Prominent Families
Two Baghdadi‑Jewish dynasties, the Sassoon and Kadoorie families, held great sway in Shanghai’s commercial life. They first fled persecution in Baghdad decades earlier, made fortunes in India, and then established themselves in China. The Sassoons ran major opium and trading companies, while the Kadoories invested in hotels, power plants, and agriculture. Their grand properties on the Bund, like the Cathay and Palace Hotels, became hubs for socializing and political deal‑making.
Although they were not formal intelligence agencies, these families gathered valuable information through their extensive networks—employing private agents, local staff, and business liaisons who mingled with officials, diplomats, and visiting military officers. When tensions escalated in the 1930s, their behind‑the‑scenes intelligence likely helped keep civilians safer and aided the city’s resilience. Their philanthropic reach extended to new refugee arrivals, providing a semblance of stability amid Shanghai’s upheaval.
Although they were not formal intelligence agencies, these families gathered valuable information through their extensive networks—employing private agents, local staff, and business liaisons who mingled with officials, diplomats, and visiting military officers. When tensions escalated in the 1930s, their behind‑the‑scenes intelligence likely helped keep civilians safer and aided the city’s resilience. Their philanthropic reach extended to new refugee arrivals, providing a semblance of stability amid Shanghai’s upheaval.
EZRA & MASOUDA SASSOON and family, Baghdad, 1919.
European Refugee Contributions
After Hitler’s rise to power, increasing numbers of Jewish refugees arrived in Shanghai. Many had professional backgrounds—lawyers, academics, doctors—or language skills critical for decoding messages and interpreting foreign broadcasts. Though not always formally recruited by Allied intelligence (like the well‑known “Ritchie Boys” in the European theater), they indirectly contributed through volunteer groups or by sharing observations from the city’s cosmopolitan quarters.
Local philanthropic committees, often chaired by established Jewish families, circulated essential information about employment and housing. The intermingling of so many cultures and languages in the International Settlement created an unintentional intelligence gold mine, as Allied or neutral citizens communicated about troop movements, distribution of supplies, and the evolving attitudes of foreign consulates. In some cases, passing remarks in café discussions or charitable gatherings ended up being reported—informally—to Allied contacts monitoring Japanese expansion.
Local philanthropic committees, often chaired by established Jewish families, circulated essential information about employment and housing. The intermingling of so many cultures and languages in the International Settlement created an unintentional intelligence gold mine, as Allied or neutral citizens communicated about troop movements, distribution of supplies, and the evolving attitudes of foreign consulates. In some cases, passing remarks in café discussions or charitable gatherings ended up being reported—informally—to Allied contacts monitoring Japanese expansion.
Lucie Harwich, principal of the Shanghai Jewish Youth Association School, in the Shanghai Ghetto.
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Shanghai's International Zone: A Nexus of War, Intelligence, and Survival - GuideShanghai's International Zone: A Nexus of War, Intelligence, and Survival dives into the heart of one of history's most contested cities. Through a turbulent blend of diplomacy, espionage, and urban warfare, this book captures Shanghai's transformation into a pivotal battleground during the Asia-Pacific War. From its intricate intelligence networks and the unique role of its foreign population to the bravery of civilians enduring a months-long siege, Shanghai's International Zone offers a sweeping account of resilience amidst the devastation. Discover how Shanghai became both a refuge and a battlefield, where the lines between ally and enemy blurred in a relentless fight for survival.
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