Siege of Tsingtao
Part of Asian and Pacific theatre of World War I
Map of Tsingtao, 1912
Date October 31, 1914-November 7, 1914 Location China Result Allied Victory
Belligerents
Empire of Japan United Kingdom	German Empire  Austria-Hungary
Commanders
Sadakichi Kato Mitsuomi Kamio	Alfred Meyer-Waldeck
Strength
Japan: 50,000 United Kingdom:1,500	4,000
Casualties and losses
1,455	200

The Siege of Tsingtao was the attack on the German-controlled port of Tsingtao (now Qingdao) in China during World War I by Imperial Japan and the United Kingdom. The Asian and Pacific Theatre of World War I was a largely bloodless conquest of German colonial possession in the Pacific Ocean and China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The Empire of Japan ( {{unicode|Kyūjitai}}: ja 大日本帝國 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国 pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927 The German Empire is the name commonly used in English to describe Germany from 1871 to 1918 when it was a semi- Constitutional monarchy: beginning with the Unification World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The Empire of Japan ( {{unicode|Kyūjitai}}: ja 大日本帝國 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国 pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

It took place between October 31 and November 7, 1914 and was fought by Imperial Japan and the United Kingdom against Germany. Events 445 BC – Ezra reads the Book of the Law to the Israelites in Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 91 NLTse Events 1492 - The Ensisheim Meteorite the oldest Meteorite with a known date of impact strikes the Earth around noon in a Wheat Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The Empire of Japan ( {{unicode|Kyūjitai}}: ja 大日本帝國 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国 pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927 The German Empire is the name commonly used in English to describe Germany from 1871 to 1918 when it was a semi- Constitutional monarchy: beginning with the Unification It was the first encounter between Japanese and German forces and the first British-Japanese operation in World War I. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All

Background

Throughout the late 19th Century the German Empire, like other European countries, became increasingly imperialist and sought to expand its influence across the world, acquiring a number of territories in the process. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Imperialism has two meanings one describing an action and the other describing an attitude In China, like many world powers, the Germans began to interfere in local affairs. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Power in international relations is defined in several different ways After two German missionaries were killed in 1897, the Chinese were forced to transfer Kiaochow in Shandong to Germany in 1898 on a 99-year lease. Year 1897 ( MDCCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The Jiaozhou Bay ( was a German colonial concession which existed from 1898 to 1914 ( is a coastal province of eastern People's Republic of China. Year 1898 ( MDCCCXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Germans then began to assert their influence across the rest of the province of Shandong and built the port of Tsingtao. The port became the home base of the Kaiserliche Marine's East Asiatic Squadron, which primarily operated in support of German territories in the Pacific Ocean. The Kaiserliche Marine or Imperial Navy was the German Navy created by the formation of the German Empire. The German East Asia Squadron was a German Kaiserliche Marine (naval Cruiser Squadron which operated mainly in the Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions

The United Kingdom perceived the German presence in China as a threat to British interests and leased Weihaiwei in Shandong in response, while Russia and France leased their own at Port Arthur (now Lüshunkou) and Kwang-Chou-Wan respectively. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Administrative divisions The Prefecture-level city of Weihai administers 4 county-level divisions, including 1 districts and 3 county-level cities Leasing is a process by which a firm can obtain the use of a certain fixed assets for which it must pay a series of contractual periodic tax deductable payments Lüshun city or Lüshunkou or (literally Lüshun Port ( formerly known as both Port Arthur and Ryojun, is a town located at the extreme southern Kwang-Chou-Wan (also spelt Guangzhouwan or Kwangchowan) was a small Enclave on the south coast of China ceded by Qing China to The British also began to forge close ties with the Japanese.

Imperial Japanese army uniform as worn on the expedition to Kiaochow. The Imperial Japanese Army ( IJA) ( Kyūjitai: 大日本帝國陸軍 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国陸軍 Romaji: Dai-Nippon Teikoku The Jiaozhou Bay ( was a German colonial concession which existed from 1898 to 1914

The Suwo was the flagship of the Japanese expeditionary fleet during the Battle of Tsingtao. Russian career Pobeda was built as the ''Peresviet''-class Battleship and commissioned into the Imperial Russian Navy in 1903

Japan's developments in the late 19th Century also mirrored that of Germany, acquiring colonial possessions, including on the Asian mainland. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Unlike Germany, however, Japan and Britain relations became closer and the Anglo-Japanese alliance was signed on 30 January 1902. The first was signed in London at what is now the Lansdowne Club on January 30 1902, by Lord Lansdowne (British foreign secretary) and Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Year 1902 ( MCMII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting This was seen as a necessity by both powers, especially by Japan who saw it as a further step to being recognized as a world power. Japan demonstrated its potential of being a rival to the British Empire after its victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, though the alliance was further strengthened and remained strong into World War I. The Russo-Japanese War (日露戦争 Romaji: Nichi-Ro Sensō Русско-японская война Russko-Yaponskaya Voyna;, 10 February 1904 – 5 September Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting

