The German Philippines that never was

By Renato Perdon
Sydney, Australia
Tue 28th December 2010




Photo credits: National Historical Commission of the Philippines


Had the United States left the Philippines alone during the Spanish-American War, the country would have fallen just the same to the other colonial powers of the period.

Cubas liberation from Spain was Americas main reason in going to war. The Philippines, being a Spanish colony in Asia where the United States did not have a permanent foothold, was dragged into the conflict as a battlefield. Foremost of the United States rivals in replacing Spanish rule in the archipelago was Otto von Bismarcks Germany. The European power was as ready as the Americans in occupying the islands, with its naval might in the Far East waiting for signal. The Germans had just joined the splurge in partitioning China, along with the British, Russians, French and Americans.


Before the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, there were already rumours in Manila of German sympathy towards the Tagalog rebels. A number of Filipino creoles were, in fact, convicted of treason and later executed by Spanish authorities for reportedly working for the Germans.

Germanys colonial expansionist policy was felt after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, whereupon she encouraged France to embark on its colonialism in Africa and Asia to divert French attention from Europe. It was not long, however, before France became engrossed with its overseas acquisition, with Great Britain as the only major rival.

Germany was disturbed. She could not let herself be left out of the colonial rat race. On 24 April 1884, the first sign of Germanys colonial design manifested itself. She placed under her Imperial wings the different establishments of a German merchant in South West Africa and then followed this action with a series of successful colonial campaigns in Africa and the Pacific. Within six years, unified Germany under Bismarck had set up an empire with territories mostly in Africa. Her overseas possessions were, however, fragmented. She had scattered territories, mostly the remnant areas of colonization.


From 1890 to the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in 1898, there was a lull in Germanys colonial campaigns. It appears that she was waiting for opportunities, while closely watching developments in the colonies of the dwindling powers of Spain, China and turkey. In 1898, Prince Bernhard von Bulow assumed the post of German foreign minister and was at the same time the foremost political adviser to the German Emperor. In a brief Spain of time, he activated Germanys colonial intentions. On 1 November 1897, two German missionaries were murdered in China. The Germans capitalized on this event and fourteen days later German troops landed in Kiaochow Bay and occupied a village. This eventually resulted in the granting of favourable concessions to Germany. China signed a 99-year lease to Germany of Kiaochow Bay, considered the main port of entry for Manchurian trade. The lease, signed on 5 March 1898, also gave the German empire exclusive rights to build two railways and develop the mines in Shantung province.

With this success, the German government decided to further strengthen her navy. On 28 March 1898, the first Navy Act of Germany was passed by the Reichstag. The Act provided for the expansion of Germanys navy with an appropriation of twenty million Sterling to finance a German fleet of two squadrons composed of nineteen battleships. The fleet was divided into two divisions of eight ships each, two spare ships, and one flagship and around forty large and small cruisers. It was the start of Germanys naval expansion, resulting in her rise as the Worlds second maritime power during the later part of the 19th century. With this development, she was now ready to protect her colonies and increase German commerce on the high seas. At the same time, it would now be possible to extend her power over underdeveloped countries.


Like other colonialist nations, Germany sought to protect its overseas nationals and trade interests to the extent of safeguarding free access to markets. Her foreign policy was to acquire overseas colonies anywhere and everywhere in the world. At about this time, the momentous Battle of Manila Bay took place on 1 May 1898, following the outbreak of the Spanish-American War. The victory scored by US Commodore George Deweys fleet brought the Far East, particularly the Philippines, to the attention of the world. Germany was one of those which recognized the great potentialities of the islands as a major commercial market. Germany became interested in the outcome of the war, especially on the destiny of the rich colonies of Spain. She likewise feared to see the American imperialistic arms extended over the area.

The idea of eventual appropriation by the US of Spanish colonies anywhere in the world, particularly in the Far East, was not a good scenario for Germany.

Meanwhile, on 11 May, Prince Henry of Prussia, a brother of the German Emperor, sent a dispatch from Hong Kong. He reported that a German merchant based in Manila told him about the possible success of the Filipino rebellion in the Philippines. In the event of a successful overthrow of the Spanish government, the Filipino leader would be more than willing to place the Spanish colony under the protection of another European power. It was indicated that Germany was a first preference among the Western powers. This information was later confirmed by the German Consul in Manila. He cabled Bulow two days later, stating that the Filipinos were not fighting to change masters but were inclined for an establishment of a Filipino kingdom. He concluded by saying that there is a prospect of offering the throne to a German prince.

Immediately after this, Bulow conferred with the emperor. The idea of acquiring the islands without much effort brought forward the dream of a German Philippines. But there was England. Was she not interested in the islands too? The emperor, through Bulow, sent Vice-Admiral Otto von Diederichs, who was then refitting his fleet in Nagasaki, Japan, to Manila Bay to report to the German government about the real political situation in the islands, including the Filipinos true sentiments about Germany and other foreign influences.

The German ambassador to England, Count Paul von Hatzfeldt-Wildenberg, was also instructed to make an inquiry as to the plan of the British government for the islands. Likewise, Germany ambassador to Washington, Theodore von Holleben, was asked to find out discreetly the strength of U.S. public opinion on the issue of American annexation of the Philippines.

