In my thesis I examine German colonial policies in South West Africa towards the natives from their first engagement in the area in 1883 up to the end of the Herero war in 1907. Primarily, I try to establish if they were genocidal.
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My thesis is divided into three major parts. The first two describe and characterize the German policies towards the natives of South West Africa and their mutual relationship, prior to the Herero war and during it respectively. The third is concerned with definitions of genocide and relevance for its aplication on the Herero war.
In the first chapter I shortly portray South West Africa prior to European colonisation and then turn my attention to German - steady and gradual - conquest of the country. Special consideration is given to German perceptions of the natives, to their use of the natives for their own cause and to their treatment of the indigenous population. Finally the most important aspects of development of the colony under German rule are presented.
The next chapter of the thesis deals with the events of the Herero war. Analysis of the main causes of the uprising is followed by the description of the course of war. This one is purposefully not very detailed, and only events relevant for our cause are mentioned. Much more attention is given to German changing policies during the war and to the differing arguments behind these policies, with special focus on Lothar von Trotha's reasoning. The Nama uprising is mentioned briefly as well. At the end results of the war and its influence mainly on the native population are characterized.
I deal with the concept of genocide in the final part of this paper. I offer three different definitions and apply them one by one, on the events in Gernam South West Africa at the beginning of the 20th century. I analyze if any, some, or all definitions are valid and could be used to describe these events.
The crucial question of this thesis is whether German policies in South West Africa regarding the native population, especially the Herero could be described as genocidal.
Table of Contents
1 South West Africa Under German Rule
1.1 The Area of South West Africa Prior to German Colonization
1.2 “First a missionary, then a consul, and then com army.”
1.3 “However ruthless one’s colonial policy, it is necessary to give one’s actions a semblance of legality”
1.3.1 Divide et impera – Leutwein’s Policy and Native Uprisings
1.4 “White Man’s Burden”
1.5 “Colonisation is always inhumane”
1.5.1 “Leniency towards the natives is cruelty to the whites.”
1.5.2 “Prügelstrafe”
1.6 Silence Before the Storm
1.6.1 All-round Development of the Colony
1.6.2 Administrative Reorganisation
1.6.3 Mission Growth
2 The Herero War
2.1 Whose Fault is it?
2.2 Causes of the Uprising
2.2.1 German Abuse and Humiliation of Natives
2.2.2 Land Appropriation and the Question of Native Reservations
2.2.2.1 Otavi Railway
2.2.3 Hereros’ Cattle
2.2.4 Credit System
2.3 Leutwein’s War
2.3.1 Number of Troops on Both Sides
2.3.2 Initial Stages of the War
Maharero’s Proclamations
2.3.3 “…the uprising must be smashed ruthlessly and a tabula rasa created.”
2.3.4 The end of Leutwein’s Independent Position
2.3.5 Change of Command
2.4 Von Trotha’s War
2.4.1 “Die Würfel waren gegen die Hereros gefallen”
2.4.2 Battle of Waterberg
2.4.3 Dying in the Sun
2.4.4 Extermination Order
2.4.5 The Last Power Struggle Between von Trotha and Leutwein
2.4.6 Change of German Policy
The Nama Uprising
2.5 Von Trotha's Departure From the Theatre of War
2.6 “Sammellager”, Prisoner and Concentration Camps
2.7 “The old, the sick, the wounded were all slaughtered or burnt to death.”
Clashes in the “Reichstag” About German Colonial Policies
2.8 Results of War
2.8.1 “The Hereros ceased to exist as a tribe.”
2.8.2 Consequences of the War for the Natives
2.8.2.1 “Measures for control of the Natives”
2.8.2.2 Ban on Mixed Marriages
3 Genocide
3.1 Problems with the Concept
International Law at the Beginning of the 20th Century
3.1.1 “if this is awful, it must be a genocide”
3.2 Broad Definition by Charny
3.3 United Nations Definition
3.4 Narrow Definition by Fein
3.5 “For all their power, they could kill but not convince.”
Research Objectives and Thematic Focus
This thesis examines German colonial policies in South West Africa toward the indigenous population from 1883 until 1907, specifically investigating whether these actions can be classified as genocidal. The author explores how administrative, military, and legal strategies evolved into a war of annihilation against the Herero and Nama people.
- Analysis of German colonial policies, including the implementation of the "divide et impera" strategy.
- Evaluation of the causes of the Herero Uprising and the subsequent military response.
- Assessment of the shift in German command under Lothar von Trotha and the resulting "Vernichtungsbefehl."
- Application of international definitions of genocide (UN, Charny, Fein) to the historical events in South West Africa.
Excerpt from the Book
1.3 “However ruthless one’s colonial policy, it is necessary to give one’s actions a semblance of legality”
In order to govern such a vast territory, it was first necessary to acquire some control over it. Therefore Germans concluded treaties of protection (“Schutzverträge”) with various tribes. In these “Schutzverträge” the tribal chiefs gave up part of their power and sovereignty in exchange for the promise of German protection.
Native chiefs usually committed themselves and their tribes in the following ways:
1. To protect all citizens of the German Reich and their possessions.
2. To guarantee them the right and freedom to travel, settle down and trade in the native’s land.
3. Not to guarantee any rights and advantages to anyone of other than German citizenship and not to sell any land without the approval of the German government.
4. To acknowledge the jurisdiction of the German Kaiser in cases of a legal dispute between Germans and natives.
5. To contribute to the sustenance of peace in the protectorate and to accept the decision of the German government in the case of a dispute with other chiefs.
6. To recognize German laws passed for the protectorate.
Summary of Chapters
1 South West Africa Under German Rule: This chapter details the initial colonization, the implementation of "Schutzverträge," and the gradual shift toward a settler colony through administrative and infrastructural changes.
2 The Herero War: This chapter provides an analysis of the causes of the uprising, the shift from Leutwein's command to von Trotha's brutal war of annihilation, and the devastating impact of concentration camps and the Extermination Order.
3 Genocide: The final chapter applies various academic and legal definitions of genocide to the specific case of the Herero and Nama people to determine if the German colonial approach met the criteria for genocide.
Keywords
German colonialism, South West Africa, Herero, Nama, Genocide, Lothar von Trotha, Vernichtungsbefehl, concentration camps, Namibia, colonial policy, protection treaties, German South West Africa, indigenous rights, human rights, historical research.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on the history of German colonialism in South West Africa between 1883 and 1907, specifically investigating the policies toward the indigenous Herero and Nama people.
What are the central themes of the thesis?
The central themes include the systemic dehumanization of natives, the brutality of German colonial military operations, and the transition of colonial governance into mass violence.
What is the main research question?
The research seeks to establish whether the German colonial policies and the subsequent destruction of the Herero and Nama tribes can be classified as genocide.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The author uses historical analysis of foreign documentation, scholarly studies, and colonial archives, combined with the application of comparative legal and academic definitions of genocide to historical events.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers the political and administrative development of the colony, the outbreak and progression of the Herero War, the change in German leadership and strategy, and the horrific conditions in concentration camps.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include German colonialism, genocide, Herero War, South West Africa, von Trotha, concentration camps, and colonial administrative policies.
How does the author define the role of the German state in these events?
The author concludes that even if the state did not explicitly originate every action on the ground, its leadership sanctioned the military strategy and acted at the very least as an accomplice to genocide.
What significance did the "Omahake" desert hold in the war?
The sealing off of the Omahake desert by German forces was a deliberate policy to force the Herero into an environment where they would perish from thirst, serving as a key element of the extermination strategy.
- Quote paper
- Martin Weiser (Author), 2006, The Herero war – the first genocide of the 20th century?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/90826