The First World War began in early August 1914. Britain soon requested Japanese assistance. The Japanese civil government, led by Prime Minister Okuma Shigenobu, feared growing military power, which was playing an ever greater role in Japanese politics. was a Japanese statesman and the 8th ( 30 June 1898 – 8 November 1898) and 17th ( 16 April 1914 – The Government believed that maintaining a strong alliance with Britain would help maintain control over the military. Pressure also came from the competing Imperial Japanese Navy (whose structure was closely based on the British Royal Navy) and Imperial Japanese Army (which felt that it had lost prestige during the Russo-Japanese War) and growing desires to expand the Japanese Empire. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) The Imperial Japanese Army ( IJA) ( Kyūjitai: 大日本帝國陸軍 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国陸軍 Romaji: Dai-Nippon Teikoku

The Japanese Government decided to side with Britain in the war. On 15 August, Japan issued an ultimatum to Germany, stating that Germany needed to withdraw all their warships from Chinese and Japanese waters and transfer control of Tsingtao to Japan. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed The following day, Major-General Mitsuomi Kamio, commanding officer (CO) of the 18th Infantry Division, was told to begin preparations for an invasion of Tsingtao. The commanding officer ( CO) is the officer in command of a Military unit. was an Infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the. When the ultimatum expired on 23 August, Japan declared war on Germany. Events 79 - Mount Vesuvius begins stirring on the feast day of Vulcan the Roman god of fire

By this time, the East Asiatic Squadron, under the command of Maximilian von Spee, had left Tsingtao for the friendly base of Pagan in the Marianas. Maximilian Graf (Count von Spee ( 22 June 1861 - 8 December 1914) was a German Admiral, born in Copenhagen The Mariana Islands (also the Marianas; up to the early 20th century sometimes called Ladrones Islands, from Spanish Islas de los Ladrones meaning From there Von Spee's squadron, with the exception of SMS Emden which headed for the Indian Ocean, made their way to the west coast of South America. SMS Emden may refer to one of the following ships of the German Kaiserliche Marine and named after the town of Emden on the Ems River: The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a There, the squadron destroyed a mostly obsolete Royal Navy squadron at the Battle of Coronel before itself being destroyed at the Battle of the Falkland Islands. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) The World War I naval Battle of Coronel took place on 1 November 1914 off the coast of central Chile near the city of Coronel The Battle of the Falkland Islands was a British naval victory over the Imperial German Navy on 8 December 1914 during the First World War

Build-up

German forces moving to the outer defences

The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) first sent ships under Vice-Admiral Sadakichi Kato, flying his flag in the pre-dreadnought Suwo, to blockade the coast of German-controlled Kiaochow, beginning on 27 August. For Combined Fleet, please see that article For Carrier Striking Task Force, please see that article Russian career Pobeda was built as the ''Peresviet''-class Battleship and commissioned into the Imperial Russian Navy in 1903 Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan During the course of the naval operations off Tsingtao, the British Royal Navy (RN) attached the China Station's pre-dreadnought HMS Triumph and the destroyer HMS Usk to the IJN. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) The China Station was a historical geographical Area of operations of the British Royal Navy 's China Squadron. Technical Characteristics Triumph was ordered by Chile as Libertad, laid down by Armstrong Whitworth at Elswick on 26 February In naval terminology a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance Warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, Convoy Career and loss Usk spent most of her short career operating in the Mediterranean. The British warships were integrated into the Second Squadron with few problems. According to a German press report following the siege, the Triumph was damaged by German land batteries. The Japanese squadron consisted of mostly obsolete warships, though did briefly engage a number of more modern vessels. These included the dreadnoughts Kawachi, Settsu, the battlecruiser Kongō and the seaplane carrier Wakamiya, whose aircraft became the first of its kind in the world to successfully attack land and sea targets. A battleship is a large heavily armored Warship with a main battery consisting of the largest Calibre of Guns Battleships were Background Kawachi was ordered under the 1907 Fleet Expansion Program as one of the first steps in full implementation of the Eight-Eight Fleet Program. Background Settsu was ordered under the 1907 Fleet Expansion Program as one of the first steps in full implementation of the Eight-Eight Fleet Program. Battlecruisers were large Warships in the first half of the 20th century that were first introduced by the British Royal Navy. Design and build In 1908 the commissioning of the battlecruiser armed with eight guns into the Royal Navy rendered all of the Imperial Japanese Navy 's warships A seaplane tender (or seaplane carrier) is a Ship that provides facilities for operating Seaplanes These ships were the first Aircraft carriers Early career Wakamiya was initially a Russian freighter ship named Lethington, built by Duncan in Port Glasgow United Kingdom, laid down in 1900 These planes would also take part in another military first: the first night-time bombing raid.

