SIEGE OF TSINGTAO – WWI

31 October – 7 November 1914

SUMMARY

In the first engagement between Japanese and German forces, 20,000 Japanese troops with 140 artillery pieces allied with 1,500 British troops and naval support to attack 4,000 German marines and sailors at the Chinese port of Tsingtao.  It was the first Anglo-Japanese operation of the war, the first air attack launched from a ship, and the first night-time air raid.

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BACKGROUND

In 1897, Germany built the port city of Tsingtao, as part of its lease from China in the Kiautschou Bay Concession, and established it as a base for the East Asiatic Squadron of the German Navy.  When war broke out, Japan demanded that Germany remove its fleet from the Chinese and Japanese waters and surrender Tsingtao to Japan.  When Germany refused, Japan declared war.

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LOCATION

Tsingtau, Kiautschou Bay Concession, China

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ALLIED POWERS

IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY

18^th INFANTRY DIVISION

BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

2^nd BATTALION, THE SOUTH WALES BORDERERS

36^th SIKHS

Led by

Major-General Mitsuomi Kamio

Major-General Nathaniel Walter Barnardiston

Vice-Admiral Sadakichi Kato

Captain Maurice Fitzmaurice (HMS Triumph)

Lieutenant-Commander Wellwood George Courtenay Maxwell (HMS Usk)

Supported by

IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY 2nd FLEET

BRITISH ROYAL NAVY CHINA SQUADRON’S

HMS TRIUMPH

HMS USK

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IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVY

III SEEBATAILLON

MATROSENARTILLERIEABTEILUNG

AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN NAVY

SMS KAISERIN ELISABETH

Led by

Captain and Governor Alfred Meyer-Waldeck

Captain Richárd Makovicz (SMS Kaiserin Elizabeth)

Supported by

OSTASIATISCHES MARINE-DETACHMEN

CHINESE POLICE FORCE

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RESULT

A military victory for the Allies

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CONSEQUENCE

Japanese forces suffered 733 killed in action and 1,282 wounded.  British forces suffered 12 KIA and 53 wounded.  The Germans suffered 199 KIA and 504 WIA with 4,700 taken prisoner of war.  The Germans held their position for 2 months before surrendering on 7 November 1914.  Japan occupied Tsingtao until returning it to Chinese control in 1922.  After the war, 170 of the German POWs chose to remain in Japan.

Dramatic cinematographic reenactment of the Siege of Tsingtao

BBC documentary on Tsingtao

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