Japan led a joint Anglo-Japanese military operation, consisting of about 25,000 troops, to defeat the German forces in Tsingtao, which surrendered in November 1914. Japan’s contributions during the war initially focused on seizing German territory in the Far East. Japanese leaders considered the opportunity that the war presented as “one chance in one thousand” to increase its territory while German forces were concentrated in Europe. Japan leveraged the war as an opportunity to honor its alliance with Great Britain, act as a great power, and promote its expansionist policies. From a Japanese perspective, Germany’s victory in the war could lead to increased competition in East Asia.

Germany kept its Far Eastern squadron and garrisoned 3,500 troops and 2,500 reservists in Tsingtao. At the outbreak of the Great War, Germany controlled the port of Tsingtao, located on the Shantung Peninsula in eastern China. Japan’s leadership recognized the unfolding conflict in Europe presented both a threat against and an opportunity to advance Japan’s interests. Germany ignored the warning, prompting Japan’s declaration of war on 23 August, followed by a second declaration of war against Austria-Hungary on 25 August. On 14 August, Japan issued an ultimatum to Germany to remove its forces and surrender its territory in China and island possessions in the Pacific. 3 When Great Britain declared war against Germany on 2 August 1914, Japan mobilized its navy, of about 100 warships. Japan and Britain signed a treaty in 1902 to defend against the threat of Russian expansion in Asia and in light of Britain’s decreasing monopoly of control of the seas. Japan entered the conflict to support its ally, the Great Britain. 2 In balance, Japan made a strategic decision to advance its interests and provided important contributions to the Allied victory. However, Japan deployed its navy to its limit, and earned gains from the war commensurate with its contributions. 1 Westerns have critiqued Japan’s participation in World War I as opportunism. The war resulted in Japan’s acquisition of territory, economic boom, and emergence as a great power with a primary seat at the table during the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919. Although Japan suffered about 2,000 casualties in the war, fighting took place outside of the country, which remained largely unscathed.

Ww1 vs ww2 aftermath