On November 14, 1897, the German Reich occupied the Chinese port of Tsingtau and, in a contract with the Chinese Empire dated March 6, 1898, leased an area of 550 km² with Tsingtau as its center for 99 years - the Kiautschou protectorate. The province of Schantung, to which the leased area actually belonged, was declared a German area of interest and a neutral zone. In this area the empire received concessions for the construction and maintenance of railway lines and mines. However, as early as 30 October 1895, the German Reich had the right to establish branches in the international contracted ports of Tientsin and Hankou, which had existed since 1859/60. And of course the empire, like the other great powers and other states involved in China trade, also maintained a legation in Beijing. German missions were also active in the interior of China, as were German merchants, especially in Shanghai. The German Reich was therefore indeed heavily involved in China and saw itself as such. Against this background, the xenophobic riots in China in Germany that began at the end of 1899 and quickly became more serious were perceived as a threat. The regent, Empress Cixi, remained ambiguous at first in her measures against the "fist fighters united in righteousness", referred to by the colonial powers as "boxers" for short, units of the imperial Chinese army partly allied themselves with them. The uprising continued to increase from January 1900 onwards, with excessive acts of violence against Chinese Christians and foreigners. From May 1900 the foreign landscapes in Beijing were threatened by insurgents, the railway lines from Beijing to the coast were attacked. The Gesandschaften therefore requested military support. In May 1900, the German Reich sent a contingent of the III Sea Battalion stationed in Tsingtau to Beijing, two further companies were ordered to Tientsin, and the cruiser squadron moved to the roadstead before the Taku forts at the mouth of the river Peiho. Meanwhile, the situation in Beijing continued to deteriorate and further troops were needed. In June 1900, the troops of the colonial powers in China formed an expeditionary corps led by the British admiral Seymour (2066 men). However, this was stopped in mid-June by Chinese troops (boxers and regular army) and had to turn back. The foreigners and Chinese Christians in Beijing had meanwhile barricaded themselves in the Gesandschaftsviertel and were cut off from the outside world. The allied colonial powers (USA, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Japan) stormed the Taku-Forts on June 17, the Chinese government ultimatively called on all foreigners to leave China on June 19. On 20 June the German envoy, Baron Clemens von Ketteler, was murdered in Beijing. By edict of 21 June, China effectively declared war on the Allies, but this was not reciprocated by them. The Allied troops withdrew to Tientsin at the end of June 1900. In Germany, on 25 June, a naval expedition corps of 2528 men (under Major General von Höpfner) was formed from the members of the naval infantry. In addition, on 3 July the order was given to set up an expedition corps of volunteers from the army (under Lieutenant General von Lessel). The Allies had agreed to form an international expeditionary corps, with Germany as commander-in-chief. On 12 August 1900, the former chief of the Great General Staff, Field Marshal Alfred Graf von Waldersee, was appointed commander-in-chief of the international armed force, which finally comprised 64,000 troops. Waldersee used the "Army Command East Asia" as a staff. The East Asian Expeditionary Corps set sail with its first parts on 27 July in Bremerhaven, when Emperor Wilhelm II gave the famous "Hun speech" at their farewell. With the 19,093 men of its East Asian Expeditionary Corps under Lieutenant General von Lessel, the German Reich provided almost a third of the international armed forces. Description of the holdings The documents of the Army High Command in East Asia must be regarded as lost. The tradition in the Heeresarchiv at the time was lost with it during the air raid on Potsdam in April 1945. The holdings of RW 63 therefore only contain fragments of written documents that have been preserved elsewhere by chance. Characterization of content The collection essentially comprises reports by the physician of the colonel Dr. Müller, plus a few letters. Citation method BArch RW 63/...

