Illustrations of the Siege of Tsingtao
Reproduced from the Doppler Collection by kind permission

 
     
 

This page shows a collection of illustrations made by R. Becker (possibly Robert Becker of the 1st Company, Kiaochow Naval Artillery) showing an unique eyewitness' view of the Fall of Tsingtao in November 1914. The drawings were made at Osaka Prisoner of War camp in 1916..

 
     
     
   
  The illustrated opening page to a memoir of Tsingtao by R. Becker showing a mounted trooper from the Marine Feld Batterie of the III. Seebataillon in khaki tropical uniform. In the background are a lighthouse, German steamer and a Chinese junk. Above them are the German and Chinese flags and a German imperial eagle.  
     
   
 

Illustrations from the book showing German and Austro-Hungarian ships under enemy fire. The ships are the German torpedo Boat S-90 on the left and the Austro-Hungarian Cruiser SMS Kaiserin Elisabeth and German gunboat SMS Jaguar on the right.

 
     
   
  Another illustration from the book showing the defenders of Tsingtao. From left to right they are an Austro-Hungarian sailor (note the striped shirt under his top, yellow metal cap badge and brown gaiters, all typical of the navy of Austria-Hungary), a wounded German sailor wearing the double breasted "Űberzieher" jacket and what is probably a Seesoldat of the III. Seebataillon in khaki with matching field cap.  
     
   
 

A dramatic drawing of the last stand of a naval battery at Tsingtao 1914. Note the blue uniforms of the German navy next to the grey Litewkas and blue trousers of the Marine Infantry.

 
     
   
  Japanese artwork on the cover of the memoir.  
     
   
 

The cloth binding cover of the memoir and sketches signed by the author and dated Osaka Prisoner of War camp, 1916.

 
     
     
     
 

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The photographs of these illustrations are © Doppler 2005, please respect his generosity in sharing these photos with us by not reproducing them without prior permission.