained among those who were to be forcibly repatriated. They seemed to have saved their skin, but as events would later reveal, it was only an illusion. The individuals were Bälz, Bock, Dietsch, Düsing, Frinke, Hübotter, Kiesow, Klicker, Ludwig, Müller, and Wallmüller. Margot Grzywacz in Beijing & Tsingtao

On Sunday morning, August 24th, at 5 o’clock, the aforementioned 12 individuals were notified that they had a few hours to finalize their packing, and by afternoon, they would be taken to the police station. While they were aware of their impending repatriation, the specific departure day seemingly caught them by surprise, based on my interpretation of the available documents. At 12:20 pm on this Sunday, Consul General Spiker recorded the current status of the operation in a memorandum.

Tsingtao, Sunday, August 24, 1947. 12.20 p.m. Margot Grzywacz in Beijing & Tsingtao

Mr. Samuel Lee, Secretary to the Mayor and in charge of foreign affairs telephoned to report that the Police had begun the round-up of Germans to be repatriated, at 5 a.m. this morning; that all had not yet been brought to Police Headquarters where they will spend the night but that all would be at the concentration point by 3 p.m. today; that they would be given necessary inoculations and certified by the Police and would be delivered to the airfield tomorrow (Monday) morning at 8 a.m.

He stated that one old man whose name he could not remember was ill in bed and crippled with rheumatism so would probably not be repatriated. Mr. Lee added that his place among the remainder of twelve from the original list, would be taken by some other person. It is believed that Lee refers to Erich Jungmann, aged 70, from Tsinan. Mr. Lee also confirmed his advices of yesterday as to the removal of the names of Günther Düsing and his son Hermann from the list, at the instance of Garrison Commander Ting Chih-p’an. Lee said that he keeps the Consulate General informed of any further developments.

gez. C.J. Spiker

Four hours later, Spiker makes another entry in his notes.

Sunday, August 24, 1947. 4:40 p.m.

Mr. Lee called to state that in substitution for Erich Jungmann, 70 years of age and sick in bed, the Chinese are repatriating Mrs. Ruy Geschke, the Korean wife of Karl Geschke. Mr. Lee added that Mrs. Geschke was willing to go! gez. C.J.S.

The crucial turning point occurred on the same day during a midnight negotiation between Consul General Spiker and Mayor Li, which eventually took place. The events of the night of August 24th to 25th are documented in an unsigned memorandum, seemingly authored by Consul R. Service.

American Consulate General, Tsingtao, Monday, Aug. 25

At 7:10 p.m. Aug. 24 an urgent niact was received from the U.S. Embassy (see file). Mr. Spiker consulted Admiral Cooke about delaying Tsingtao’s group departure, pending Fonoff’s decision on petition cases. Admiral Cooke agreed to delay the planes until afternoon if needed, awaiting word from the Embassy. Mr. Spiker drafted a telegram to the Embassy and sent a car to the International Club for Sam Lee to discuss the matter. Sam Lee agreed to arrange a meeting with Mayor Lee, and they visited the Mayor’s house around 10.30 p.m.

It was apparent during our interview with Mayor Lee that he knew little if anything of developments in the German repatriation. Sam Lee had to give him a complete summary of what had occurred since Saturday morning. Mayor Lee agreed to send an urgent telegram to the Fonoff, but he stated that there was little hope of speedy action from Nanking.

His telegram was to request instructions as to repatriation of those who had filed petitions, and, after inviting suggestions from Mr. Spiker as to the names of persons not on the list whom we believed should be included, he inserted a sentence which read in the following sense: „The American Consulate believes that Nauert, Fischborn, Weitz, Bock and Düsing should also be repatriated“. In the discussion of these persons, Sam Lee confirmed that General Ting had arranged for Bock and Düssing to be taken off the list.

He added that it had come to light that Düsing had filed a petition direct with the police instead of with the Mayor’s office, but it was not clear whether the police had forwarded it to Nanking or what had occurred. Sam Lee agreed with us that those who are being sent are the „small potatoes“, oldsters for the most part. I promised to let Sam Lee know just as soon as we heard from the Embassy.

We prepared our telegram of 11 p.m. and this was delivered to CWO, PortFac at midnight. Sam Lee telephoned and said that his phone was beside his bed, and that he was going to sleep. The Staff Duty Officer on the ESTES was telephoned by Mr. Spiker, and he was given the information that the Germans would probably not be sent at 0900 that morning. It was explained that they were awaiting possible word from the Embassy in response to their telegram. An arrangement was made for Drouilhet, the duty officer, to call the Consul General at 0600 that day if there was any communication received from the Embassy.

The Consul General and I left the office at 1 a.m. and returned soon after 7 a.m. I telephoned to Sam Lee and told him that no word had come from the Embassy, and that therefore we presumed that the Embassy’s proposal (to the Chinese Foreign Office) was adhered to. Lee said that he would hold up the departure of the Germans.

When he suggested that they be sent to their homes, I suggested that they remain at the police station at least 9 a.m., and he agreed. I gave the information to Drouilhet, as French was not on board the ESTES at 7.30.

At this point, the records of the former U.S. Consulate in Tsingtau come to an end.

The expulsion came as a bolt from the blue for the families of Fischborn, Nauert, Weitz, Mr. Dammers, and Dr. Grzywacz, as they had not been listed before and were taken by surprise.

The Documents

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