1815-1886 1918-1939







Arab Rebellion
1888-1890



Stamps issued for Deutsch-Ostafrika
by the German Postal Administration



German East Africa 1886-1918



TANGANYIKA as a geographical and political entity did not take shape before the period of High Imperialism; it's name only came into use after GERMAN EAST AFRICA was transferred to Britain as a mandate by the League of Nations in 1920. What is referred to here therefore is the history of the region that was to become Tanganyika.

German CARL PETERS had secured treaties with tribal leaders on East Africa's coast, providing the German government with legitimation to negotiate with Britain over spheres of interest in East Africa. In the treaty of 1886, Germany renounced it's claims on the WITU AREA (on Kenya's coast, north of Mombasa) and on Uganda, and Britain recognized Germany's claim to what was to become German East Africa. In another treaty of 1890, Germany traded the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba for the much smaller island of Heligoland, off Germany's coast in the North Sea. The Germans bought off the Sultan of Zanzibar's rights to the Tanganyikan coast for $ 800,000.
The GERMAN EAST AFRICA COMPANY (founded 1887, succeeded by the German government in 1891) established BAGAMOYO as their colony's capital, soon moving it to DARESSALAAM. The colony was called DEUTSCH-OSTAFRIKA (German East Africa). The colony's borders had been established in treaties with Britain (Kenya, Uganda, Northern Rhodesia), Belgium (Belgian Congo) and Portugal (Mocambique); interests of the indigenous people were disregarded. From the coast, the Germans penetrated the country and established their rule. The currency was 1 Rupia = 64 Pesa.
The Germans established an infrastructure - roads, railway lines, hospitals, schools (Swahili being the language of education). Slavery was effectively suppressed, and a plantation economy introduced, based on sisal, cotton and rubber, coffee, sesame, copra, peanuts. In 1905, a new currency was introduced, 1 Rupia = 100 Heller.
The establishment of German rule did not occur without African resistance : the ABUSHIRI-RISING in the Bagamoyo region had to be overcome in 1889-1891, the HEHE-RISING in the central region in 1891-1898, the large-scale MAJI MAJI-RISING in the south in 1905-1907.

By developing the country's infrastructure and by establishing a new capital at Daressalaam, the traditional Arab and Islamic dominance of the coastal region was greatly diminished. Christian missionaries, both protestant and catholic, entered the country, establishing christian communities. The introduction of SWAHILI as the language of administration and education also favoured the spread of Islam.

Left : Stamp of British East Africa overprinted G.E.A.
(German East Africa)
Right : Stamps of Belgian Congo overprinted German East Africa, Belgian Occupation
overprint bilingual, French and Dutch


When World War I broke out in 1914, German East Africa was the only German colony not to fall to enemy forces within a matter of months. The island of MAFIA was occupied by the British Navy in 1914; German military commander, Colonel PAUL VON LETTOW-VORBECK was able to hold the colony's northern border to Kenya until 1916. When British and South African forces finally managed to penetrate the German lines, von Lettow-Vorbeck switched to a guerilla strategy. He reinforced his troops by conscripting native soldiers, the so-called ASKARIS. Constantly on the move and partially operating in British Rhodesia and Portuguese Mocambique, he held out until the end of the war, tying enemy forces up in Africa which thus could not be employed on the European front.


Deutsch Ostafrika's Governors
1885-1888
1888-1891
1891-1893
1893-1895
1895-1896
1896-1901
1901-1906
1906-1912
1912-1918 		Carl Peters, administrator
Hermann von Wissmann, Reichskommissar
Julius von Soden
Friedrich Radbod von Schele
Hermann von Wissmann
Eduard von Liebert
Gustav Adolf Graf von Goetzen
Georg Albrecht von Rechenberg
Albert Heinrich Schnee






