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6 countries in the world that have been colonised by Germany, each country

each country

By Moharif YuliantoPublished about a year ago 3 min read
6 countries in the world that have been colonised by Germany, each country
Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

While Germany has a rich history and has played a significant role in European and world affairs, it has not historically been a major colonial power like the British, French, Spanish, or Portuguese empires. Germany's colonial ambitions were relatively late and limited in scope compared to these other powers. However, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Germany did establish colonies in various parts of the world. Here are six territories that were once under German colonial rule:

1. Namibia (formerly German South-West Africa)

Capital: Windhoek

Population: Approximately 2.5 million

Sub-district Head: Various regional governors

German South-West Africa was a German colony from 1884 to 1915. The German colonial period was marked by harsh policies, exploitation of resources, and the brutal Herero genocide. After World War I, South Africa administered the territory under a League of Nations mandate, and Namibia eventually gained independence in 1990.

2. Cameroon

Capital: Yaoundé

Population: Approximately 28 million

Sub-district Head: Regional Governors

German Kamerun was a German colony from 1884 to 1916. The territory was divided between France and the United Kingdom after World War I. German colonial rule in Cameroon had a significant impact on the region's economic and social development.

3. Togo

Capital: Lomé

Population: Approximately 8.7 million

Sub-district Head: Préfets

Togoland was a German colony from 1884 to 1914. After World War I, the territory was divided between France and the United Kingdom. The French portion gained independence in 1960, while the British portion merged with the Gold Coast to form the independent nation of Ghana.

4. Tanzania

Capital: Dodoma

Population: Approximately 63 million

Sub-district Head: District Commissioners

A small portion of present-day Tanzania was under German colonial rule as part of German East Africa. The German colonial period in East Africa was marked by the exploitation of natural resources and the imposition of forced labor. After World War I, the territory was divided between Britain and Belgium.

5. Papua New Guinea

Capital: Port Moresby

Population: Approximately 9 million

Sub-district Head: Provincial Governors

A small portion of what is now Papua New Guinea was under German colonial rule as part of German New Guinea. The German colonial period in New Guinea was relatively short-lived, lasting from 1884 to 1914. The German colonial administration focused on the exploitation of natural resources, particularly copra and rubber.

6. Pacific Islands

Various Capitals and Populations

Sub-district Head: Varies by territory

Germany also had colonial possessions in the Pacific Ocean, including parts of the Solomon Islands, the Marshall Islands, and the Mariana Islands. These islands were primarily used as trading posts and naval bases. German colonial rule in the Pacific had a limited impact on the region's development.

While Germany has a rich history and played a significant role in European and world affairs, it was not a major colonial power compared to nations like Britain, France, Spain, or Portugal. Germany's colonial ambitions were relatively late and limited in scope.

However, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Germany did establish colonies in various parts of the world. These colonies were primarily located in Africa and Oceania.

It's important to note that Germany's colonial empire was relatively short-lived and less extensive than those of other European powers. Nevertheless, the legacy of German colonialism can still be seen in the cultural, linguistic, and economic development of these regions.

Germany's colonial empire was relatively short-lived compared to other European powers.

However, it did have a significant impact on the territories it controlled, particularly in Africa. A portion of present-day Tanzania was under German colonial rule as part of German East Africa. This period, from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, was marked by the exploitation of natural resources and the imposition of forced labor on the local population. After World War I, the territory was divided between Britain and Belgium.  

HistoricalMystery

About the Creator

Moharif Yulianto

a freelance writer and thesis preparation in his country, youtube content creator, facebook

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