Geography Ruhr Vs. Manchuria

Geography 4500
Dr. Fahrer

Manchuria Vs. Ruhr Valley (China Vs. Germany)
By: Jeff Bahls
8 November 2010


Maps at 200 mile scale, with the respective regions shaded in
In both cases these regions serve as the Core Industrial area for their respective countries.


Both these regions have gone through several changes, and I would say the
most traumatic changes since the 1850’s to present day.

Both areas have an abundance of ‘like’ resources that were critical for the
industrial revolution.

Both have had other countries try to take these regions or control these
regions.

Both experienced huge booms in population.

Both had massive devastation in various forms.

Both have diverse religious views.


Where is Manchuria?

Formally the region we consider to
be Manchuria is actually much larger
when considering population
perspectives; Especially when we
consider Japanese, Tibetans,
Russian, Korean, and Chinese
influences.


Russia
Mongolia

Valley Region

Korea Japan


Manchuria was originally settled by Tongus and Mongul nomads that became the
Manchus. The Manchus had conquered all of China, but then were pushed back
again. (See Time Line at the End. The region was heavily influenced by the Russians,
then the Japanese, Soviet Union, and Finally Communist China. The Area in pink is
still under protest between Russia and China.

Where is the Ruhr Valley?


During the 1870’s a large Turkish
immigration took place thanks in part to
the extensive rail system. But given the
importance of the region, many people
come from France, Belgium, and the
Netherlands.

Norway

Denmark

Netherlands

Rotterdam

Belgium

Luxemburg

France

Resources: The Cause of
these Regions Problems.

lignite, generally yellow to dark brown or rarely black coal
that formed from peat at shallow depths and temperatures
lower than 100 C (212 F). It is the first product of
coalification and is intermediate between peat and
subbituminous coa

Previous Slide Map Key

C = coal
Pet = petrol
Mo = Molybdenum
The Circle with 4th quad shaded = copper
Mn = Manganese
M = Mica
Square with ‘x’ in it = Iron Ore (Pink)
Square within Square = Meerschaum
Triangle = Alumina
Lig = Lignite
Square with ‘x’ in it = Iron & Steel (Magenta)
Pb = lead
Zn = Zinc

Not only were the two regions rich with natural resources, they
were major food production centers as well.

Weather and Climate

Climate Chart for Cologne, Germany Climate Chart for Changchun

Weather fluctuates much more in Manchuria due to the large land mass
and systems coming out of Mongolia. The Ruhr also has a more
consistent rain fall. They both produce wheat as well as other crops.

In China,
sorghum is
fermented and
distilled to
produce
maotai, which
is regarded as
one of the
country's most
famous liquors.
Sorghum was
ground and the
flour was the
main
alternative to
wheat in north
China for a long
time.

Typical picture of a communist worker in Industrial Manchuria


1870’s Population Chart
comparing those born in Duisburg
(Situated within the heart of the
Ruhr Valley between the Rhine
and Ruhr Rivers, to those that
immigrated. This coincides with
the development of the Railroad
throughout the country.

Current picture of the Ruhr Valley

Tactical Plans for the Soviet Invasion of Manchuria
(early 1945)

Aftermath of WWII Allied bombing of Cologne, note
that the allies took great care in not destroying the
cathedral.


Timeline Title
1873 All 1850-1914 Huge Reparations
1850 Coal major cities for WW I
production in Germany
immigration into
is radically are the Ruhr Valley,
Germany is
to giv e
RUHR VALLEY
increased connected a large working France Coal
1870 Iron is by Railroad from the
production pop. is needed
is increased for Iron and Coal
WW I WW II

1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950
1912 Manchu fell area
1931 - 1945 1945 Sov iet
1890's now open to Chinese
Japan Union inv ades
immigration
Russians Controls and strips 50% of
1905-05 Russo - Japanese war
MANCHURIA created made Japan the dominant
Manchuria Ind. Equipment.
1946 China
Extensive influence. regained control
Rail system 1894 Although not controlled by Japan it is
heav ily influenced, Manchurian warlods seek
help of Japan to gain control

Currently both countries are working to restore the regions; China trying to re-industrialize
China’s ‘Rust Belt started in the 1970’s and Germany in the 1980’s.
and Germany through tourism


After 1912 when the Manchu's lost control
of the region and China took over, vast
numbers of Chinese not of Nomadic
descent moved into the area. Remember
that the Russians just prior to this point had
been exerted a strong influence for
decades. Also note that the rail line goes all
the way to Vietnam through Peking.

Germanys and
China’s rail
system
developed
roughly at the
same time. As
with
Manchuria
which is
connected to
the capitol as
well as several
major cities,
we see the
same type
development
here. In both
cases the rail
system helped
mass
immigration.

Both Regions are reasonably stable, however; there is some plate activity around Japan
which is relatively close to Manchuria and in the North Sea (closer to Iceland) which is
relatively close to Ruhr Valley.

Religion: Each region due to its importance over history has
been exposed to many cultures and religions and while
Manchuria has Buddhism followers there are significant
numbers of Taoism and Confucianism. In Germany and
specifically the Ruhr Valley, Catholicism is the dominate
Christian religion, but it has significant numbers of Muslim /
Islam (from the Turks) and Lutherans.

Again the rapid mixture of cultures and ideologies stemmed
from the need to import mass amounts of people into an area
for industrialization, as well as the changing controlling
government and its policies.


Questions? Comments? Rebuttals?

Bibliography

www.britannica.com

www.lib.utexas.edu

www.mapsofworld.com/china

www.mapsofworld.com/germany

Bix, Herbert P. (1992), "The Showa Emperor's 'Monologue' and the Problem of War Responsibility", Journal of Japanese
Studies 18 (2): 295–363

Hoyt, Edwin P., Japan's War: The Great Pacific Conflict, p.45

Palmer and Colton, A History of Modern World, p.725

Drea, E J. (1984). Missing Intentions : Japanese Intelligence and the Soviet Invasion of Manchuria, 1945. Military Affairs
48(2): 66-73.

Hayashi, S. (1955). Vol. XIII - Study of Strategic and Tactical peculiarities of Far Eastern Russia and Soviet Far East Forces.
Japanese Special Studies on Manchuria. Tokyo, Military History Section, Headquarters, Army Forces Far East, US Army.

King, W., C., (1922). King’s Complete History of the World War, The History Associates, Springfield Massachusetts.

Jackson, J., H., (1997) Migration and urbanization in the Ruhr Valley, Humanities Press, Boston Massachusetts.

Bibliography
http://geography.howstuffworks.com/asia/geography-of-manchuria.htm

http://rwhiston.wordpress.com/2010/03/18/2/

Moore, W. Robert. "In Manchuria Now." National Geographic (March 1947), 389-414.

James, H., E., M., (1888) The Long White Mountain, or, A journey in Manchuria, pg. 203

Geography Ruhr Vs. Manchuria

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