Germany desire to acquire the Philippines was now pronounced. On 8 June 1898, a month after the Battle of Manila Bay, Bulow sent a confidential communication to his ambassador in Great Britain giving further instructions on Germanys current colonial policy. With the instructions was a list of names of islands and places in Asia, East and West Africa and the Pacific which the German government was interested to acquire. In West Africa, he mentioned a proposed German naval station in the Canaries or Cape Verde Islands; the use of the island of Fernando Po; and the Volga down to its mouth to serve as a Germany frontier between Togo land and the Gold Coast colony. Angola, with the southern part of Mossamedes and Benguella, and the whole of Walfish Bay, were also named. In East Africa, Germany was interested to get Zanzibar with Pemba and Zambezi and Shire to act as a southern frontier for a German East Africa. In Asia, the Portuguese Timor, the Sulu archipelago, and at least one of the Philippine islands (Mindanao), were listed. In the Pacific, the German interest was on the Caroline and the Samoan islands.

On 12 June, the day the Philippines declared its independence from Spain, Vice-Admiral Otto von Diederichs arrived in Manila Bay aboard the Kaiserin August, a first class Germany cruiser. The number of German war vessels in Philippine waters increased to three. Earlier, on 6 and 9 May, respectively, Irene and the Cormoran arrived in the bay with a separate instruction from the German government, mainly to protect German nationals in Manila. At this time, six American, three German, two British, one French and one Japanese foreign war vessels, were in Manila Bay. Two days later, Prinzess Wilhelm appeared in Manila Bay. The arrival of these two war ships made Germany the strongest neutral power in the Philippines. Her five ships could easily defeat Deweys six small war vessels. This did not only arouse American suspicion of Germanys real intention in the Philippines but also added fire to the growing anti-German reeling sweeping the United States.

In Manila, the situation was critical. Every day, it was becoming tense. The Germans continued disregard of the American blockade in Manila Bay irritated Dewey. As far as Diederichs was concerned there was no blockade because there was no formal announcement made by the Americans. The Germans, furthermore, felt superior over the Americans with their well-equipped five war vessels. For several nights, the German ships were seen leaving and arriving in Manila Bay and during these movements they flashed heavily their searchlights, much to the annoyance of the Americans. In some instances, the German would send their boats from ship to ship as if on an inspection mission.


Both countries war ships almost clashed in Subic Bay. On 1 July, when Aguinaldos troops were about to complete the occupation of the area, the German ship Irene, for humanitarian reasons, evacuated the non-combatants, and in the process shielded the Spaniards at the Isla Grande. Because of this, Dewey sent his two ships, USS Raleigh and Concord, to Subic Bay to help the Filipinos in taking the island. The expected clash was prevented when the German Irene moved out of the bay before the American vessels arrived. Two days after, Irene left the Philippines.

As a result of this incident and previous irritants, Dewey challenged the Germans to a fight. It was said that Dewey angrily told the Germans, as we are in for its now, it matters little to us whether we fight Spain or Germany, or the world, and if you desire war, you can have it right here. You need not cable Berlin, nor need me to Washington; you can just have war here and now. Deweys strongly worded statement might have been made because by that time, Charleston, the first US transport carrying three thousand men, had already arrived in Manila, thereby strengthening his fleet and bringing enough ammunition.

Earlier, before the 13 August surrender of Manila, the different foreign vessels docked in the bay were notified by Dewey about the attack. They positioned themselves in places out of the line of fire. During the mock battle of Manila Bay, the British war vessels, Immortalite and Iphigenia, reportedly positioned themselves between the US and the German ships. This unpredictable movement of the British ships resulted in the claim that the American ships were saved by the English from German attack. This incident, of course, was dismissed by American historians as purely legend.

Two days later, Diederichs was instructed to go to Batavia, now Jakarta, to take part in the coronation ceremonies in honour of Queen Wilhelmina. The following day, the news about the peace protocol signed in 12 August, reached Manila.

Germans interest in the Philippines was cut short with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on 10 December 1898. The Philippines was finally annexed by the United States in 1899. In a memorandum prepared by Bulow dated 14 March 1899 to Prince Henry of Prussia, commanding officer of the entire German squadron in the Far East, the empires colonial ambition over the Philippines was relegated to the background of her other interests. The memorandum, prepared to brief the prince on the general political situation affecting US-German relations, stated in part:

the Spanish government has handed to us the Caroline, Pelew, and Marianne Islands excluding Guam, in return for the sum of sixteen million Marks and certain trade concessions. We shall thus become neighbours of the Americans who possess the Philippines

A conflict with the great North American republic, whose self-confidence has been greatly increased by the success against Spain, would be very unwelcome to us just now. His Majestys government therefore earnestly desires to settle the business differences between Germany and the United States in a friendly manner and to clear up the Samoan affairs

The ships of His Majestys squadron are the subject of special resentment in the U.S. It is therefore of greatest important to us that His Majestys fleet should with careful tack, but naturally preserving its dignity to the full, aim at avoiding any conflict with the American navy and authorities.

Also, for the sake of our coming occupation of the Caroline Islands we must be assured against disturbances by the Americans. So we must avoid any appearance of supporting the rebellious Tagals and especially of any intention of extending our influence over the Philippines.