In this study we will briefly describe the German maritime activities from the age of the seafarers (15th and 16th century) until the beginning of the 19th century and subsequently analyze the German interests in Eastern Asia. We will focusing especially on the attempts of establishing naval bases and colonies in the region between the 1840s and the 1870s. Then the role of naval politics within the German world-policy and the conquest of Jiaozhou will be regarded. Finally we will summarize the way Germany perceived the sea and islands. The exploration of the African coasts mainly promoted by the Portuguese Prince Enrique at the beginning of the 15th century, the discovery of America by Columbus, and the concurrent seafaring of the European states from the 16th to the early 17th century changed the way in which sea and islands were regarded –what at first was simply an area of production turned into a political, economic and also cultural network. In the course of time the possibilities of economic exploitation of seas and islands increased more and more, which enhanced the struggle among the great powers for dominating the seas and culminated in the age of colonialism and imperialism. Then, during the 19th century, peaceful coexistence of the powers on the oceans of the world became less likely than ever. This is why the idea of the sea being an open space and sphere for cultural exchange could only be considered mere idealism, possible only without a clear idea of limits or at least before the formation of the national states. The German did towards seas and islands in the 19th century, when national states competed intensely and social Darwinistic thinking prevailed, not differ from that kept by the other great powers. Also, German world-policy aimed at naval supremacy based upon the expansion of the fleet –the striving that mainly lead to the outbreak of the First World War. Up to the present day the command of the sea has remained a major cause of conflict and war between states in all parts of the world. This is why the new concept of the sea being an open space for coexistence may be the result of a historical lesson learned by mankind due to the disastrous experiences of the imperialistic age and the two World Wars.

In this study we will briefly describe the German maritime activities from the age of the seafarers (15th and 16th century) until the beginning of the 19th century and subsequently analyze the German interests in Eastern Asia. We will focusing especially on the attempts of establishing naval bases and colonies in the region between the 1840s and the 1870s. Then the role of naval politics within the German world-policy and the conquest of Jiaozhou will be regarded. Finally we will summarize the way Germany perceived the sea and islands. The exploration of the African coasts mainly promoted by the Portuguese Prince Enrique at the beginning of the 15th century, the discovery of America by Columbus, and the concurrent seafaring of the European states from the 16th to the early 17th century changed the way in which sea and islands were regarded –what at first was simply an area of production turned into a political, economic and also cultural network. In the course of time the possibilities of economic exploitation of seas and islands increased more and more, which enhanced the struggle among the great powers for dominating the seas and culminated in the age of colonialism and imperialism. Then, during the 19th century, peaceful coexistence of the powers on the oceans of the world became less likely than ever. This is why the idea of the sea being an open space and sphere for cultural exchange could only be considered mere idealism, possible only without a clear idea of limits or at least before the formation of the national states. The German did towards seas and islands in the 19th century, when national states competed intensely and social Darwinistic thinking prevailed, not differ from that kept by the other great powers. Also, German world-policy aimed at naval supremacy based upon the expansion of the fleet –the striving that mainly lead to the outbreak of the First World War. Up to the present day the command of the sea has remained a major cause of conflict and war between states in all parts of the world. This is why the new concept of the sea being an open space for coexistence may be the result of a historical lesson learned by mankind due to the disastrous experiences of the imperialistic age and the two World Wars.

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Coexistence and Hegemony on the Sea, Germans Perception on the sea and islands, German Imperialism in Eastern Asia, German World-Policy, German Naval Bases and Colonies in Eastern Asia, Sea Policy, Fleet Policy, German Colony Jiaozhou