Jiaozhou Bay
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The Jiaozhou Bay was from 1898 to 1914 a German colony with a size of 552kmē and the capital Qingdao (meaning "Green island". Jiaozhou is situated at the southern coast of the Chinese province Shandong Peninsula. Jiaozhou used to be romanized as Kiaochow or Kiauchau in English and Kiautschou in German.
Stamp_Kiauchau_1905_40c.jpg
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Background of the expansion to China
Originating from the development of imperialism an awareness of having a mission arose in Germany as well as in other states. This awareness was of high influence for the building of a German colony in China and formed one of the most important impulses for it. In addition to that came the colonialist thinking, that colonies were the best method of supporting the economy in the motherland. So the densely populated China came as potential market into view of the colonial agitation. Thinkers like Max Weber demanded an active colonial policy from the government. Particulary the opening of China was made to 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 that a navy, of which the first beginnings were the East Asian Squadron and the European stationed High Seas Fleet, was built. This fleet was supposed to give the German interests emphasis during peace (gunboat diplomacy) and to protect the German trade routes resp. 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: In considering of the heavy strain according to the building of the fleet a Chinese colony should also promote the navy. Therefore was Jiaozhou 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 eceptionally effective German colonial policy.
The occupation of the bay
Already in 1860 a Prussian expedition fleet arrived in Asia and explored the region around the Jiaozhou Bay. In 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 possible German naval base. In 1896 Admiral von Tirpitz, at that time commander of the East Asian Squadron, examined the area personally. When on November 1, 1897 two German missionaries of the Steyler Mission, which was protected by the German Empire since 1890, were murdered in China, was this for Kaiser Wilhelm II a welcome excuse 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. On November 14 German naval infantry landed on the strands and occupied the area without a fight. China tried futile to obtain a withdrawal of the troops. On November 20 began the German-Chinese negotiations, which resulted in the sttlement of the missionary incident on January 15, 1898. Few months later, on March 6, the German Empire leased the Bay for 99 years from the Chinese government. Only six weeks later (on April 6, 1898) the area was officially put under German "protection". to that time the region was populated by approx. 83.000 inhabitants. As result of the German-Chinese lease contract the Chinese government gave up all 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, but turned into German possession. Moreover gave the Chinese government 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 got 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 (always a navy officer), 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 (council of the protectorate) and since 1902 the Chinese committee acted as organs of advice for the governor. The departments finances, construction and hospital were directly subordinated to the governor, because these were the most important 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 economical and later the cultural development. But the first governor, Carl Rosendahl, neglected these aspects and took only care of military interests of the naval base. So in 1899 he was replaced by Paul Jaeschke, during which term of office the development of the colony quickly progressed.
It was returned to China in 1922. Japanese rule was restored between 1937 and 1945.
See also
- Jiaozhou Governor's Hall, located in Qingdao.de:Kiautschou