Description

The German occupation of Kiautschou (or Kiaochow), centered on the naval base of Tsingtau, began in 1898 when the German Empire obtained a 99-year concession in China. By 1909, the territory had become a model German colony, with modern infrastructure including a port, railways, a brewery, and European-style urban planning. It served primarily as a strategic base for the German East Asia Squadron. The administration presented itself as ‘exemplary’ but imposed strict controls on the local Chinese population. This presence came to an end in 1914 with the Japanese capture of Tsingtau