In China






World War I in the Pacific



A number of the German colonies - DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA, the CAROLINES, the MARIANAS, the MARSHALL ISLANDS, western SAMOA and KIAUTSCHOU, the German leased territory in China's Shandong province, were located in the western Pacific.
When World War I broke out, the Entente regarded these German possessions in the Pacific a nasty problem, as they provided ports (supply stations) to Germany's fleet, but nonetheless of secondary importance.
Japan regarded the situation as a rare opportunity, Germany because of the war in Europe being unable to send reinforcements. Japanese forces occupied the Carolines, Marianas and Marshall Islands without resistance. In Kiautschou the German s resisted, surrendering after a short siege in November 1914. Samoa was occupied by New Zealanders, Deutsch-Neuguinea by Australians.

In 1917, the Russian Revolution broke out; following the October Revolution, the Russian Empire entered the phase of Civil War. Japanese forces occupied NORTHERN SAKHALIN and, in concert with a US expeditionary force, VLADIVOSTOK and the eastern stretch of the Transiberian Railway. The FAR EASTERN REPUBLIC was established (until 1922). Northern Sakhalin was evacuated by the Japanese and handed over to the Soviets only in 1925.


War in the Colonies

Western Samoa




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This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted in 2000, last revised on November 16th 2004

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