Opinion: How Germany Seems To Remember Everything But Their Colonial Past
Often praised for their memory culture of the Holocaust, Germany is highly regarded on the international stage for remembering what others won’t. However, should that praise continue with Germany’s colonial genocides lacking their memory culture?
Standing in front of a rundown corner store in Germany’s neighborhood of Wedding, a group of people listen to a young Black woman began to speak over harsh, fall winds.
She asks, “What do you know about Germany’s history of memory culture?”
Hands fly up as the large group of 12 people begin talking about the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin, the Jewish Museum in the Lindenstraße neighborhood in Berlin, and the Stolpersteine (“stumbling blocks”).
After everyone gives their answers, she asks, “What do you know about Germany’s colonial history?”
This time, no one raised their hand.
To many, hearing about another European nation’s colonialism might be unsurprising, especially considering the Berlin Conference of 1884–1885 that is often regarded as the “Scramble for Africa.” The conference marked the height of European competition for territory in Africa which would later begin the remapping of the continent. However, what may be surprising for some is that Germany was as heavily responsible for the ethnic cleansing of thousands just as other European Powers.
The Namibian Genocide
Namibia, a country northwest of southern Africa, was populated by several different native groups, including the Herero, the Nama, the Damara, the San, and the Ovambo.
In 1884, Germany invaded the land and founded the German South West Africa Colony (SWAC).
By 1903, nearly 3,000 Germans had settled in the colony, launching a settler society. The establishment of this settler society led to disruptions in the socioeconomic status of the territory and created tension as common resources (water, land) became scarce and regulated.
In 1904, in Okahandja under Samuel Maharero, the Herero people carried out a rebellion, killing over 100 German soldiers and demanding the return of their land. In an effort to gain control of the situation, it is believed that Maharero condemmed violence against women and children.
In August of 1904, Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha who was appointed new commander in chief by German emperor Wilhelm II, killed nearly 5,000 Herero people and pursued the Herero men that were able to escape with German machine guns. Trotha and his commandment mercilessly shot men, women and children who attempted to cross the desert or acquire water from the wells. In his pursuit of the Herero people in October 1904, Trotha issued his “Shrecklichkeit” or extermination order.
The order read, “Every Herero, with or without rifles, with or without cattle, will be shot. I shall no longer receive any women or children. I will drive them back to their people or I will shoot them. This is my decision for the Herero people. The Great General of the Mighty Kaiser.”
It isn’t until three months later that the German government recalls Trotha’s execution orders and, instead, commands all surviving members of the Herero population to be placed in concentration camps where they would face unimaginable medical experimentation — some that are believed to have inspired scientists during the Holocaust.
The Herero women were branded with GH (gefangere Herero), subjected to rape, were made to pull carts like cattle, and were brutally flogged if they resisted or stopped pulling. German geneticist Eugene Fischer tortured the Herero people with medical experimentation and wrote about his methods and findings in, The Principle of Human Heredity and Race Hygiene, which was read and favorited by Adolf Hitler. Fischer would later become chancellor of the University of Berlin and teach his medical findings to Nazi scientist.
In 1905, the Nama people would try to stage their own rebellion and would be met with the same treatment as the Herero people.
By March 1907, over 60,000 Herero people and nearly 10,000 Nama people were murdered.
Memory Culture & Recognition
The acknowledgment of the Namibian genocide wouldn’t come until years after Namibia gained its independence in 1990. As of May 28, 2021, German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass has formally recognized Germany’s role in the “Forgotten Genocide of the 20th Century.” Along with this recognition, Germany has committed to giving the Namibian people reparations worth $1.1 billion over 30 years. The Reconciliation Agreement would provide financial and cultural assistance and for developmental projects. As of 2021, the Herero and Nama people have rejected the offer, citing the financial aid as “inadequate,” but the Namibian government has yet to voice their rejection.
In 2022, two street names in Wedding, after existing for over 100 years honoring colonialist, have been changed. Nachtigalplatz, now Manga-Bell-Platz, honored Gustav Nachtigal who assisted in establish German colonialism over Togo, Cameroon, and Namibia. Nachtigal also changed vocabulary in any treaties signed with African kingdoms which resulted in those kingdoms being unable to fight back against German interests. Lüderitzstraße, now Cornelius-Fredricks-Straße, honored Adolf Lüderitz who also assisted in the establishment of German colonialism in Namibia.
