Austrian flees to Shanghai during WWII, obtains citizenship and CPC membership, Zhang Kun reports.
Richard Frey (1920-2004), formerly Richard Stein, escaped Nazi persecution in Austria as part of a refugee exodus to Shanghai during World War II. A former member of the Communist Party in Austria, he immersed himself in China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the world's movement against fascism. Embracing a new chapter in his life, he became a member of the Communist Party of China, choosing to stay in the country post-war, acquiring Chinese citizenship and adopting the name Fu Lai.
An ongoing exhibition at the Shanghai History Museum till Sunday, A Proud Communist, No Regrets — Dr Frey's Dedication to China shares Frey's life as a medical doctor who devoted most of his life to the welfare of the people in China.