In the paper the author wants to investigate the events of the Herero and Nama revolts of 1904 which lead to the outbreak of a colonial war, that lastet at least until 1907. Was it genocide? What qualifies it as such and why is this almost forgotten by the majority of people?
In German historical science, the colonial history of the country is still a peripheral area. Often this period is referred to as „history of european expansion“ or even „comparative oversea’s history“. Although German colonial efforts cannot be compared to the far-reaching activities of the British Empire, France, Portugal or Spain and although Germany started relatively late with its expansion, this doesn’t mean that Germany’s colonial period can be played down or be trivialized. In general, the European expansion of the 20th century was not aimed at exploring and friendly cohabitation with local peoples. The plan was rather to crowd them out, enslave them and force them to work for the benefits of the newcomers. According to this, the people in South-West Africa were treated until it amounted to what is referred to as the „first genocide of the 20th century“.
Under Reich Chancellor Bismarck, the aim of the German Empire regarding its colonies was at first only to constitute a protecting power. This approach was based on the expectation, that the clamorous colonial lobby, which was constituted as the „German Colonial Society“ in 1887, would stand up for the development of the new acquired regions. For this reason, the economic development and parts of the administration was transferred on terrain-, charter- and commercial companies, that were also left with establishing an infrastructure there. This was problematic since the interest of the German settlers in Africa was more on their personal profits than on a coordinated development of the „new“ territory. Without continuous investment by the state, it was hardly possibly to convert the colonies into prosperous economic territories or settlement areas. Besides this, they faced constant rebellious activities by the local indigenous people. The first steps in the colonies were therefore a „pacification“ of the territories, which most of the times was conducted violently and did not last permanently, as well as establishing medical care in order to make the stay of German settlers, soldiers and administrative corpse possible in the first place.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Establishment of the protectorate German South-West Africa
- Revolts and genocide (1904-1908)
- Reasons for the starting of the revolts
- The Herero-Revolts
- Putting down the rebellion
- Participation of the Nama
- Further course of the conflict
- After the war
- Genocide?
- Qualification
- Legal affairs
- Official reactions by Germany
- Resume
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to investigate the events of the Herero and Nama revolts of 1904, which led to the outbreak of a colonial war that lasted until 1907. The paper explores the question of whether this conflict constitutes genocide, what qualifies it as such, and why it took Germany so long to recognize its colonial debt.
- German Colonial Expansion and its Consequences
- The Herero and Nama Revolts: Causes and Development
- The Role of German Colonial Policies in the Conflict
- The Question of Genocide: Legal and Historical Perspectives
- Germany's Acknowledgement of its Colonial Past and Potential Reparations
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter sets the context for the paper, discussing the relative neglect of German colonial history within German historical science and highlighting the brutal treatment of indigenous populations in German South-West Africa.
- Establishment of the protectorate German South-West Africa: This chapter outlines the establishment of German control over South-West Africa, focusing on the conflicting interests between German settlers and the local populations, the role of the German Colonial Society, and the evolving policies of German leadership.
- Revolts and genocide (1904-1908): This section delves into the causes of the Herero and Nama revolts, including the impact of the Rinderpest, the worsening living conditions for the Herero, and the exploitation of the local population by German settlers. It further examines the course of the conflict, including the early Herero successes, the rise of General von Trotha and his brutal strategies, the Nama participation in the war, and the aftermath of the conflict, particularly the establishment of concentration camps and the destruction of the social and economic structures of the Herero and Nama.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper explores the colonial history of German South-West Africa, focusing on the Herero and Nama revolts, German colonial policies, the question of genocide, and Germany's historical responsibility. Key terms include: German colonialism, Herero and Nama revolts, concentration camps, genocide, reparations, colonial debt, and historical acknowledgement.
- Quote paper
- Sophia Barolo (Author), 2016, The Suppression of the Herero and Nama Revolts by the Germans, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/371337