While recognition of the genocide has received praise, many people have voiced that Germany doesn’t truly care to remember.
In German high schools, many students learn little about Germany’s occupation of Namibia and is often only done so at the discretion of the teacher. The topic of German colonialism is not taught at all in some German states and only briefly mentioned in others.
In reference to the Reconciliation Agreement, Germany has yet to specify whether they will give back land currently occupied by German Namibians in Namibia. In addition, Germany has ruled out paying individual reparations for families directly effected by the genocide.
In the neighborhood of Wedding, there still exist a call to Germany’s colonial past and the German Government has argued whether some changes were necessary.
Petersallee is a street name that honors Carl Peter, a Reich Commissioner who established the colony “German East Africa” (Todays Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda). Nicknamed “Bloody Peter,” and “Hanging Peter,” he was known for cutting off the hands of those enslaved but, specifically, would have enslaved people cut off each other’s hand to instill fear and create conflict between ethnic groups. Allegedly, the nickname “Hanging Peter,” came from him hanging people without reason and was later reported to the German government who released him without punishment. The Nazis would later name a street after him in 1939 and create a film about his life titled “Carl Peters — a German Destiny.” A monument of Peter currently stands in Hanover. In 1986, the Wedding District Council decided to change the name to “Prof. Dr. Hans Peter, city councilor” but criticisms have still been made against the street sign.
Committed to Supporting Genocide?
Recently, Germany has been condemned by Namibia for their offer to intervene on the case of genocide by Israel on Gaza brought to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by South Africa this year. The President of Namibia, Hage Geingob, claimed that Germany couldn’t “morally express commitment to the United Nations Convention against genocide” while actively supporting Israel. In addition, Geingob said, “The German Government is yet to fully atone for the genocide it committed on Namibian soil.”
Namibia calls out the irony of Germany’s past with apologizing for two genocides as of 2021 while actively claiming there is no evidence to support South Africa’s claim that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.
The German Government has responded to the comments made by the President of Namibia, stating, “In view of Germany’s history and the crime against humanity of the Holocaust, the government sees itself as particular committed to the genocide convention.”
As the situation continues to progress in Gaza, the German Government has made its’ support for Israel clear. On October 12, The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz publicly stated, “At this moment, there is only one place for Germany: alongside Israel.” Citing Germany’s responsibility for the Holocaust, Scholz expressed that it was Germany’s duty to advocate for the security and existence of Israel. Alongside their outward support of Israel, Germany has also cracked down on public support of Gaza even announcing that those seeking naturalization in Saxony-Anhalt must commit to Israel’s “right to exist” in writing or risk being refused citizenship.
The German Government has continued to support Israel’s response to October 7 by stating that Israel was acting in self-defense against Hamas.
So, what now?
Germany has worked to not shy away from their past. From the erection of several museums, memorials, and statues to continue to push progress, Germany has been highly regarded for their commitment to memory culture and preserving history. From the erection of the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin, the Jewish Museum in Lindenstraße neighborhood in Berlin, and the Stolpersteine (“stumbling blocks”) which occupy sidewalks around Berlin to remind Germans in their daily lives the atrocity committed during WWII, Germany has actively showed the world that they understand the impact and trauma created by the Holocaust and seek accountability.
However, there is still work to do when it comes to colonial acknowledgment. It took until 2021, 117 years after the Namibian genocide for Germany to recognize their role in an atrocity that inspired one of the most well-known atrocities in European history. In addition, the recognition falls flat to many Namibians when Germany, who has apologized for their role in two genocides, actively supports Israel whom South Africa and Namibia, along with others, claim is pursuing an ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. The ability for Germany to recognize the Holocaust and the commitment to atoning for the atrocity while making little mention of their colonial history brings the German Government’s integrity into question. Is Germany truly interested in recognizing their role in colonial history? If so, why did it take 117 years to acknowledge the Namibian genocide?
The lack of recognition and accountability by Western powers of their role in colonial history has been forever ongoing but the praise Germany receives rings hollow when their beloved culture of memory doesn’t appear to remember all of their victims.
