We change continent once again. I have spoken already a couple of times about the involvement of German Troops in China. You can read a bit about the Germans and the Boxers Rebellion in this link:
Today I am talking about the same scenario but different opponent, JAPAN and I will be showing their commemorative WW1 medal 1914 – 1920. The reason, that the medal was given until 1920 is, because it was also awarded to the troops participating in the unsuccessful Japanese Expedition, that was sent to Siberia to fight against the Soviets during the Russian Civil War.
The Medal was awarded to the participating Troops during in any of the conflicts of the WW1, where the Japanese were involved. This includes also the members of the Navy Squadron sent to the Mediterranean See to protect the allied shipping. Please see a picture of the Flotilla in the Port of Marseilles.
With the First World War, Japan saw a great opportunity to expand its influence and power in China, and already on the 16thof August 1916, over 250.000 men were mobilized. Soon after, Japan declared the war to Germany on the 23rd of August 1914. Before this happened, the British Empire saw the Japan attitude also like a threat. At the end they admitted Japan as part of the allies, with the condition, that their operations against Germany should be also supervised by British troops.
The main Japanese objective, of course, was the German Colony of Tsingtsao. The area of Tsingtsao was well fortified after the Boxer Rebellion with trenches, forts, Bunkers and plenty of artillery posts. To mention one, the Battery “Bismarck” with his 4 x 240 mm cannons.
In the colony, there were around 4.500 German and Austro-Hungarian soldiers. They also had 2 planes of the type “Taube”. It is important to say that, with one of them suffering a terrible accident, the other one, in the hands of Günther Plüschow, managed to shot down a Japanese plane, after killing the Japanese Pilot with several shots of his pistol.
The allies had around 41.500 troops ready to assault Tsingtsao (1.500 of them British and Indians) and a big Armada.
Against the odds, the Germans managed to defend Tsingtsao for over 2 Months, with the last shot of the Bismarck Battery fired on the 7th of November and with scenes typical from other types, like the duel to sword between a Japanese and Prussian officers (which ended in the victory of the Japanese one).
This medal would have been awarded to the Japanese troops, who took part in this victory but also they were awarded with the specific one for this period. Only that were not allowed to wear both of them together.
Well, not the last Japanese Medal to be shown in this section.
Sources:
Fotos von Wikipedia.
Map from Flickr (page of STEVE, section Plan of Tsingtao and fortifications 1914)
“La Primera Guerra Mundial en el Pacífico” – Rubén Villamor.