Jiaozhou Bay

Encyclopedia : J : JI : JIA : Jiaozhou Bay

The Jiaozhou Bay ([36°7′24.44″N, 120°14′44.3″E]) was a 552km² German colonial Concession, which existed from 1898 to 1914. It was in the imperial province of Shandong, situated on the southern coast of the Shandong Peninsula in northern China. Jiaozhou used to be romanized as Kiaochow, Kiauchau or Kiao-Chau in English and Kiautschou in German. Qingdao (Tsingtao) was the administrative center.

40-cent "Yacht" stamp of 1905

Contents

1 Background of the expansion to China
2 The German acquisition of the bay
3 The organisation of the protectorate
4 Later history
5 See also
6 Sources and references

Background of the expansion to China

With the development of imperialism, an awareness of having a mission arose in Germany as well as in other states. This awareness was a great influence in the building of a German colony in China. In addition to that came colonialist thinking that colonies (see German colonial empire) were ideal to support the economy in the motherland. So, densely populated China came into view as a potential market. Thinkers like Max Weber demanded an active colonial policy from the government. In particular the opening of China was made a question of life or death, because it was thought to be the most important non-European market in the world.

But a global policy (Weltpolitik) without global military influence appeared impracticable, so a navy, of which the first beginnings were the German East Asia Squadron and the European stationed High Seas Fleet, was built. This fleet was supposed to give German interests emphasis during peace (gunboat diplomacy) and to protect the German trade routes and to disturb the hostile ones during war (cruiser war conception). A network of global naval bases was the key requirement for this intention.

Nevertheless the acquisition of a harbour in China should serve another purpose: considering the heavy strain accorded to the building of the fleet, a Chinese colony should also promote the navy. Therefore Jiaozhou was from the start subjected to the idea of a model colony: all installations, the administration, the utilization and the like had to show the Chinese, the Germans and the world the exceptionally effective German colonial policy.

The German acquisition of the bay

In 1860 a Prussian expedition fleet arrived in Asia and explored the region around Jiaozhou Bay. The following year a Chinese-Prussian trade contract was signed. After his journeys to China between 1868 and 1871 Freiherr Ferdinand von Richthofen recommended the Bay of Jiaozhou as a possible German naval base. In 1896 Admiral von Tirpitz, at that time commander of the German East Asia Squadron, examined the area personally.

When on November 1, 1897 two German missionaries of the Steyler Mission, which had been protected by the German Empire since 1890, were murdered in China, Kaiser Wilhelm II used this as a pretext to occupy the Bay. Even before the Chinese government was informed about the murder, Admiral von Diederichs, commander of the East Asian Squadron, was ordered on November 7 to carry out the occupation; he was the only Military Governor (until 7 March 1898). On November 14 German naval infantry landed on the strands and occupied the area without a fight. China tried futilely to obtain a withdrawal of the troops. On November 20 the German-Chinese negotiations began, which resulted in the settlement of the missionary incident on January 15, 1898.

A few months later, on March 6, the German Empire leased the Bay for 99 years from the Chinese government (like Hong Kong by the British). Only six weeks later (on April 6, 1898) the area was officially put under German "protection", opening the treaty port on July 1, 1899; to that time the region was populated by approx. 83.000 inhabitants.

As a result of the German-Chinese lease contract the Chinese government gave up the exercise of all its sovereign rights within the leased territory (to which the city of Jiaozhou did not belong) as well as in a 50km wide security zone. The "Gouvernement Kiautschou" remained part of China under imperial sovereignty, but for the duration of the lease turned into a German Schutzgebiet (possession). Moreover the Chinese government gave the German Empire concessions for the construction of two railway lines and the mining of local coal deposits. Even the parts of Shandong outside of the German protectorate came under German influence. Although the lease contract set limits to the German expansion, it became starting point for the following cessions of Port Arthur to Russia, of Weihaiwei to Great Britain and Kwang-Chou-Wan to France.

The organisation of the protectorate

Because of the importance, which the protectorate should have for the reputation of the German navy, it was not put under the supervision of the Imperial colonial office (Reichskolonialamt) but under that of the Imperial naval office (Reichsmarineamt). At the top of the colony stood the governor (all five incumbents were navy officers), who was directly subordinated to the secretary of state of the RMA, Tirpitz. The governor was head of the military and the civil administration within the colony. The former was run by the chief of staff (deputy of the governor), the latter by the Zivilkommissar 'civil commissioner'. Further important functionaries of Jiaozhou were the official for the construction of the harbour and since 1900 the judge and the 'commissioner for Chinese affairs'. The Gouvernementsrat ('government council' of the protectorate) and since 1902 the 'Chinese committee' acted as organs of advice for the governor. The departments of finances, construction and hospital were directly subordinated to the governor, because these crucial with regard to the idea of a model colony. As Jiaozhou should serve above all the propaganda of the fleet, the RMA set great store by the economic (and later) cultural developments. But the first governor (7 March 1898 - 19 February 1899 Kurt - = Carl Rosendahl) neglected these aspects and took care only of the military interests of the naval base. So he was replaced by Otto Ferdinand Paul Jaeschke (19 February 1899 - 27 January 1901 (b. 1851 - d. 1901) ), during which term of office the development of the colony quickly accelerated. The next incumbents were Max Rollmann (acting, 27 January 1901 - 8 June 1901), Oskar Truppel (b. 1854 - d. 1931; in office 8 June 1901 - 19 August 1911) and Alfred Meyer-Waldeck (b. 1864 - d. 1928; 19 August 1911 - 7 November 1914).

Later history

On 23 August 1914, imperial China cancelled the German lease. On 7 November 1914 the bay was occupied by Japan, which appointed two Military Governors: 7 November 1914 - 1919 Mitsuomi Kamio (b. 1856 - d. 1925) and 1919 - 10 December 1922 Mitsue Yuhi (b. 1860 - d. 1940)

Finally it was returned to China in on 10 December 1922. Japanese rule was restored between 1937 and 1945.

Sources and references

(incomplete)


*Former German Schutzgebiete* (colonies and protectorates)**

Colonies	Africa	German East Africa	(Tanganyika, Rwanda, Burundi)
		(sultan under protectorate)
		(Namibia)
		(Cameroons>Kamerun, Togoland)

	Pacific	German New Guinea and	(North Solomon Islands>German Solomon Islands, German Marshall Islands,
		Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands, Nauru, Palau)

Concessions	China \|colspan=2\| Kiaochow / Kiautschou
Concessions	China \|colspan=2\| Kiaochow / Kiautschou

Unrecognized	New Swabia