Bismarck's Colonial Gambit: Germany's African Empire

In this episode of The History of Germany: Kingdoms, War, and Rebuilding Europe, Lucas and Luna explore Otto von Bismarck's reluctant entry into colonialism. While Bismarck famously dismissed overseas possessions as 'not worth the bones of a single Pomeranian grenadier,' by the mid-1880s he presided over the Berlin Conference and the scramble for Africa, securing territories in Togo, Cameroon, German South-West Africa, and German East Africa. We examine the motivations behind this shift—diplomatic maneuvering against Britain, domestic political pressures, and the role of colonial lobbyists like Carl Peters. The conversation delves into the brutal colonial wars, including the Herero and Nama genocide in South-West Africa (1904-1908), considered the first genocide of the 20th century, and its lasting legacy. We also touch on the brief German colonial era's end after World War I and the ongoing debates about restitution and memory. Specific figures include Gustav Nachtigal, the explorer who raised the flag in Togo and Cameroon; Major Theodor Leutwein, the governor who tried a less violent approach; and General Lothar von Trotha, who issued the infamous 'Vernichtungsbefehl' (extermination order). The episode also covers the Maji Maji Rebellion in East Africa and the economic dreams of a Mittelafrika empire. #Bismarck #GermanColonialism #BerlinConference #HereroNamaGenocide #CarlPeters #GustavNachtigal #LotharvonTrotha #MajiMaji #GermanSouthWestAfrica #GermanEastAfrica #ScrambleForAfrica #Mittelafrika #Kaiserreich #19thCentury #ColonialHistory #Africa #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo