German South-West Africa

German South-West Africa (German: Deutsch-Südwestafrika, DSWA) was a colony of Germany from 1884 until 1915, when it was taken over by South Africa and administered as South-West Africa, finally becoming Namibia in 1990. With an area of 835,100 km², it was easily one and a half times the size of the German Empire at the time.

Related Topics:
German - Colony - Germany - 1884 - 1915 - South Africa - South-West Africa - Namibia - 1990 - Km² - German Empire

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In 1883, German merchant Adolf Lüderitz bought land from a native chief in the area of Angra Pequeña. The city of Lüderitz and the adjacent coast are named for him. On 24 April 1884, he placed the area under the protection of Imperial Germany to deter British encroachment. In early 1884, the Kaiserliche Marine ship Nautilus visited to review the situation. A favourable report from the government and acquiescence from the British, resulted in a visit from the Leipzig and Elisabeth. The German flag was finally raised on 7 August 1884.

Related Topics:
1883 - Adolf Lüderitz - Angra Pequeña - Lüderitz - 24 April - 1884 - Imperial Germany - British - Kaiserliche Marine - Nautilus - Acquiescence - Leipzig - Elisabeth - 7 August

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In October, the newly-appointed Commissioner for West Africa, Gustav Nachtigal, arrived on the Möwe. In April of 1885, the Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft für Südwest-Afrika was founded, and soon bought the assets of Lüderitz's failing enterprises; Lüderitz subsequently drowned in 1886 while on an expedition to the Orange River. In May, Heinrich Ernst Göring was appointed Commissioner and established his administration at Otjimbingwe. A Kaiserliche Schutztruppe ("Imperial Security Troop") under Hauptmann Curt von Francois was stationed in German South-West Africa beginning in 1888, consisting of two officers, five non-commissioned officers, and 20 black soldiers.

Related Topics:
Commissioner for West Africa - Gustav Nachtigal - Möwe - 1885 - Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft für Südwest-Afrika - 1886 - Orange River - Heinrich Ernst Göring - Otjimbingwe - Kaiserliche Schutztruppe - Hauptmann - Curt von Francois - 1888 - Black

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The colony grew in 1890 through the acquisition of Caprivi in the northeast, which promised new trade routes. This territory was acquired through the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty between Britain and Germany.

Related Topics:
1890 - Caprivi - Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty - Britain

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German South-West Africa was the only German colony where Germans settled in large numbers. German settlers were drawn to the colony by economic possibilities in diamond and copper mining, and especially farming. In 1902, the colony had 200,000 inhabitants, though only 2,595 were German, 1,354 were Afrikaner, and 452 were British. By 1914, 9,000 more German settlers had arrived. There were probably around 80,000 Herero, 60,000 Ovambo, and 10,000 Nama, who were disparagingly referred to as Hottentots.

Related Topics:
Diamond - Copper - 1902 - Afrikaner - 1914 - Herero - Ovambo - Nama - Hottentot

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