Have German ideologues learnt lessons from the genocidal actions of General Lothar von Trotha In Namibia?!
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
The genocide perpetrated by German colonialists against the Namibians occurred from 1904 to 1908. During the 31 years of colonisation in Namibia, it is estimated that over 70,000 Namibians were killed. This atrocity was largely ignored by successive German Governments for nearly a century, until May 28, 2021, when former German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, representing the government, along with Chancellor Angela Merkel, publicly acknowledged these events as genocide. The majority of this genocide took place among two tribes, primarily the Herero and the Nama.
Germany sought to expand its territory, and even prior to the onset of the First World War, they were actively searching for resources to support their ambitions for global dominance. This pursuit led them to Africa, specifically to Namibia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad, Gabon, and Togo, during a period when Africa’s borders had not yet been delineated by the colonialists. Consequently, they briefly colonised these areas. However, one may wonder why their presence in Africa was not more prolonged. In Namibia, their intention to raise cattle resulted in the appropriation of lands belonging to two tribes, which constituted the primary means of sustenance for these communities. As a result, these tribes were dispossessed, plunged into poverty, and subjected to forced labour. This situation ultimately led to confrontations between the tribes and the colonialists, prompting the latter to perpetrate genocide under the command of General Lothar von Trotha, who orchestrated a ruthless campaign aimed at exterminating both the Herero and the Nama peoples. The massacre ensued, claiming thousands of lives.
It is noted that the primary reason the Germans did not inflict more casualties or maintain a longer presence in Africa was the imminent outbreak of the First World War, necessitating their return to Germany to engage in the conflict in Europe. By the years 1914-1918, German colonialists had lost all their African territories to either the British or the French as a consequence of the war in Europe. Around the same time, German colonialists governed a significant area of East Africa in the early 1900s known as German East Africa, which included present-day Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi. The conflict that took place between the German colonialists and the natives was referred to as the Maji Maji Rebellion, which lasted from 1905 to 1907. The reason for this conflict was because the German colonial authorities imposed heavy taxes and enforced labour, compelling the local populace to engage in cotton farming for export. This shift forced the indigenous people to abandon their own food cultivation in favour of cotton production, resulting in widespread hunger and growing resentment among the community.
So, in July 1905, when the populace could no longer tolerate their circumstances, they initiated an uprising in the Matumbi Hills, which rapidly extended throughout southern and eastern Tanzania. However, the German response was marked by extreme brutality, resulting in the massacre of individuals, the incineration of villages, and the destruction of food supplies, including the targeting of civilians. Estimates suggest that between 75,000 and 300,000 Africans perished due to starvation. Ultimately, this rebellion was suppressed by 1907, yet it significantly undermined the German perception of effortless colonial governance in Africa, contributing to their eventual withdrawal from the continent by 1918.
However, despite the government of Angela Merkel acknowledging that this incident constitutes genocide and their agreement to provide compensation, no payments have been made. This promise has been outstanding since 2013. In contrast, Germany has compensated Israel and individual Holocaust survivors. Since 1945, Germany has disbursed over $86.8 billion dollars in various forms of compensation to Israel, benefiting both Holocaust survivors and Jewish organizations. This compensation has addressed forced labour, confiscated property, and the suffering endured. Yet, regarding Namibia, although promises were made, no payments have been rendered.
https://www.state.gov/reports/just-act-report-to-congress/germany/
Have German ideologues truly absorbed the lessons from the atrocities perpetrated by their ancestors during the violent colonial era against Namibians?! It appears that they have not gained enough valuable insights, as evidenced by their compensation to the Jews while neglecting to compensate the Namibians. Furthermore, they continue to supply arms to Netanyahu’s genocidal administration, which are employed in the killing of Palestinians, despite occasionally criticising Netanyahu’s administration for its settlement expansion. Please read further below:
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-minister-says-future-arms-deliveries-israel-depend-gaza-situation-2025-05-30/
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-vows-continued-support-of-israel-as-fm-visits-berlin/a-72802920
https://www.firstpost.com/world/germany-says-will-continue-arms-deliveries-to-israel-even-as-public-wants-stricter-control-13894497.html
Germany Says to Continue Israel Arms Sales Amid Embargo Call
https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/large-majority-germans-want-tighter-controls-arms-exports-israel-2025-06-04/