Nazi German delegation concluded Korea visit with tour of army boot camp at 공덕리 outside Seoul and final luncheon before departing for Manchuria (May 12, 1939)

I am documenting the last portion of the newspaper coverage of a high-profile world tour by a Nazi German newspaper delegation which visited Korea (Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, and Seoul) on May 11-12, 1939 after visiting mainland Japan for about two weeks. There were about 13 members led by Richard Foerster (1879-1952), who served as a leader in German-Japanese diplomacy after retiring from active naval service. Accompanying him was Peter Winkelnkemper (1902-1944), a prominent Nazi journalist who was editor-in-chief of Cologne Nazi newspaper Westdeutscher Beobachter. This series of articles covers their last day in Korea on May 12th, 1939.

On May 12th, the delegation visited a training center for new army recruits and an elementary school. They then attended a traditional Korean court music reception and an opulent luncheon reception at the Governor-General’s residence. They departed for Changchun (then named Shinkyō or Xinjing) in Manchukuo by train at 3:20 p.m. They were later joined in Changchun by the German ambassador and his delegation flying in from Tokyo with a fueling stop in Chongjin, Korea.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) May 13, 1939

Under the Bright Fresh Green of Spring, the German Delegation Parts Regretfully Today
Sent Off with Cries of “Banzai” on Their Way to Visit Manchukuo

The thirteen members of the German newspaper delegation, who had arrived in Seoul on the Akatsuki at 1:35 p.m. on May 11th and completed the first day’s schedule, spent the night at the Chōsen Hotel. On the morning of May 12th at 9:40, they visited the Volunteer Training Center at Gongdeok-ri (공덕리) outside Seoul, where they praised the spirited vigor of the two hundred trainees, burning with enthusiasm for the cause of Asia’s revival. At 11:00 a.m. they visited Kyodong Elementary School, smiling at the Korean boys and girls whose health rivaled the fresh young leaves, as they performed wooden-sword exercises and danced to the “Patriotic March“. At 11:35 a.m. they visited the Court Music Division of the Office of the Yi Royal Household and listened to the secret sounds of ancient Korean court music, sending down bursts of applause like a sudden hailstorm at the end of each piece filled with the beautiful sounds of this national treasure. At noon, they attended a luncheon hosted by Director of Political Affairs Ōno at the Governor-General’s official residence at Waeseongdae (왜성대, 倭城臺).

After returning to the hotel at 2:15 p.m. and taking a short rest, they left Seoul Station at 3:20 p.m. on the Nozomi, carrying with them as a souvenir their reassuring impression of the Korean peninsula, and, once again sent off by the flags of Japan and Germany and cries of “Banzai,” set out on the final leg of their journey: an inspection tour of the newly rising state of Manchukuo.

Their Only Reaction Was Admiration at the Discipline
First, They Inspected the Training Center

The German newspaper delegation from allied Germany, which had entered Seoul on May 11th amid a storm of cheers and waves of Japanese and German flags across the Korean peninsula, marveled at the promising appearance of the rapidly advancing peninsula. They spent the night in pleasant dreams at the Chōsen Hotel, and on the second day of their itinerary, the morning of May 12th at 9:00, they drove by automobile to the Volunteer Training Center at Gongdeok-ri (공덕리) outside Seoul.

In city’s outskirts, they admired the scenery amid the fragrant winds of May. As they repeatedly uttered “Korea is a beautiful place,” they arrived at the training center at 9:40 a.m. There, they were welcomed by Colonel Kaida, who had been eagerly awaiting them, and by more than two hundred trainees filled with the spirit of Asia’s revival. They first took a short rest in the assembly hall.

After receiving words of welcome from Colonel Kaida, delegation head Richard Foerster said:

He then watched the trainees’ lively group calisthenics in the front yard of the center. Next, while all the students stood in precise formation and dignified bearing, Foerster, together with Colonel Kaida, reviewed the ranks. Thereafter, escorted by Colonel Kaida and the students, the German press delegation once again boarded their automobile and headed for Kyodong Elementary School.

