Why did Jews go to Shanghai during World War 2?

Answer 1

Shanghai was really about the only area in the entire world where Jews would be accepted without possessing a proper visa. Shanghai was a unique city in all of China and indeed in many parts of the world. It was ruled (until 1942 at least) by three separate countries- the Chinese section which would come under the influence of the Japanese until war was declared between Japan and the Axis nations, the British section and the French part. Thus, with such an unusual governance structure, the city was unique. It also had a thriving Jewish section, mostly descending from Spanish Jews who would be outnumbered by Jews from Europe after World War II and Nazi aggression.

The Germans tried to persuade the Japanese - their ally - to help them with what they called "The Jewish Question" but due to Jewish intervention as well as a decision by the Japanese themselves, while there were restrictions, Jews in Shanghai were never treated in the Holocaust-like conditions pervasive in Europe.