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Kaiser Wilhelm II and German Interests in China
Kaiser Wilhelm II and German Interests in China
[The following two documents, the second in two versions,
illustrate the style of German imperialism in the Wilhelmine era.
An uprising of the Society of Righteous Harmonious Fists--the Boxer
Rebellion--was a desperate effort by native Chinese forces to stave
off foreign influence and the dismemberment of their country by the
Great Powers. In June 1900, 140,000 Boxers occupied Peking, laying
siege to the foreigners and attacking Chinese converts to
Christianity. An international expeditionary force raised the
siege in August, but not before several Europeans, including the
German envoy and several missionaries, had been murdered. The
Boxer Rebellion occasioned heated nationalistic rhetoric all over
Europe. Although Kaiser Wilhelm II outdid all others in his
posturings, behind the rhetoric, there stood concrete economic
interests that had to be protected if Germany were to achieve its
"place in the sun."
Upon confirmation of the news that the German envoy to Peking had been murdered,
a military force was assembled in Bremerhaven for a punitive expedition. Wilhelm
and his wife happened to be present at the embarkation, when the Kaiser made
this impromptu speech to the soldiers on July 2, 1900. Source: Ernst Johann
(ed.), Reden des Kaisers: Ansprachen, Predigten und Trinksprüche Wilhelms
II (Munich, 1966), pp. 86-88. Translated by Richard S. Levy.]
TEXT 1
Into the midst of the deepest peace--alas, not surprising to
me--the torch of war has been hurled. A crime unprecedented in its
brazenness, horrifying in its cruelty, has struck my trusted
representative and carried him off. The ambassadors of the other
powers are in danger of their lives and along with them your
comrades who were dispatched for their protection. Perhaps, they
have today fought their last battle. The German
flag has been
insulted, and the German Empire held up to scorn. This demands an
exemplary punishment and revenge.[1]
With fearful speed the conditions have become extremely serious.
Since I have summoned you to arms, [the situation has become] still
more serious. What I had hoped to restore with the help of the
marines will now require the united contingents of troops from all
the civilized nations. Today the chief of the cruiser squadron has
implored me to consider sending an [entire] division.
You will oppose an enemy no less resolute in the face of death than
yourselves. Trained by European officers, the Chinese have learned
the use of European weapons. Thank God your comrades in the
marines and in my navy, with whom you will join, have asserted and
maintained the old German repute in combat; they have defended
themselves with glory and victory and eased your task.
Thus I send you now to avenge injustice, and I shall not rest until
the German flag, united with those of the other powers, waves
victoriously over the Chinese, planted on the walls of Peking, and
dictating peace to the Chinese.
Maintain a good comradeship with all the troops whom you will join
with there. Russians, Englishmen, Frenchmen, and whoever
else--they all fight for one cause, for civilization.
Yet we also bear in mind something higher, our religion, and the
defense and protection of our brothers overseas, some of whom have
stood up for their Savior with their life.
Think also of our military honor, of those who have fought for you,
and depart with the old motto of the flag of Brandenburg: "Trust
God, defend yourself bravely. In that lies all your honor! For
whoever ventures on God with a full heart will never be routed."
The flags that wave above you here go into fire for the first time.
Bring them back to me pure, unblemished, and without stain!
My thanks and my concern, my prayers and my solicitude will not
leave you. With these I accompany you.
END OF TEXT 1
[At the end of July, the Kaiser paid a visit to another body of troops being
dispatched to China, again in Bremerhaven. The following document represents
the official, heavily edited, version of his remarks on this occasion put out
for public consumption by Chancellor Buelow. Source: Wilhelm Schroeder (ed.),
Das persönliche Regiment: Reden und sonstige öffentliche Äusserungen Wilhelms
II (Munich, 1912), pp. 40-42. Translated by Richard S. Levy.]
