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Bombardment of The Taku Forts
Silver Commemorative Badge
砲擊大沽口要塞
歸國銀質紀念章
Item number: M226
Year: AD 1901
Material: Silver
Size: 33.0 x 33.0 mm
Weight: 44.25 g (with box)
Provenance: Künker 2024
This is a silver commemorative badgemarking the participation of ships from the German East Asia Squadron in the capture of the strategic Taku Forts during the Boxer Rebellion in AD 1900.
The obverse side of the badge features a beaded circle along the edge, with the German inscription “BOMBARDEMENT DER / TAKU-FORTS 1900” at the top and bottom, meaning “Bombardment of the Taku Forts 1900.” The central design presents an aerial view of the distribution and names of the various Taku Forts, as well as the Allied fleet sailing on the Peiho River (“PEIHO FLUSS”). The fleet is depicted with four Chinese torpedo boats in the foreground, ironically all German-made.
The Taku Forts were a strategic gateway to Tianjin and Beijing. From June 16 to 17, AD 1900, the Allied forces engaged in fierce combat with the garrisoned troops to gain access to Tianjin. After suffering 172 casualties, the Allies successfully captured the forts, maintaining control until the end of the Boxer Rebellion.
The reverse side of the badge also features a beaded circle. In the centre, there is a silhouette of the gunboat “S.M.S. Iltis,” with its name inscribed at the top “S.M.S. ILTIS KANONENBOOT.” The lower right corner bears the inscription “OERTEL BERLIN,” indicating the name of the engraver, Otto Oertel, and his Berlin workshop.
Launched in AD 1898, the Iltis was commissioned into the German East Asia Squadron stationed in China. During the Boxer Rebellion, the Iltis operated under the command of Field Marshal von Waldersee, assisting German military efforts along with other squadron vessels. On September 28, AD 1914, as World War I erupted and the home port of Qingdao faced siege by Anglo-Japanese forces, the crew of the Iltis chose to scuttle the ship to avoid capture.