On November 14, 1897, the German Reich occupied the Chinese port of Tsingtau and, in a contract with the Chinese Empire dated March 6, 1898, leased an area of 550 km² with Tsingtau as its center for 99 years - the Kiautschou protectorate. The province of Schantung, to which the leased area actually belonged, was declared a German area of interest and a neutral zone. In this area the empire received concessions for the construction and maintenance of railway lines and mines. However, as early as 30 October 1895, the German Reich had the right to establish branches in the international contracted ports of Tientsin and Hankou, which had existed since 1859/60. And of course the empire, like the other great powers and other states involved in China trade, also maintained a legation in Beijing. German missions were also active in the interior of China, as were German merchants, especially in Shanghai. The German Reich was therefore indeed heavily involved in China and saw itself as such. Against this background, the xenophobic riots in China in Germany that began at the end of 1899 and quickly became more serious were perceived as a threat. The regent, Empress Cixi, remained ambiguous at first in her measures against the "fist fighters united in righteousness", referred to by the colonial powers as "boxers" for short, units of the imperial Chinese army partly allied themselves with them. The uprising continued to increase from January 1900 onwards, with excessive acts of violence against Chinese Christians and foreigners. From May 1900 the foreign landscapes in Beijing were threatened by insurgents, the railway lines from Beijing to the coast were attacked. The Gesandschaften therefore requested military support. In May 1900, the German Reich sent a contingent of the III Sea Battalion stationed in Tsingtau to Beijing, two further companies were ordered to Tientsin, and the cruiser squadron moved to the roadstead before the Taku forts at the mouth of the river Peiho. Meanwhile, the situation in Beijing continued to deteriorate and further troops were needed. In June 1900, the troops of the colonial powers in China formed an expeditionary corps led by the British admiral Seymour (2066 men). However, this was stopped in mid-June by Chinese troops (boxers and regular army) and had to turn back. The foreigners and Chinese Christians in Beijing had meanwhile barricaded themselves in the Gesandschaftsviertel and were cut off from the outside world. The allied colonial powers (USA, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Japan) stormed the Taku-Forts on June 17, the Chinese government ultimatively called on all foreigners to leave China on June 19. On 20 June the German envoy, Baron Clemens von Ketteler, was murdered in Beijing. By edict of 21 June, China effectively declared war on the Allies, but this was not reciprocated by them. The Allied troops withdrew to Tientsin at the end of June 1900. In Germany, on 25 June, a naval expedition corps of 2528 men (under Major General von Hoepfner) was formed from members of the naval infantry. In addition, on 3 July the order was given to set up an expedition corps of volunteers from the army (under Lieutenant General von Lessel). On arrival in China, Lessel also assumed supreme command of the Naval Expeditionary Corps and all other naval units deployed on land in accordance with the corresponding order of 27 July. In the meantime, the Allies had agreed to form an international expeditionary corps, with Germany as commander-in-chief. On 12 August 1900, the former chief of the Great General Staff, Field Marshal Alfred Graf von Waldersee, was appointed commander-in-chief of the international armed force, which finally comprised 64,000 troops. Waldersee used the "Army Command East Asia" as a staff. The East Asian Expeditionary Corps set sail with its first parts on 27 July in Bremerhaven, when Emperor Wilhelm II gave the famous "Hun speech" at their farewell. With the 19,093 men of its East Asian Expeditionary Corps under Lieutenant General von Lessel, the German Reich provided almost a third of the international armed forces. Structure of the East Asian Expeditionary Corps: 3 infantry brigades to 2 infantry regiments with 9 companies each 1 fighter company 1 cavalry regiment to 4 escadrons 1 field artillery regiment to 3 divisions with a total of 8 batteries 2 light ammunition columns 1 battalion heavy field howitzers with 2 batteries 1 pioneer regiment with 9 companies each 1 hunter company 1 cavalry regiment to 4 escadrons 1 field artillery regiment to 3 divisions with a total of 8 batteries 2 light ammunition columns 1 battalion heavy field howitzers with 2 batteries 1 pioneerBattalion of 3 Companies 1 Railway Battalion of 3 Companies 1 Corps Telegraph Department 1 Medical Company 1 Munitions Column Department with 7 Munitions Columns 1 Train Command with 3 Supply Columns, 1 field bakery company, 6 field hospitals 1 stage command with 1 horse depot, 1 military hospital depot, 1 stage ammunition column, personnel for 3 war hospitals and one hospital ship, several supply stations Already on the 4th day of operations, the first day of operations was at the hospital. On August 1, the Allied troops (about 20,000 men) gathered in Tientsin had once again set out and this time were able to fight their way through to Beijing. On August 14, Beijing was taken and then plundered for three days. The Chinese government fled to the south. When the international troops under Waldersee arrived in China, the situation was essentially settled, Beijing and Tientsin were horrified. Numerous "punitive expeditions" for the final destruction of the Boxers followed, in which the East Asian Expeditionary Corps was also intensively involved. The Allied approach