German East Asia

After the victory in Europe over France in 1919, Germany demanded the transfer of the colonies of French Pondicherry, Indochina, and the Pacific colonies. On 11 November 1919, representatives of the two sides met in Copenhagen to sign a ceasefire, allowing the German re-entry into East Asia. However, Japan did not sign the Armistice and remains formally at war with the Central Powers. At the same time, French Indochina was experiencing an unprecedented tumult. During the Weltkrieg, Siam invaded French Indochina. Resenting French wartime policy and inspired by the Siameses, insurgent activities began to spread in Vietnam and mutinies took place among Vietnamese troops. The French colonial regime was more confused and stunned by the situation in the metropole. After a major defeat in Cambodia, the French offered a ceasefire arrangement, allowing Siameses to occupy Laos, Cambodia and a part of Cochinchina.

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Suppression of the Vietnamese Insurgency in 1919

The French-Siamese collaboration lasted until 1921 when Germany was finally able to dispatch enough fleet and troops to Indochina. Japan, still at war with Germany, felt it unable to stop Germany from acquiring Indochina. Germany and Siam negotiated their postwar border. Thais were sure that they could annex Laos, Cambodia and even part of Cochinchina. However, Germany decided that the Mekong river will be the new border.

Although the Vietnamese insurgency in 1919 was suppressed, Indochina was still very unstable. The loss of French colonisers to Siam greatly invoke the nationalist sentiment among Vietnamese. Because of the chaotic situation and the importance of Cam Ranh Naval Base had for the German navy, the newly acquired Indochina was put under the military rule of Imperial Navy.

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