“We Will Bring This Strong Friendship Back, as a Souvenir for the Führer”
At the Luncheon Venue

After completing their inspections, the German newspaper delegation attended the luncheon at the Governor-General’s official residence at noon. In response to the welcoming remarks of Director of Political Affairs Ōno, delegation head Foerster said:

Then Peter Winkelnkemper, vice head of the delegation, rose and declared forcefully:

The party then spent a cordial hour at luncheon.

Lieutenant General Kobayashi Leaves Seoul

Lieutenant General Kobayashi Sōnosuke, commander of the Jinhae (진해, 鎭海) Naval Port District, had purposely come into Seoul on May 11th in order to greet his old naval friend, delegation head Foerster of the visiting German newspaper delegation. At the luncheon at the Governor-General’s residence on May 12th, he exchanged an emotional handshake with Foerster for the first time in two years, then departed Seoul Station at 2:10 p.m. on the Nozomi to return to his post.

“Western Clothes Do Not Fit the Character of Japanese Women”
Japan Through the Eyes of a Young Nazi

Among the members of the German newspaper delegation who arrived in Seoul on May 11th was Karl Turk, a twenty-eight-year-old who appeared to be perhaps the youngest member of the group. The following is a question-and-answer exchange on how Japan’s women, clothing, and natural scenery appeared to the eyes of this young Nazi:

Q: “What do you think of Japanese women’s clothing?”
Herr Turk: “Japanese dress suits Japanese women better than Western dress after all. Western clothes do not seem to fit the character of Japanese women quite naturally.”

Q: “How does life as a journalist in Nazi Germany compare with that in Japan?”
Herr Turk: “I studied law for four years at Bonn and Cologne University before beginning my career as a journalist, and I have spent twelve years in the Nazi Party, but I do not think journalistic life differs very much anywhere in the world.”

Q: “What about customs and other such matters?”
Herr Turk: “There are very great differences, and they are very noticeable. But if Japan wished to follow Europe and America, I do not think it would be unable to do so. For example, we stayed at the Imperial Hotel, and there is no aspect in which that hotel differs from those of Europe.”

Q: “Are geisha beautiful?”
Herr Turk: “Foreigners probably might find it difficult to understand.”

Q: “What do you think of Japan’s natural scenery?”
Herr Turk: “On the whole it is volcanic, and the scenery is even more charming than I had imagined. So I say with confidence that if Japan’s natural scenery were introduced in Germany through a good tourist bureau, it would certainly make money.”

… and in the end the conversation drifted all the way into an international business proposition.

Farewell to the Imperial Capital
Baron Gablenz’s Plane Leaves for Xinjing This Morning

[Telephone report from Tokyo] The friendly German aircraft of allied Germany, the Gablenz plane, which had arrived on May 4th, departed Haneda Airfield at 6:49 a.m. on May 12th and, flying in formation with the guide plane Heinkel aircraft Nogi from Imperial Japanese Airways, headed for Xinjing by way of the Sea of Japan.

Early that morning, while it was still dim, Baron Carl August Freiherr von Gablenz and his party left the Imperial Hotel and appeared at Haneda Airfield, concerned about the weather. Studying the weather charts and seeing that conditions over the Sea of Japan side would first of all pose no major problem, they settled on flying and began final inspection of their beloved aircraft. By around 6:00 a.m., German Ambassador Eugen Ott) and his wife, Director-General Fujiwara of the Aviation Bureau, Germans residing in Tokyo, and other people seeing them off came one after another to the airfield, all anxiously watching the sky. After the aircraft inspection was completed, Baron Gablenz and his party joined them in a banquet room set up inside the First Hangar, where all toasted the journey with beer and celebrated the party’s departure.

This time, in addition to the original four members of the party, five others boarded as well, including the assistant air attaché at the embassy, Mr. Dietersdorf, making a lively total of nine aboard.

As those seeing them off waved German flags in their hands, the aircraft began its leisurely takeoff run. Undeterred by an 8-meter-per-second wind, it lifted beautifully into the air at 6:49 a.m., its huge gray-silver body floating into the dawn sky. After circling once above the airfield, it formed up with the Nogi, piloted by aviator Okano, which had taken off earlier, bid farewell to the Imperial capital, and disappeared northwestward into the sky.

