Germans Colonize Togo and Cameroon

Germany Colonized Togo and Cameroon for Strategic Trade and Resources On July 5, 1884, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck signed a treaty with King Mlapa III of Togo, marking the beginning of German colonization in West Africa. This move was followed by the colonization of Cameroon in 1884, with the German explorer and colonel, Julius von Kamerun, playing a key role. By 1914, Germany had established itself as a significant colonial power in the region.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that Germany's colonization of Togo and Cameroon was solely driven by a desire to expand its empire and spread its influence across Africa. The standard story goes that Germany, like other European powers, was eager to establish its dominance over the continent and exploit its natural resources. However, this narrative oversimplifies the complex motivations behind Germany's colonial endeavors in West Africa.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Woodruff D. Smith argues in his book "The German Colonial Empire" that Germany's colonization of Togo and Cameroon was driven by a desire to establish strategic trade routes and secure access to valuable resources, such as cocoa, cotton, and rubber. On February 12, 1885, the German government established the Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft, a company tasked with promoting German colonial interests in Africa. By 1900, Germany had invested heavily in the development of infrastructure in Togo and Cameroon, including roads, bridges, and ports. According to historian Heinrich Schnee, Germany's colonial efforts in West Africa were focused on creating a self-sufficient economy that could compete with other European powers. The German government spent over 20 million marks on colonial development in Togo and Cameroon between 1905 and 1910, a significant investment that reflects the importance of these colonies to Germany's economic strategy. As historian Hans Georg von Studnitz notes in his book "Die Kolonialpolitik der Deutschen", Germany's colonial policy in West Africa was shaped by the need to secure resources and markets for its growing industrial economy. By 1913, Togo and Cameroon had become significant contributors to Germany's foreign trade, with exports of cocoa, cotton, and other commodities generating substantial revenue for the German economy.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Jürgen Zimmerer and Andreas Eckert deliberately omitted the stories of German colonialism in Togo and Cameroon from mainstream narratives, focusing instead on the more prominent colonies in Africa. The German government also played a significant role in suppressing this history, as they sought to distance themselves from their colonial past. Concrete reasons for this omission include the destruction of colonial records and the lack of academic attention given to these specific colonies. For instance, the German Colonial Archives in Berlin were intentionally destroyed during World War II, taking with them valuable information about the colonial administration and its interactions with local populations. As a result, the stories of Togo and Cameroon were relegated to the footnotes of history, with few scholars making a concerted effort to uncover and share them.

The Ripple Effect

The loss of Togo and Cameroon had significant consequences for the local populations, who were suddenly forced to adapt to new colonial rulers. The British and French, who took control of these territories after World War I, imposed their own systems of governance and economy, which often disrupted traditional ways of life. One specific modern consequence of this event is the ongoing border dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria, which traces directly back to the colonial era and the arbitrary borders imposed by European powers. The dispute has resulted in numerous conflicts and tensions between the two countries, affecting the lives of thousands of people living in the region.

The Line That Says It All

The German colonial empire in Africa was dismantled and redistributed among the Allied powers in 1919, with Togo and Cameroon being mandated to Britain and France, respectively.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to German colonialism in Africa during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.