In 1931, Du Chengrong was sent by the Chinese government to Vienna, Austria, for police officer training. Austria's high reputation in police management and technical training attracted him to pursue this opportunity. Upon arrival, Du was placed in a rigorous training program where he met Wagner's father, a strict and meticulous instructor. Wagner's father taught Du how to stay calm in emergencies and make decisions under pressure. Due to his excellent performance, Du quickly earned Wagner's father's respect, and they formed a close bond.
![]()
As their relationship deepened, Du was often warmly welcomed into the Wagner family. Although Wagner's father was strict at work, he was kind at home, and his wife frequently chatted with Du, sharing their lives and experiences.
![]()
By 1933, Wagner, a 17-year-old girl, declared her intent to marry Du, despite her father's disapproval. Wagner's father opposed the cross-cultural marriage, but Wagner remained determined, explaining that her love for Du was based on his character, not a mere impulse. Her unwavering resolve eventually won the support of Wagner's father's colleagues, who saw Du as a worthy partner. After much deliberation, Wagner's father softened his stance.
![]()
Before Du left for China, Wagner and Du watched the opera The Land of Smiles, a story about the tragic fate of an international marriage. The lyrics You are the only soul in my heart deeply moved them, becoming their personal vow.
![]()
In 1935, Wagner sailed alone to China, enduring months of hardship before finally reuniting with Du in Hangzhou. There, they married, and Wagner took the name Hua Zhiping, symbolizing their fateful meeting. However, their peace was shattered in 1937 with the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War. Du was sent to various battlefronts, and Wagner followed him, fleeing air raids in cities like Hangzhou, Fuzhou, and Chongqing.
![]()
During the war, they faced unimaginable hardships. Wagner wrote to her mother, describing constant air raid alarms and the devastation they endured. In one attack, their home was destroyed by a bomb, but they survived and continued to face adversity together.
![]()
After the war, Du retired from the military and settled in the quiet village of Hucang, where Wagner had to adapt to rural life. Despite the hardships, she supported Du unconditionally, never complaining. In the 1960s, Du faced political struggles, and the family went through even more difficult times, but Wagner stood by him through it all.
![]()
In 1979, Du was exonerated, and their life slowly returned to normal. In 1990, Wagner received Austrian citizenship, but shortly after, Du passed away. In that same year, Wagner visited Vienna, where she was honored with the title of Honorary Citizen of Vienna. Though her family urged her to stay, Wagner chose to return to China, where she and Du had built their home.
![]()
Wagner continued to live in rural China, staying true to the simple life she shared with Du. She passed away in 2003, just before a film based on her life premiered. Her death, though expected at the age of 80, marked the end of an extraordinary love story that had spanned decades.
![]()
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)