EXTERNAL
FILES 		The History of Tanzania : Colonial Period, from United Republic of Tanzania
The Great War in Africa, book review from Rhodesia and South Africa, Military History; Image of Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, from 2000 Jahre Chronik
A Short History of Islam in Tanzania, from Islam Tanzania
The German East Africa Campaign 1914-1918, from South African Military History Society
Deutsch-Ostafrika 1885-1890 : Auf dem Weg vom Schutzbriefsystem zur Reichskolonialverwaltung. Ein Beitrag zur Verfassungsgeschichte der Deutschen Kolonien, by Klaus Richter German East Africa 1885-1890 : from the system of protection promising treaties to German colonial administration. A contribution to the constitutional history of German colonies.
German Language Links on German Colonial History from Deutsche Kolonialgeschichte im Internet
Ostafrika, from Deutsche Schutzgebiete , in English
The so-called Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty of 1890, from Deutsche Schutzgebiete
Die grossen Aufstände in Deutsch-Südwestafrika und Deutsch-Ostafrika 1904-1907, by Hauke Haien (in German, scholarly essay)
Deutsch-Ostafrika : Referat über die Deutsche Kolonialpolitik am Beispiel Deutsch Ostafrikas, high school student assignment, in German
Konigsberg: A German East African Raider, from ZanzibarNet, book review
Map : Maji-Maji Rebellion in German East Africa 1905-1906, from Historical Atlas of the Twentieth Century by Matthew White
The "End" of the African Slave Trade: The Case of East Africa, posted by Mrk Gilbrt (World History Connected)
Past, Present and Future (files on Tanzanian history during German colonial rule) posted by Dr. Kudrati
DOCUMENTS Flag of German Colonies (German East Africa), from FOTW
Banknotes from German East Africa, from ATS Catalog of World Paper Money and from Ron Wise's World Paper Money; from Deutsche Schutzgebiete, comment in German; from Currency Museum
German East Africa Coins and Notes, von Lettow Vorbeck collectables, from Token Coins
Map of 1897, from Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, 5. edition , posted at this site
Documents on Germany's Colonies - web editions and links, posted by psm-data, scroll down for German East Africa
Former German East Africa, from South and East African Year Book and Guide, 26th ed. 1920, dates until 1913
Records of the Maji Maji, 1905-1907, printed in R.O. Collins, African History in Documents, Vol.II : Eastern African History pp.124-141
A Machine-Gunner's Odyssey through German East Africa : The Diary of E.S. Thompson, Pt.1, Jan. - Feb. 1916, Pt.2.1, Jan. - May 1916, Pt.2.2, May - Sept. 1916, Pt.3, Sept. 1916 - Feb. 1917, from South African Military History Society
The War in East Africa, from South and East African Year Book and Guide, 26th ed. 1920
Wilhelm von Puttkamer, Der gegenwärtige Stand der Eisenbahnbauten in unseren Kolonien,from : Süssenrotters Illustrierter Kolonial-Kalender 1912, posted on the web by Rado Jadu
List of Governors etc., from : World Statesmen : Tanzania, by Ben Cahoon
Documents on Deutsch-Ostafrika in Protokolle des Reichstags, facsimiles posted by Bayrische Staatsbibliothek :
(1) Agreement achieved by the exchange of notes between Great Britain and Germany on Oct. 29th and Nov. 11th 1886, regarding the Sultanate of Zanzibar and the delimitation of the British and German spheres of interest in East Africa, click : 1871-1895, click : 1884-1887, click : Band.104 Anlagen 1-56, click : Anlagen Nr.54-56. all 4 pages (pp.367-370) contain the text, both in English and German
(2) Denkschrift über die Deutschen Schutzgebiete (Memorandum concerning the German protectorates), 1885, click : 1871-1894, click : 1884-1887, click : Band 98 Anlagen 1-112, click : Anlagen 43-44, pp.134-137 and Anlagen 45 p.138 contain the text, in German, Gothic font; on the Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Gesellschaft pp.135-136, on Wituland pp.137-138
(3) Denkschrift betreffend Deutsch-Ostafrika (Memorandum concerning German East Africa), Nov. 17th 1893, click : 1871-1895, click : 1893-1895, click : Band 156 Anlagen 1-117, click : Anlage 48, pp.328-344
(4) Denkschrift betreffend das Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Schutzgebiet (Memorandum concerning the German-East African protectorate), Dec. 20th 1894, click : 1871-1895, click : 1893-1895, click : Band 162 Anlagen 1-171, click : Anlage 89, pp.381-416, text in German, Gothic font
(14) Aufstand in Ostafrika, Berichte (Rebellion in East Africa, reports), 1890, click : 1871-1895, click 1890-1893, click Band 138 : 1890/1891, Anlagen 193-381, click : Anlage 240, pp.1814-1839
