Historical Background
German Colonies were the overseas possessions of the German
empire from 1884 to 1918 and are often also known as the German Protected
Territories. Agitation for the acquisition of colonies was conducted by
the ‘Deutscher Kolonialverein’ (Society for German Colonies) founded
in 1882, and since 1887 by the Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft (German
Colonial Company) to which the former gave birth. Otto von Bismarck, at
first an opponent of the colonial movement, from 1884 did his best to
advance the efforts directed towards their possession. Overseas lands were
to enliven trade, create space for emigrants and become sources of raw
materials. Enlargement of the Empire was not an aim. The overseas
territories
were to start with administered by private companies, but by the end of
the 19th century the state had taken over these responsibilities.
German interests were originally primarily concerned with Africa.
German South West Africa, today Namibia, became a German colony in
1884
(until 1915). Togo, today split between Togo and Ghana
and Cameroon were also declared Protected Territories in1884 (until
1914).
The colony
of German East Africa was founded in 1885 on territories now part
of Tanzania, Ruanda and Burundi; it continued until 1918. The German
Empire
also acquired colonies in the Pacific area. In 1885 German New Guinea
in the northeast of the island of that name, subsequently called
Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land as well as the Bismarck Archipelago and
the Marshall Islands. Nauru followed in 1888 and in 1899 the
Marianas, Carolines,
Palau Island and part of the island of Samoa. In 1898
Kiaochow was leased from China for 99 years. After World War I Germany
was forced by the
Treaty of Versailles to cede all its colonies. They became Mandated
Territories of the League of Nations; de facto they became possessions of
the countries exercising these mandates.
Source: Microsoft® Encarta® Enzyklopädie 2000