Austria-Hungary breaks off diplomatic relations with Japan
On 24 August 1914 Austria-Hungary broke off diplomatic relations with Japan. The day before, Japan had declared war on Germany, and Vienna decided to stand by its ally in the Far East as well.
A cruiser at Tsingtao
Austria-Hungary’s only sizeable warship in Asian waters was the old cruiser SMS Kaiserin Elisabeth. At the outbreak of war she lay in the German port of Tsingtao, present-day Qingdao. In mid-August, while Vienna still hoped to avoid a conflict with Japan, the ship was disarmed and most of her crew were sent to Tientsin.
Soon, however, a new order arrived. Emperor Franz Joseph I instructed the cruiser’s captain to take part in the fighting together with the German navy. The sailors returned to Tsingtao, and the monarchy broke off relations with Japan. The Austro-Hungarian ambassador in Washington passed this news to the United States government on 26 August. The ambassador in Tokyo, Baron Ladislaus Müller von Szentgyörgy, left Japan.
Subsequent events
Japan responded at once. On 25 August it announced that it was in a state of war with Austria-Hungary. Part of the crew of the Kaiserin Elisabeth reinforced the fortress garrison, and some of the guns were removed from the ship and set up on land. During the siege of Tsingtao the cruiser supported the defenders with her fire. On 2 November 1914, having run out of ammunition, her crew scuttled her in the harbour, and a few days later Tsingtao capitulated. The Austro-Hungarian sailors went into Japanese captivity together with the Germans and returned home only in 1920.
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Meanwhile
(04)Elsewhere in the same days.
- 24 August 1914 · Western FrontEnd of the Battle of CharleroiOn 24 August 1914 the French Fifth Army was retreating from the Sambre towards the French border. The Battle of Charleroi ended in a French defeat.
- 24 August 1914 · Western FrontThe British retreat from MonsOn 24 August 1914 the British Expeditionary Force began its retreat from Mons. Rearguards fought heavy actions at Elouges and Audregnies.
- 23 August 1914 · Western FrontBattle of MonsOn 23 August 1914 the British Expeditionary Force fought its first battle at Mons. It inflicted heavy losses on the Germans but had to begin a retreat.
- 25 August 1914 · Western FrontBattle of the Meuse beginsOn 25 August 1914 the French Fourth Army, pulled back from the Ardennes, took post behind the Meuse from Mézières to Stenay. The fight for the crossings began.
Related events
(04)The same battle, people or subject.
- 25 August 1914 · Asia and the PacificJapan breaks off diplomatic relations with Austria-HungaryOn 25 August 1914 Japan broke off diplomatic relations with Austria-Hungary. The ambassador, Baron Ladislaus Müller von Szentgyörgy, left Tokyo.
- 25 August 1914 · Asia and the PacificJapan declares a state of war with Austria-HungaryOn 25 August 1914 Japan and Austria-Hungary found themselves at war. The reason was the Austro-Hungarian cruiser Kaiserin Elisabeth, stationed at Tsingtao.
- 2 November 1914 · Asia and the PacificSinking of the cruiser Kaiserin ElisabethOn 2 November 1914 the crew of the Austro-Hungarian cruiser Kaiserin Elisabeth scuttled her in the harbour of Tsingtao. The sailors fought on ashore.
- 23 August 1914 · Asia and the PacificGermany breaks off diplomatic relations with JapanOn 23 August 1914, after the Japanese ultimatum expired, Germany broke off relations with Japan. Ambassador Arthur von Rex left Tokyo.