Japanese troops coming ashore near Tsingtao

The 18th Infantry Division was the primary Japanese Army formation that took part in the initial landings, numbering 23,000 soldiers with support from 142 artillery pieces. was an Infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the. Artillery (from French artillerie) is a military Combat Arm which employs any apparātus machine They began to land on 2 September at Lungkow, Shandong, which was experiencing heavy floods at the time, and later at Laoshan Bay on 18 September, about 18 miles east of Tsingtao. Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Laoshan ( ie Mount Lao is a famous Mountain in Qingdao Shandong province, China. Events 96 - Nerva is proclaimed Roman Emperor after Domitian is assassinated

The British Government — and the international community as a whole — were concerned about Japanese intentions in the region and decided to send a small symbolic British contingent from Tientsin in an effort to allay their fears. ( Postal map spelling: Tientsin) is the second largest city in northern coastal China. The 1,500-man contingent was commanded by Brigadier-General Nathaniel Walter Barnardiston and consisted of 1,000 soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, The South Wales Borderers later followed by 500 soldiers of the 36th Sikhs. The South Wales Borderers was an Infantry Regiment of the British Army.

The Japanese seaplane carrier Wakamiya conducted the world's first naval-launched air raids in September 1914 against German positions in Tsingtao. Early career Wakamiya was initially a Russian freighter ship named Lethington, built by Duncan in Port Glasgow United Kingdom, laid down in 1900

The Germans responded to the threat against Tsingtao by concentrating all of their available Asian troops in the city. Kaiser Wilhelm II made the defense of Tsingtao a top priority, saying that "It would shame me more to surrender Tsingtao to the Japanese than Berlin to the Russians"^[1]

The German garrison, commanded by Captain-Governor Alfred Meyer-Waldeck, consisted of 765 German marines (III. Seebatallion) and roughly 3,400 other naval personnel and soldiers (Chinese colonial troops and Austro-Hungarian sailors and soldiers). He also had a small complement of vessels, such as the Austro-Hungarian protected cruiser Kaiserin Elizabeth, whose crew was divided in two; to man the ship and fight as part of the German land forces. Protected cruisers were a type of naval Cruiser of the late 19th century so known because their deck armour offered protection for vital machine spaces from shrapnel caused

The Attack

Destroyed German Gun in the Bismarck Fortress.

As the Japanese approached his position, the German Commander, Captain Mayer-Waldeck, withdrew his forces from the two outer defensive lines and concentrated his troops on the innermost line of defence. On October 31, the Japanese began their bombardment of the fort and began digging parallel lines of trenches just as they had done at the Siege of Port Arthur nine years earlier. Events 445 BC – Ezra reads the Book of the Law to the Israelites in Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 91 NLTse The Siege of Port Arthur (旅順攻囲戦 Ryojun Kōisen) 1 August 1904 - 2 January 1905, the deep-water port and The Japanese used very large 11 inch howitzers from land in addition to the firing of their naval guns. The bombardment continued for seven days.

On the night of November 6, the Japanese infantry attacked the third line of defences and drove the defenders out of them. Events 355 - Roman Emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with The next morning, the Germans forces along with their Austro-Hungarian allies surrendered.

That the Germans were able to hold out for nearly two months under a total British blockade gave a morale boost despite the defeat. Their pride, however, was insulted by the perception that the British had contracted out the Japanese to do their fighting. The defeated Germans were so disgusted that they turned their backs on the triumphant British as they marched into town. Critics of the British have used this incident as an example of inciting Japanese imperial ambitions which resulted with the actions of the Japanese Empire during World War II.

See also

• Japan during World War I

Sources

Notes

Books

• Burdick, Charles B. The Japanese Siege of Tsingtao (1976)
• Falls, Cyril The Great War, (1960). pgs. 98-99.
• Hoyt, Edwin P. The Fall of Tsingtao (1975)
• Keegan, John The First World War, (1998). pg 206.

External links

• Tsingtao Campaign
• Tsingtao map of city with its siege works 1914
• The siege of Tsingtao
• German Colonial Uniforms
• Japanese Army uniforms in 1914, and during WW1