Western Attitudes Towards China

In comparing the two speeches in this document, they reveal the mindset of Kaiser Wilhelm and the nationalistic attitudes held by Germany and other nations at the time.

It’s easy to understand the contempt held by a nation being occupied by a foreign military, its government, and its missionaries. No different is China and the boxer rebellion of 1900. In a quest to divvy up Chinas resources, Germany, along with other European nations, occupied China in the name of imperialism and Christianity. In June of 1900, 140,000 boxers occupied Peking in a violent effort to overrun foreign occupants along with native converts to Christianity. As a result many Europeans were killed, including a German envoy and several missionaries.

To protect Germany’s economic interests in order to secure “It’s place in the sun,” Kaiser Wilhelm, on two occasions in July of 1900, sent reinforcements to China to quell the violence. On both occasions, before sending the troops off, Wilhelm gave rousing speeches. In the first impromptu speech he warned the ambassadors of “other nations,” as well as their comrades dispatched to protect them, of the eminent danger of losing their lives. Wilhelm described the conditions as becoming serious with “fearful speed,” reminding the troops that the Chinese have been trained by European officers in the use of European weapons, alluding to the fact that the task at hand would be one of great difficulty and violence.

Sending the troops off to avenge injustice, Wilhelm would not rest until the German flag waved victoriously over the Chinese. Wilhelm encouraged comradeship amongst the troops, including the troops of all nations joining them in the fight for civilization, also bearing in mind their religion an...

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...le simply wanted to be left alone and cared little about Christianity. During the boxer rebellion, many native converts were killed for turning their backs on a rich culture steeped in tradition. Its no wonder the Chinese were able to amass a force of 140,000 people to rebel against foreign occupants.

Germany may have underestimated the resolve of the Chinese people but their acts of rebellion and the bloodshed created as a result, allowed for great nationalistic sentiment amongst the German people. Wilhelm wanted to make an example of the Chinese for insulting the German flag. He also wanted to stress Germany’s great military capacity in a way that would strike fear into the hearts and minds of any nation that may stand in their way in future conflicts. In fact, Wilhelm’s reference to the Huns foreshadowed his actions in the coming war in Europe.