Photography March of Foreign Troops

A black-and-white photograph showing a procession of foreign troops accompanied by generals on horseback, possibly during a demonstration of force by foreign military troops after the Chinese Beijing garrison rebellion on March 3, 1912.

The year 1912 marked the end of the so-called Xinhai Revolution (1911–1912), which overthrew the Manchu Qing Dynasty (1644–1911) and led to the proclamation of the Republic of China. In late February 1912, clashes broke out in Beijing between the Nationalist revolutionaries and the Beijing military leadership. Foreign powers saw an opportunity for their colonial goals in the internal division and organised military demonstrations of power for this purpose. Foreign forces, along with their national proxies, remained in Beijing until the end of World War II.

The photograph is the 79th of 449 photographs of Beijing and its surroundings in the album of Ivan Skušek Jr., purchased during his stay in Beijing (1914–1920). In the handwritten inventory of the album, the photograph is referred to as Fremde Truppen am Marsche. Demonstration of the ausländischen Militärtruppen anläßlich der Revolte der Beijinger chin. Garrison am 3. März 1912. (DZ, MV)