was characterized by excessive brutality and numerous riots against the civilian population. On January 10, 1901, the Regent accepted the conditions of the Allies as laid down in the "Boxer Protocol" signed on September 7, 1901. The East Asian Expeditionary Corps was disbanded on 17 May 1901 and transformed into the East Asian Occupation Brigade stationed at Beijing, Tientsin, Langfang, Yangtsun, Tangku and Shanghaikwan. Structure of the East Asian Occupation Brigade: 1 command staff with administrative authorities 2 infantry regiments with 6 companies each, of which 1 company mounted 1 escadron hunter on horseback 1 field battery 1 pioneer company with telegraph detachment 1 field hospital The East Asian Occupation Brigade was further reduced in size and restructured on 1 May and 11 December 1902. On 6 March 1906, the East Asian Occupation Brigade was also dissolved and replaced by a battalion-strength detachment. This was replaced on 5 April 1909 by a naval infantry unit, which was wound up in 1910. The East Asian Department in the Prussian Ministry of War (inventory PH 2) was organizationally responsible. The holdings initially comprised only three AE, which together with the few files of the Schutztruppen formed the holdings RW 51 Kaiserliche Schutztruppen and other armed forces overseas. In 2008, nine further AE of different origins were added and a separate portfolio RW 61 was now formed. The inventory was developed in February 2010. Description of the holdings The holdings contain the documents of the East Asian Expeditionary Corps and the East Asian Occupation Brigade, as far as they are available in the military archives. Characterisation of content The inventory contains hardly any real material files. It consists mainly of several German-Chinese place name glossaries. Worth mentioning is a publication about the locations Langfang, Yangtsun, Tangku and Schanghaikwan with numerous illustrations. State of development The inventory initially comprised only three AE, which together with the few files of the Schutztruppen formed the inventory RW 51 Kaiserliche Schutztruppen and other armed forces overseas. In 2008, nine further AE of different origins were added and a separate portfolio RW 61 was now formed. The inventory was developed in February 2010. The documents of the East Asian Expeditionary Corps and the East Asian Occupation Brigade must essentially be regarded as lost in the fire of the Army Archives in 1945. Only pieces that have survived by chance have been preserved. These were supplemented by documents from the environment of the two associations, the branches in Tientsin, Hankou and Beijing. Citation BArch RW 61/...

202 sheets, Contains and others: - Evaluation of the qualification and suitability of Dr. Karl Reinhardt, 1888 - Evaluation of the qualification and suitability of Dr. [...] Büge, 1888 - Report of the interpreter Dr. Karl Reinhardt on the determination of origin, religion and language of the Indian merchants living in Zanzibar, 3rd ed. May 1889 - Recommendation of the seminarists Dr. [Franz] Grunenwald, [...] by Varchmin, Alfred Forke, Emil Krebs, Heinrich Cordes and Peter Merklinghaus for the interpreting service in Beijing, 1889 - Evaluation of the qualification and suitability of the seminarists [...]....] Czerlinsky, [...] Drewes, [...] Flügel, [...] Homeyer, [...] Lasker, [...] Lüderitz, [...] Noebe, [...] Schlief, [...] Scholz, [...] Vielhaber and [...] Weber, 1889 - Recommendation of the Referendariat [...Lüderitz for the Interpreting Service in Tangier, 1889 - Register of graduates of 11 March 1890 who entered the Dragomanat Service or were in other employment in the Orient - Register of graduates of 8 March 1890 employed in Asia and Africa. November 1890 - sending of the Referendar Wilhelm Padel to the Imperial Embassy in Constantinople, 1892 - sending of the Referendar Georg Brinck as interpreter aspirant to the Imperial Embassy in Constantinople, 1892 - recommendation of the seminarists Emil Ohrt, Hans Ackermann and Kurt von Groß for the Interpreting Service in Japan, 1892 - Admission of Maximilian Xaver Uebel to the Arabic class of the Seminar for Oriental Languages, 1893 - Order of the Diploma Examination of the Seminar for Oriental Languages at the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Berlin, 22. June, 1889. Berlin ohne Datum [1889] (print) - Eduard Sachau, Report on the effectiveness of the Seminar for Oriental Languages at the Königliche Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Berlin during the first five years of its existence from 1887 to 1892. Berlin 1893 (print) - Sending of the Kammergerichtsreferendars W. Rössler as Interpreter-Aspirant to the Imperial Consulate in Zanzibar, 1893 - Assessor Dr. [...] Hauck sent to the Imperial Legation in Tehran, 1893 - Referendars Dr. [...] Ohrt as Interpreter-Aspirant to the Imperial Legation in Tokyo, 1893 - Referendars Dr. K. Meidinger recommended for the interpreting service in Constantinople, 1893; booklet / binding;

Some files and photographs of the Frankfurt China Institute (1924-1976, a cultural science institute of the university), its directors and staff, and a sculpture from its old holdings: a head (Ming dynasty, c. 1600). The initiative to found the institute was taken by a private foundation and its holdings were fed from various sources of other donors. A special relationship to the German Kiaotchou leasehold does not seem to have existed. The cultural contacts were rather made through the founder of the institute, Richard Wilhelm, who had studied in Beijing and whose advocacy for the cultural exchange of Germany with China honoured the Chinese government by providing the funds for the maintenance of the institute after his death in 1930.

