Primary Documents - German Reaction to the Japanese Capture of
Tsingtao, 8 November 1914 Reproduced below is a commentary which
appeared in a German newspaper on 8 November 1914, the day after
the German-held territory of Tsingtao fell into Japanese
control. The author of the article was Rear-Admiral Schlieper,
who had served in Tsingtao some years earlier, and who had
rejoiced in the territory's superior management by Germany. In
his article Schlieper mourned the loss of Tsingtao in passionate
terms, and heaped scorn upon its joint conquerors, Japan and
Britain. Click here to read the ultimatum sent by Japanese Prime
Minister Okuma to Berlin shortly before war was declared between
Japan and Germany. Click here to read Minister for Foreign
Affairs Baron Kato's rationale for the decision to go to war.
German Reaction to the Fall of Tsingtao - A Newspaper Commentary
by Rear-Admiral Schlieper, 8 November 1914 "We guarantee
performance of our duty - to the last!" A solemn heritage have
these words become, these w