(15) Entwurf eines Gesetzes betreffend Bekämpfung des Sklavenhandels und Schutz der Deutschen Interessen in Ostafrika (Draft of a law respective the combat against slavery and the protection of German interests in East Africa), click : 1871-1895, click 1887-1890, click Band 121 : 1888/1889 Anlagen 1-102, click : Anlage 71, pp.491-492
(16) Aktenstücke betreffend Abmachungen des Reichs mit Frankreich, Grossbritannien sowie der Deutsch-Ostafrikanischen Gesellschaft zur Regelung der Verhältnisse in Ostafrika (Documents concerning agreements between the Reich and France, Great Britain as well as the Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Gesellschaft respective the conditions in East Africa), click : 1871-1895, click : 1890-1893, click : Band 137, 1890/1891, Anlagen 141-192, click : Anlage 166, pp.1209-1222; pp.1210-1215 German-British agreements of 1890, in German and English; p.1216 German-French agreement, in German and French
(17) Entwurf eines Gesetzes betreffend die Kaiserliche Schutztruppe fuer Deutsch-Ostafrika (Draft of a law concerning the Imperial Schutztruppe for Deutsch-Ostafrika), click : 1871-1895, click : 1890-1893, click : Band 149, 1892/1893, Anlagen 101-232, click Anlage 220, 221, 223, pp.
(18) Erste Beratung des Entwurfs eines Gesetzes betreffend die Kaiserliche Schutztruppe für Deutsch-Ostafrika (First debate of a draft of a law concerning the Imperial Schutztruppe in Deutsch-Ostafrika), click : 1871-1895, click : 1890-1893, click : Band 130, click : 57. Sitzung, pp.1314-1319 (p.1319 under 58. Sitzung), debate held February 4th 1891
(19) Erste Beratung des Entwurfs eines Gesetzes betreffend die Kaiserliche Schutztruppe für Deutsch-Ostafrika (First debate of a draft of a law concerning the Imperial Schutztruppe in Deutsch-Ostafrika), click : 1871-1895, click : 1890-1893, click : Band 130, click : 58. Sitzung, pp.1322-1345 (p.1345 under 59. Sitzung), debate held February 5th 1891
(20) Erste Beratung des Entwurfs eines Gesetzes betreffend die Kaiserliche Schutztruppe für Deutsch-Ostafrika (First debate of a draft of a law concerning the Imperial Schutztruppe in Deutsch-Ostafrika), click : 1871-1895, click : 1890-1893, click : Band 130, click : 59. Sitzung, pp.1347-1364 (p.1364 under 60. Sitzung), debate held February 6th 1891
(21) Zweite Beratung des Entwurfs eines Gesetzes betreffend die Kaiserliche Schutztruppe für Deutsch-Ostafrika (Second debate of a draft of a law concerning the Imperial Schutztruppe in Deutsch-Ostafrika), click : 1871-1895, click : 1890-1893, click : Band 131, click : 85. Sitzung, pp.1970-1972, debate held March 10th 1891
(22) Dritte Beratung des Entwurfs eines Gesetzes betreffend die Kaiserliche Schutztruppe für Deutsch-Ostafrika (Third debate of a draft of a law concerning the Imperial Schutztruppe in Deutsch-Ostafrika), click : 1871-1895, click : 1890-1893, click : Band 131, click : 91. Sitzung, pp.2123-2124, debate held March 17th 1891
Images from Chronik 2000 Bilddatenbank : Paul von Lettow Vorbeck; Schutztruppe in Deutsch-Ostafrika
Deutsche Zollgeschichte : Kolonien, from Deutsche Zollgeschichte, postcards, mostly featuring customs houses in Deutsch-Ostafrika, comment in German
Beim Gouverneur von Deutsch-Ostafrika - Daressalam, from Jaduland, drom Die Woche 1900, in German
Deutsch-Ostafrika, from Jaduland, from Ritter, Länder- und Völkerkunde 1904, in German, detailed population statistics etc.
Deutsch-Ostafrika by A. Teue, from Jaduland, Text from 1887 in German
Die Gründung von Deutsch-Ostafrika (the foundation of DOA), by Carl Peters, from Jaduland, from his memoires published in 1918, in German
Die Häfen unserer Ostafrikanischen Kolonie, from Jaduland, by Peter Wendling / Suesserott's Kolonial-Kalender 1912, in German (the ports of our East African Colony)
Der Süden des Schutzgebietes, from Jaduland from Emil Zimmermann, Unsere Kolonien, 1911, in German (the south of our protectorate)
Deutsches Kolonial Lexikon 1920, click Recherche, O, Ostafrika; has numerous other articles on the colony; site in German
REFERENCE Edna Mason Kaula, The Land and People of Tanganyika, Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott 1963, 160 pp. (Portraits of Nations Series)
Article : German East Africa, in : Britannica Book of the Year 1913 p.1012 [G]
Article : German East Africa, in : Statesman's Year Book 1895 pp.570-571, 1898 pp.568-569, 1901 pp.654-655, 1905 pp.725-727, 1910 pp.861-862 [G]
Article : German East Africa, in : International Year Book 1898 pp.276-277 [G]
Article : East Africa - German East Africa, in : Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia and Register of Important Events 1894 p.248 [G]
News from German East Africa, from "The Great Round World and What is Going on in it", Vol.III No.14, April 1899, p.476 [G]



This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted in 2001, last revised on November 1st 2007

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