Eulenburg Expedition

The Prussian East Asia expedition, named after their leader, Count Friedrich zu Eulenburg as Eulenburg expedition was conducted by the Prussian Navy from 1858 to 1862 in East Asia. As a result, friendship, trade and navigation treaties were concluded with East Asian countries; with Japan on 24 January 1861 with China on September 2, 1861.

History

After the violent opening of Japan by American warships 1853/54 was followed by many European countries, in order to secure commercial benefits. The weak Shogunate government was forced to sign unequal treaties with the Western powers. Prussia as the strongest German power saw the opportunity to strengthen its role as a leader in unifying Germany by organizing an expedition East Asia. This should complete the names of all the states of the German Zollverein, the Hanseatic cities and both Mecklenburg agreements with China, Japan and Siam.

The small Prussian Navy in 1859 mobilized to transport a scientific and diplomatic mission under the leadership of Count Eulenburg to East Asia. The squadron consisted of the corvette SMS Arcona, the frigate SMS Thetis, the schooner SMS Frauenlobstraße and the transport ship SMS Elbe. This Eulenburg was expressly allowed in the context of gunboat diplomacy, to use military force to enforce the Prussian demands. The impromptu expedition was accompanied by numerous mishaps, so the loss of Frauenlobstraße, which sank in a typhoon with man and mouse. After five months of protracted negotiations with the shogunate 's mission in Japan failed in their attempt to speak for the whole of Germany. The Japanese negotiators stubbornly refused to sign a contract with 32 German states and reported as a reason not to overlook the situation in Germany.

The American consul Townsend Harris had Eulenburg his staff and interpreters Hendrick Heusken (born 1832) gestelt available. On 14 January 1861 on the way back in the evening to the American representative, Heusken was attacked by anti-Western rōnin of Satsuma -han and seriously wounded him in spite of the beige discontinued protection. He died the following day and was buried in Kōrin -ji with a large convoy in all the honors. Where his grave can still be seen today.

The agreement was finally signed on 24 January 1861 valid only between Japan and Prussia.

150 - year celebration in 2011

The governments of Germany and Japan decided in 2009, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the conclusion of the contract in 2011 to celebrate 150 years of German-Japanese relations. On this occasion were of the German and Japanese post two special stamps issued: the " Cathedral of Regensburg " and the "Temple Yakushi -ji " ( Nara ). On the German side, the Japanese motif with 55 cents for domestic traffic and the German motif ( 75 cents) was intended for the foreign market.

The Japanese Post printed motifs with appropriate postage and printed from the occasion even additional brands with German motifs. While standing on the Japanese brands as a heading on German and Japanese " 150 Years of Friendship Germany - Japan", they only decided on the German side on the note " World Heritage Site ".

• Regensburg Cathedral
• Yakushi -ji