Baron’s Plane Makes an Unscheduled Landing

Telegram received by the Communications Bureau: The Gablenz aircraft made an unscheduled landing at Chongjin airfield at 12:34 p.m. in order to refuel. After taking on gasoline, it departed the same airfield at 1:10 p.m. and continued on toward Xinjing.

[Top photo] Members of the newspaper delegation reviewing the trainees at the Volunteer Training Center
[Bottom photo] A toast with the delegation at the luncheon at the Governor-General’s official residence

[Transcription]

京城日報 1939年5月13日

若緑かがやくきょう別れを惜む使節団
万歳に送られて訪満の途に

十一日午後一時三十五分『あかつき』で入城第一日の日程を終ったドイツ新聞使節団一行十三名は、一夜を朝鮮ホテルに明かし、十二日午前九時四十分京城府外孔徳里に志願兵訓練所を訪れ、興亜の意気に燃える溌剌たる二百名の訓練所生に讃嘆。同十一時校洞小学校を訪問。健康を若葉と競う半島少年少女の木剣体操や愛国行進曲舞踊にほほえみ、同十一時三十五分李王職雅楽部に朝鮮古代の秘音雅楽に耳を傾け、この国宝的美音の一曲終了毎に急霰の如き拍手を送って正午倭城台総督官邸に於ける大野政務総監の午餐会に臨んだ。

午後二時十五分ホテルに帰還小憩ののち、同三時二十分京城駅発『のぞみ』で頼もしい半島の印象を土産に再び日独両国旗と万歳の声に送られて最後のコース新興満州国視察の途についた。

整然に唯讃嘆
先ず訓練所を見学

十一日、日独両国旗の波と半島をあげての歓呼の嵐に迎えられて入城した盟邦ドイツ新聞使節団一行は躍進半島の頼母しい姿に感嘆。第一日の楽しい夢を朝鮮ホテルに結んだが、日程第二日の十二日午前九時、一行は京城府外孔徳里の志願兵訓練所に自動車を駆った。

五月の薫風にはえる郊外の景色に『朝鮮は美しいところだ』と連発しながら九時四十分訓練所に着けば、『ようこそ』と一行を待ちかねていた海田大佐に導かれ、興亜の意気に漲る二百余名の訓練所生に迎えられて一先ず講堂で小憩。

海田大佐から歓迎の辞を受けフェ団長は『本日この志願兵訓練所を訪れたことを大いに喜んでいます。青年の新鮮な表情と真摯な態度を見て将来彼等が帝国軍人に養成され、大君のため尽忠報国の誠を尽されんことを熱望しております』と述べ次いで訓練所の前庭で溌剌たる生徒の国民体操を観、続いて全生徒が隊伍整然威儀を正す中をフェ団長は海田大佐と共に閲兵、かくて独逸記者団は海田大佐、生徒等の見送りを受けつつ再び自動車を連ねて校洞小学校に向った。

この友誼を力を
総統のお土産に
午餐会場場裡に

視察を終えた独逸新聞使節団一行は正午総督官邸の午餐会に臨んだ。大野政務総監の歓迎の辞に対してフェ団長から『日本各地を視て強く感じた事は非常時局にあって全国民が、一致団結溌剌と働いている姿に心打たれた』と述べ、続いて副団長ウィンケルケムパー氏が立ち『独逸国民社会主義は過去数年間に亘り列国と闘い乍ら現在の新興ドイツを築き上げた。独逸国民が一致団結し太陽をシムボライズしたハーケンクロイツの旗の下に力を合して邁進した事が結局今日のドイツを造ったのだ。今吾等はイタリーのファシズムと手を握り再び列国と闘っている。民主主義国はその弱体をさらし、ヴォルシュヴィズムは無能無力を発揮している今日日、獨、伊が正義の発揚と世界平和永遠の確立のために握手しているが、若しもこの強靭な防共ルートを破壊せんとする者があるならば吾等は断じて武器を執って立つであろう。朝鮮に於ける最後のこの席上で心から感謝の意を表すると共に、吾等が帰国した上はこの日本の友誼とその偉大な国力をヒトラー総統を初め全独逸国民にお伝えすることを無上の喜びとするものである』と強く述べ、和やかな午餐の一時を過した。