TEXT 2
Great overseas tasks have fallen to the newly arisen German Empire,
tasks far greater than many of my countrymen expected. It is in
character for the German Empire to meet the obligation of defending
its citizens who are being oppressed in foreign lands. These tasks
that the old Holy Roman Empire was not up to, the new German Empire
is in position to perform. The means that makes this possible is
our army. During thirty years of peaceful labor it has been built
up according to the principles of my late grandfather [Wilhelm I,
1861-88.] You, too, have received your training according to these
principles and shall now test them before the enemy. Your comrades
in the navy have already undergone this test and have demonstrated
that the principles of our training are sound. I am proud of the
praise from foreign leaders which your comrades have earned over
there. It is for you to do the same.
A great task awaits you: You must see to it that a serious
injustice is expiated. The Chinese have overturned the law of
nations. Never before in world history have the sanctity of
diplomats and the obligations of hospitality been subjected to such
contempt. It is all the more outrageous that these crimes have
been committed by a nation which prides itself on its ancient
culture.
Maintain the old Prussian virtue. Show yourselves Christians in
the joyful bearing of sorrow. May honor and fame follow your
banners and your arms. Give all the world an example of manliness
and discipline. Well you know that you shall be fighting against
a sly, brave, well-armed, and cruel foe.
When you come upon him, know this: Pardon will not be given.
Prisoners will not be taken. [2] Bear your weapons
so that for a
thousand years no Chinaman will dare even to squint at a German.
Carry yourselves like men, and the blessing of God go with you.
The prayers of the entire nation and my good wishes go with you,
each and everyone. Open the way for civilization once and for
all! Now you can depart! Adieu, comrades!
END OF TEXT 2
[Prince Bülow did not realize that a reporter from a local
newspaper had taken down the kaiser's speech in shorthand; it was
this much more lurid version that was picked up by the world press
and which provided further evidence of Wilhelm's impulsiveness.]
TEXT 3
The task which I am sending you out to do is a great one. You must
see that a serious injustice is expiated. In this case the Chinese
have dared to overturn a thousand year old international law and to
make a mockery of the sanctity of the diplomat and the right of
hospitality. The case is unprecedented in world history--and this
from a people proud of its ancient culture!
But you can see from this what a culture not based on Christianity
comes to. Every heathen culture, no matter how beautiful or
august, will come to nought at the first catastrophe!
...When you come upon the enemy, smite him. Pardon will not be
given. Prisoners will not be taken. Whoever falls into your hands
is forfeit. Once, a thousand years ago, the Huns
under their King
Attila made a name for themselves, one still potent in legend and
tradition.[3] May you in this way make the name
German remembered
in China for a thousand years so that no Chinaman will ever again
dare to even squint at a German!
You will have to fight a force superior in numbers. But, as our
military history demonstrates, we are accustomed to this....Gather
new laurels for your [regimental] flags. The blessings of the Lord
go with you and your prayers. An entire nation accompanies you on
all your paths. My best wishes to you for the fortune of your
arms....And may God's blessing attach itself to your banner and
bring a blessing upon this war so that Christianity may survive in
that land and such sad events never reoccur. To this end stand by
your oath. And now, a prosperous voyage! Adieu, comrades!
END OF TEXT 3
NOTES
[1] Deleted from this official version of the speech
was the
following: "I hope...to take revenge such as the world has never
before witnessed." Jump back to text.
[2] Thanks to skillful editing in this paragraph, it
is possible to
read the text to say that the Germans will meet with no mercy at
the hands of the enemy. Text 3, however, makes it abundantly clear
that the kaiser is enjoining his soldiers to give no quarter to the
enemy.Jump back to text.
[3] The kaiser's allusion to Attila was seized upon
by enemy
propagandists during World War I. In popular consciousness the
Germans and the barbaric "Huns" became one.Jump back to
text.
FOR FURTHER READING
Michael Balfour, The Kaiser and His Times (New York,
1964)
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