Why Germany Forgot Its Colonial Past

Get Nebula for 40% off an annual subscription using my link: go.nebula.tv/thepresentpast
Watch my next video about how Germany is still divided nebula.tv/videos/thepresentpa...
Or join my Patreon / thepresentpast
Germany doesn't really talk about their colonial past. Why is that?
Sources:
Pape, Elise. “Postcolonial Debates in Germany - An Overview.” African Sociological Review / Revue Africaine de Sociologie 21, no. 2 (2017): 2-14. www.jstor.org/stable/90018694.
Melber, Henning. “How to Come to Terms with the Past: Re-Visiting the German Colonial Genocide in Namibia.” Africa Spectrum 40, no. 1 (2005): 139-48. www.jstor.org/stable/40175059.
Shigwedha, Vilho Amukwaya. “The Return of Herero and Nama Bones from Germany: The Victims’ Struggle for Recognition and Recurring Genocide Memories in Namibia.” In Human Remains in Society: Curation and Exhibition in the Aftermath of Genocide and Mass-Violence, edited by Jean-Marc Dreyfus and Élisabeth Anstett, 197-219. Manchester University Press, 2016. www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt21h4....
Dijk, Kees van. “Germany Enters the Colonial Race.” In Pacific Strife, 97-120. Amsterdam University Press, 2015. www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt15nm....
NARANCH, BRADLEY, and GEOFF ELEY, eds. German Colonialism in a Global Age.
Duke University Press, 2014. doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv11vc7vj.
Reuss, Martin. “The Disgrace and Fall of Carl Peters: Morality, Politics, and Staatsräson in the Time of Wilhelm II.” Central European History 14, no. 2 (1981): 110-41. www.jstor.org/stable/4545922.
Pakenham T. The Scramble for Africa : White Man's Conquest of the Dark Continent from 1876 to 1912. First Avon books trade printing ed. New York: Avon Books; 1992.
Conrad Sebastion - German Colonialism. A short history, 2011.
"German Pickelhaube (ww1)" (skfb.ly/otJQy) by Janovich is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (creativecommons.org/licenses/b....
Hi there, my name is Jochem Boodt. I make the show The Present Past, where I show how the present has been influenced by the past. History, but connected to the present and fun!
Every episode I show how history has influenced and made a thing, an idea or event in our present time.
I make different content. You can find me on:
TikTok: / thepresentpast
Instagram / the_presentpast
Twitter : / @thepresent_past
Logo by: / multicolor_junkie
If you have an idea for an episode please fill in this form:
www.dropbox.com/request/nMMMS...

[@matthewbrotman2907]

Fun fact: the first German governor of South West Africa was Heinrich Göring, father of….

[@VaishnavENK]

father of Albert Göring, an unfathomably based individual.

[@Hadar1991]

@@VaishnavENK Who had not so based older brother, Hermann :D

[@VaishnavENK]

@@Hadar1991oh the one with two but small balls?

[@ElectrostatiCrow]

@@VaishnavENK Sad to read his wikipedia. He suffered for his brothers crimes.

[@zainmudassir2964]

​@@VaishnavENKAlbert was good man

[@thebeautifulones5436]

In the 1950s the German government felt it should pay its Tanzanian soldiers that fought the British in the 1st world war in africa. However they couldn't tell if the people who showed up had actually been their soldiers. So they got a German sergeant to bark drill commands to the men and everyone of them jumped to attention marched in perfect order.

[@olympia5758]

Which German government? The Federal Republic or the DDR? Also, did those soldiers get that money? I'd love to read to article about this.

[@cookietime1949]

​@@olympia5758 the Fed. Rep. Did it till the 90's. Its in the Wiki about the "Askari", maybe you can find some more if you google for " Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck" the famous General of german east-africa.

[@Based_Thinker]

Do you have any source?

[@boomerix]

@@olympia5758 That was the Federal Republic and yes everyone got their money. They handed them broomsticks as a stand in for a rifle to show the German drill and that was proof enough that they have been German soldiers in the past.

[@dusk6159]

​@@olympia5758 The communist regime in charge of the portion of Germany occupied by the soviets not only doing that (not even close) but even caring about it? Even bothering to know what that country was and where those people were? Not in a thousand year, of course it was western Germany.

[@ricaard6959]

As a Namibian I believe that for bad or worse, history is history. I am also fascinated by the street names, it's basically the same here in Windhoek, we have street names in German, we have so much and despite being part of South Africa far longer, we have inherited a lot more of German culture... I feel like Namibia missed out, instead of using Germans wanting to make right on their past, we asked for money that will do nothing for us instead of asking for knowledge, machinery to help us industrialize. Again, for bad or worse, Namibia is a German creation and I hope for the future for better relations between our two countries...

[@energeticstunts993]

not really and I'm saying this as a person living in Germany. We did not build Nambia, we stole your natural resources, killed your women and children and basically did what we pleased because Europeans back then were racist pricks. You need to acknowledge that despite us bringing German culture, we weren't at all good for you. Had you asked for industrialisations/machinery, we wouldn't have given it to you. Sorry but European powers were evil and this is the reason why they're as wealthy as they are today. If you ever wonder why the state of Africa as a continent is underdeveloped, it's due to the West and we NEED to DESPERATELY: 1) leave Africa the fuck alone by no longer stealing natural resources like France in Niger and 2) recognising that what we did in all of Africa as disgusting and unnecessary

[@charlesk22]

Rather than seeking to develop, you're looking to Germans who absolutely don't care. Lol.

[@Storm-1.]

Well right now we have othere Problemes but in the future we could maybe make a Deal.