小林中将退城

なつかしい海の友訪日ドイツ新聞使節団のフェ団長を迎えるべくわざわざ十一日入城した鎮海要港部司令官小林宗之助中将は十二日総督官邸の午餐会席上二年振りでフェ団長と感激の握手をなしたのち同午後二時十分京城駅発のぞみで帰任した。

性格にあわぬ
日本婦人の洋装
若きナチの眼が見た日本は

十一日入城のドイツ新聞使節団員カールツルクは二十八歳で、一行中恐らく最年少者と思われる青年である。若きナチの目に映じた日本の女性、服装、自然等についての一問一答：

『日本婦人の服装は？』

ツルク氏：『日本婦人には矢張り洋装よりも日本服がテブリが好い。洋装は日本婦人の性格にシックリ合い難い様だ』

『ナチ独逸の記者生活と、日本のそれとは？』

ツルク氏：『私はボン・ケルン大学で四年法律を勉強して記者生活を始め、十二年間ナチ党生活をしているが、記者生活は世界を通じて異りはあるまい』

『風俗その他に就いては？』

ツルク氏：『非常に大きな相違があるので非常に眼につく。然し日本が若し欧米に追従しようと思えばついてゆけないことはないと思う。例えば私達は帝国ホテルに泊ったが、同ホテル等はもはやヨーロッパのそれと何等異るところがない』

『芸者は美しいか？』

ツルク氏：『外人には了解し難いだろう』

『日本の自然は？』

ツルク氏：『一体に火山的で、その景色は想像していた以上にチャーミングである。そこで私は確信を以って云うが独逸で良いツーリストビューローを通じて日本の自然を紹介すれば必ず儲かると思う』．．．話はとうとう国際的な儲け話におちて了った。

帝都にさよなら
男爵機けさ新京へ

【東京電話】去る四日来朝した盟邦ドイツ親善機ガブレンツ機は、十二日午前六時四十九分羽田飛行場出発、案内役の日航ハインケル乃木号と雁行し、一路裏日本を経由して新京に向った。

この朝まだ薄暗い裡に宿帝国ホテルを出たガブレンツ男一行は天候を案じつつ羽田飛行場に現れた。気象図を手にして裏日本は先ず飛行に差支えないと見て愈々飛行ときまり愛機の点検を始める。六時ごろに早くもオットー独逸大使夫妻、藤原航空局長その他在京ドイツ人を初め見送りの人々が何れも天を候案じながら続々飛行場に駈けつけ、愛機の点検を終ったガブレンツ男一行と共に第一格柄納庫内に設けられた宴会場で一同ビールで乾盃し、一行の壮途を祝う愈々出発。今度は一行四人の外に大使官武官補テーターストルフ氏等五人が乗り込み合計九人の賑やかさだ。

見送りの人々が手に手にドイツ国旗を振る裡に悠々滑走を開始。八米の風速を物ともせず六時四十九分見事に離陸、灰銀色の巨体をふわりと暁の空に浮かべ飛行場上空を一廻りした後、さきに離陸した岡野飛行士操縦の乃木号に雁行、帝都に『さよなら』して一路西北の空に姿を没した。

男爵機不時着

逓信局入電＝ガブレンツ機は途中燃料補給のため清津飛行場に午後零時三十四分不時着ガソリン補給の上同一時十分同飛行場発一路新京に向った。

【上】志願兵訓練所生を閲兵する新聞使節団一行

【下】総督官邸での午餐会に臨んだ一行との乾杯

Source: Digital Newspaper Archive, National Library of Korea

See also:

• In May 1939, a Nazi German newspaper delegation toured colonial Korea and was welcomed in Seoul with swastika flags, shrine visits, and official receptions (link)
• ‘Hitler’s right-hand man’ Richard Foerster and Nazi editor Peter Winkelnkemper enjoy Korean cuisine and kisaeng entertainment at a Seoul press banquet, May 11, 1939 (link)
• Nazi leader Richard Foerster passionately preached Hitler’s teachings to Korean schoolchildren and gifted them signed photos of Hitler as they gave him a “Heil Hitler” salute on a train to Seoul (May 11, 1939) (link)