GERMAN POST OFFICES ABROAD
CHINA
PRIVATE POSTCARDS
PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS
The Boxer Rebellion period from about the middle of 1900 to Sep 1901 saw a large number of propaganda postcards being released with the aim of promoting Germany at the expense of the Chinese. These postcards are nteresting in that they give an insight in to the thinking of the time. The postcards below are in no particular order. DER KRIEG IN CHINA
(The War in China)
This postcard was typical of the time and shows 5 of the imperial powers: Germnay, Britain, France, Russia and The Austro-Hungarian Empire preparing to assult the Great Wall behind which China is waiting, ready for the fight.
Imperial Agression I
This second postcard from the series depicts the intial naval force sent to China consisting of the German warships 'Frankfurt' and Wittekind'.
Boxer Rebellion
FRENCH POSTCARD
This postcard is French rather than German, but it also follows the theme of the imperial nations carving up China. This time the full team is on the field, the 5 nations above but now accompanied by the USA and Japan. China is broken into many pieces which reflects the different parts of China that had fallen under imperial influence.
Imperial Agression II
The French text reads 'Again, a vigorous push and the colossus will be in pieces'.
BOXER REBELLION
The next few postcards are more focused on the rebellion itself REGULARE CHINESISCHE ARTILLERIE
(Regular Chinese Artillery)
The Boxer Rebellion started initially with the indigenous population rising up against injustice and imperial expansion and coincided with a period of famine, drought and umemployment. The Chinese Army intially stood by, watching to see how things played out, but they eventually joined with rebels to fight the Imperial forces. The postcard below shows that the Chinese Army was in fact quite well equipped in terms of weapons which contrasts strongly with the postcard afterwards that shows the peasants.
Boxer Rebellion
BEWAFFNETE BOXER AUF DEM MARSCH
(Armed Boxers on the March)
In sharp contrast to the image above, the Boxers were generally poorly equipped, especially during the initial stages when they armed themselves with anything that was at hand, such as sticks and farm implements. Later, after the Chinese Army intervened they were better supplied, now having access to rifles. Although poorly armed their tactics were quite successful, relying to a large extent on ambushes to attack and wear down their better equipped enemy.
Boxer Rebellion
GREETINGS from KIEL
This postcard depicts the German warship S.M.S "Furst Bismarck" which was sent to China to help out down the uprising.
Boxer Rebellion
INTER MARRIAGE
The script is difficult to read on this postcard but it looks to warn about the danger of a single young soldier going to China and being charmed by the local maidens until he becomes married and overweight. I guess some things never change.
Boxer Rebellion
DIE GEPANZERTE FAUST
(The Armoured Fist)
Boxer Rebellion