Upon the outbreak of the First World War, Kaiserin Elisabeth took part in the defense of the German naval base of Tsingtao, which was besieged by the Japanese on 25 August 1914.
Pri izbijanju Prvoga svjetskog rata Kaiserin Elisabeth sudjelovao je u obrani njemačke mornaričke baze u Tsingtau koju su opsjedali Japanci 25. kolovoza 1914. godine.