The Forgotten Siege: Japan and Germany Clash at Tsingtao

Although allies in WWII, Japan, and Germany once engaged in a devastating battle that is nearly forgotten today. This conflict emboldened the victor and struck down the world-reaching designs of their enemy. This is the Siege of Tsingtao.

A New Global Order

As the Great War sweeps across Europe, Japan sees an opportunity to capture a seat in a new global order. In late August, Japan declares war on Germany:

"We, by the Grace of Heaven, Emperor of Japan, on the throne occupied by the same Dynasty from time immemorial…hereby, declare war against Germany and We command Our Army and Navy to carry on hostilities against that Empire with all their strength."

While the German army tramples across neutral Belgium, this conflict in the East seems distant but is part of a larger struggle for global dominance. Germany, desiring a vast empire, colonized land in Africa and coveted the Chinese bay of Kiautschou and the village of Tsingtao. In 1897, after a few German missionaries were slain nearby, Germany used it as a pretext to force China to grant them a 99-year lease of the bay. Tsingtao became a German colony on the coast of China, a center of trade governed by the military and a staging area for the eastern edge of a global German empire.

Japan's Imperial Ambitions

However, Japan had its own imperial ambitions and sought to strengthen its foothold in China. The British, wary but strategic, decided to welcome Japan as comrades in the war. A British battleship joined the Japanese fleet under Admiral Katō Sadakichi as they bore down on Tsingtao.

At first, the German port appeared impregnable. German gunboats patrolled the coast, the waters were laid with thousands of mines, and the land was fortified with rivers and mountains topped with concrete and steel forts. Despite this, the total defensive force stood at only 4,500 men, as much of the German fleet had departed to contend with the British navy.

The Siege Begins

On September 3rd, the defenders of Tsingtao managed to destroy a stranded Japanese vessel, but this was a minor victory. Over a hundred miles north, 20,000 Japanese troops landed on the Chinese coast, led by the talented General Kamio Mitsuomi. The core of the German force consisted of marines equipped with Gewehr 98 bolt-action rifles, while the Japanese carried Arisaka Type 38 bolt-action rifles and were known for their impassioned bayonet charges.

This battle was not constrained to land and sea. The Japanese Navy conducted the world’s first air raids launched from a ship, with pilots dropping bombs by hand from rattling cockpits. These early airplanes, valued mainly for reconnaissance, marked a rapid evolution in warfare.

A Cultural Shift and Strategic Moves

The land of the rising sun had closed its shores nearly three centuries earlier, with its shogun, samurai clans, and feudal structure enduring while new powers rose beyond its borders. Thrust back into contact in the mid-19th century, Japan swiftly industrialized and militarized, bending ancient traditions to create a new empire. They triumphed in wars against China and Russia, bringing Taiwan and Korea under their control.

Now, the Japanese marched south toward Tsingtao, violating Chinese neutrality. Reports indicated that the Japanese invaders assaulted women, plundered houses, and killed those who resisted. Methodically, General Kamio moved his forces to take the railroad and cut communication lines out of the city. Thousands more Japanese troops arrived with large guns at Lao Shan bay, where British troops joined to bolster their defenses.

The Final Assault

The defenders of Tsingtao, under orders from Kaiser Wilhelm II, were to fight until the end. On September 27th, the attackers pushed toward Prince Heinrich Hill, a vantage point that would allow them to launch and direct artillery attacks on German forts. After weeks of intense fighting, the Japanese captured the peak.

By October 31st, the Japanese had moved 150 pieces of artillery into position. The relentless shelling set oil tanks ablaze and blackened the skies over the city. The defenders’ ammunition ran low, their barbed wire defenses were breached, and their forts surrounded. In early November, the Japanese launched their final assault. Despite being cut down by machine guns, they overwhelmed the German garrison with sheer numbers.

A New Power Emerges

On November 7th, the German garrison surrendered. The Japanese celebrated their victory, and the surviving defenders were taken to Japan as prisoners of war. Although the Germans attempted to leave little of value, this victory was a significant triumph for the Japanese emperor, demonstrating Japan’s prowess in combined operations and conquest.

While the capture of Tsingtao did not sway the outcome of the Great War, it solidified Japan's control over Tsingtao and Germany’s Pacific islands. Japan's designs on China were clear, and tensions with emerging powers like the United States hinted that peace would not last.