Contains among other things: Application of the RKA to the Reich Ministry of the Interior for the approval of collections, 1937 Appointment of Dr. Scherer as Chairman of the Führer Council of the RKA by the Bishop of Osnabrück, Berning, to the Oberregierungsrat (Senior Government Council) (ret.) Dr. Morsbach, 10 March 1934 Cooperation of the RKA with the VDA - Report of the SD Northeast Section, 17 Dec. 1935 Observation of the Catholic German Mission Abroad Programme and participants of the annual conference from 28 to 30 Aug. 1936 in Frankfurt (Main) - Report of the SD Oberabschnitts Rhein, 7 Sept. 1936 Dr. Richard Mai: "Katholische Kolonialmission", published by the RKA, Berlin 1936 General Assembly of the RKA on 7 May 1935 in the Wohlfahrtshaus Berlin. Report of the SD-Section South and Protocol, Feb. 4, 1938 Supervision of the Annual Conference of the Catholic Foreign German Mission from Aug. 26 to 29, 1937 in Dortmund, Aug. 1937 Registration of the associations, orders and cooperatives affiliated to the RKA. Report of the State Police Berlin and Directory, 19 May 1934 Annual Conference of the Catholic Mission of Germany Abroad, 25-28 Aug. 1938 in Passau - Programme and Participants - Report of the SD-Section South, 9 Sept. 1938 Also includes: Appointment of the Titular Bishop Xaver Geyer, Banz Monastery (Upper Franconia), to the Advisory Board of the Reichsfachschaft der katholischen Presse - The report of the SD-Section South, 9 Sept. 1938 also includes: Appointment of the Titular Bishop Xaver Geyer, Banz Monastery (Upper Franconia), to the Advisory Board of the Reichsfachschaft der katholischen Presse Report of the SD-Section South and Evaluation, 1936 Support of the German Catholic Parishes Abroad by the St. Josef-Missionsverein - Letter of the Archbishop of Cologne to the Ordinaries of Germany and Annual Report, 26 July 1938 Annual Conference of the Association of German Catholics in Poland Report of the SD-Super Section Southeast, July 1, 1937 Bonifazius-Werk in Österreich - Report of the SD-Sonderkommando II 133, April 4, 1938 Kreis deutscher Mädchen in New York - Report of the SD-Super Section Southwest, Oct 21, 1938 Priester-Unterstützungsverein St. Martinus, Diocese Rottenburg - Report of the SD-Super Section Southwest, Rottenburg - Report of the SD-Sonderkommando II 133, April 4, 1938 Kreis deutscher Mädchen in New York - Report of the SD-Super Section Southwest, October 21, 1938 Priester-Unterstützungsverein St. Martinus, Diocese Rottenburg - Report of the SD-Sonderkommando II 133, April 4, 1938 Kreis deutscher Mädchen in New York - Report of the SD-Super Section Southwest, October 21, 1938 Priester-Unterstützungsverein St. Martinus, Diocese Rottenburg - Report of the SD-Second Section Southwest and Statistical Statement of the Annual Payments by the Catholic Ministers of Württemberg, June 10, 1939 Dissolution of the Catholic Church Building Association St. Anna, Gerolstein, Aug 25, 1938 Export of Foreign Exchange for Father Georg Goebel, Czernowitz (Romania), by Josef Walter, Albendorf near Breslau. Report of the SD upper section southeast and investigation documents of the main customs office Waldenburg, July 5, 1935 Catholic University in Beijing - Report of the SD upper section Austria, April 20, 1938