[@julianosvonskingrad7009]

Interesting to hear. So, what do you think of technological deals like the production of green hydrogen between Germany and Namibia? Greetings from Germany

[@youeffoh]

If you're interested in the german way of doing things i would suggest karl marx, he has a good solution to those money problems you mentioned

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Besides the South Pacific and Africa, the Germans also had the Kiautschou Bay Leased Territory from 1898 to 1914. They wanted a model colony by copying the UK and acquiring a Chinese harbor to show both the Chinese and the other powers what it means to have effective colonial policy. In 1860, a Prussian expeditionary fleet arrived in Asia and explored the region around Jiaozhou Bay. The following year, the Prussian-Chinese Treaty of Peking was signed. In November 1897, local peasants killed two German priests, and Wilhelm II ordered admiral Otto von Diederichs to respond. Despite occupying all the forts and disabling the telegraph line, Wilhelm II canceled the order and opted for a lease over outright cession. As the territory was not a colony but a lease, and because of its importance to the German navy, it was placed under the supervision of the Imperial Naval Office rather than the colonial office. The impoverished fishing village of Tsingtau was laid out with wide streets, solid housing areas, government buildings, electrification throughout, a sewer system, and a safe drinking water supply, a rarity in large parts of Asia at that time and later. The area had the highest density of schools and highest per capita student enrollment in all of China. During the German period, Tsingtao Brewery was founded in 1903 by an English-German joint stock company, and Tsingtao is still around today, and Qingdao has a thriving beer culture thanks to the Germans.

[@quoccuongtran724]

my supreme leader i honestly didnt expect you to pop up under any geography & history educational video

[@energeticstunts993]

I'm so sorry great leader kim jung un that America still has put your powerful country under brutal sanctions

[@nasalekausalitat]

Tried the beer once, its quite alright! Wasnt this intervention you mentioned the first use of marine infantery? Or am i misremembering stuff there?

[@HolahkuTaigiTWFormosanDiplomat]

：００

[@lbgamer6166]

HRE, Charlemagne…

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Yup, the Germans even had colonies in the Pacific! Like German Samoa, which there's actually a love song about a German sailor being rejected by a Samoan girl called "In Honolulu" (the song mentioned both Samoa and Hawaii). German Samoa is the reason why Samoa is separate from American Samoa. Basically, during the second half of the 19th century, German influence in Samoa expanded with large scale plantation operations like coconut and cacao. However, they weren't the only ones interested in the Samoan Islands as the British and the Americans wanted in on the action. Tensions between them led to the First Samoan Civil War, where the Germans and Americans supported rival Samoan factions. After the 1889 Apia cyclone destroyed six of the German and American ships stationed at Samoa, the three countries decided that the counterproductive fighting should cease, and that the original king Laupepa would be restored to the kingship. However, in 1899, there was another civil war. It was then decided under the Tripartite Convention that the archipelago would be divided between the US and the Germans, with the UK withdrawing for concessions in the Solomons. German Samoa remained a thing until 1914 when New Zealanders occupied them with no resistance on behalf of the UK during WWI. NZ would govern them through a League of Nations Class C mandate, and then a UN trust territory until 1962.

[@nickysimi9866]

Yeah I remember learning that Germany used to hold Samoa as a colony. It was weird to learn as a samoan, because all these other samoans I know who had german last names finally had an explanation lol

[@FlagAnthem]

I have the awful suspicion some countries learn about other's colonies just to water down their sins

[@nickysimi9866]

@@FlagAnthem yeah that's exactly what happens. I always found it funny that countries like France cried about oppression and occupation by rhe germans during ww2 but immediately went on to oppress their colonies after the end of it (Indochina, Algeria)

[@seed_drill7135]

They had Nauru as well, with its then plentiful phosphates deposits.

[@AM-sm9kg]

@@nickysimi9866 A few years ago (2010s) there was a program on German TV about descendants of Germans of former Deutsch-Neuguinea, who still spoke German as mother tongue! I was really surprised by that. Although the younger people don't do this anymore.

[@zedek_]

I wish Japan would take note. Even from a purely cynical, practical perspective... this just fosters so much respect for the German people.

[@naoyanaraharjo4693]

Japan should treat every single one of its victims like Indonesia. They lied about their past, but at least the reparations from investments and cash is useful

[@itsblitz4437]

@@naoyanaraharjo4693 that's a lot of victims though?

[@zainmudassir2964]

Hope Pakistan 🇵🇰 does same to Bangladesh. Although most young Pakistanis are more sympathetic and willing to acknowledge wrongdoing in former East Pakistan

[@easterworshipper730]

Lol, no back bone. The kaffirs killed german people and they paid the price.

[@thekraken1173]

⁠@@itsblitz4437 When Armenian militias were killing Turks and Kurds to create a greater Armenia nobody cared. When Greek army used scorched earth policy in Western Anatolia killing more than a million Turkish civilians for Megali Idea nobody cared. When millions of Muslim minorities got deported from Balkans to Anatolia nobody cared. But when the Muslims (Turks and Kurds) did the same to Christians it became a genocide. When Christians deport Muslims its forced repatriation. When Muslims deport Christians its genocide. I don’t deny any of the horrifying things my countrymen did at the time. But don’t expect us to apologise for revenge. We won’t accept any hypocracy. ​​⁠Also with Kars treaty Turkey promised to defend and rebuild Armenia, but Armenians decided to join Soviets. There are a lot of active Armenian Orthodox Churches in Turkey. But almost no Mosques in Armenia. There are Armenians living in Turkey. No Turks are living in Armenia. Armenians can freely travel and move to Turkey. Turks can’t freely travel and move to Armenia. Turkey started the normalization process with Armenia. Armenian public is still protesting against Pashinyan for normalization with Turkey. To this day Armenia is keeping United Nations recognized of Azerbaijan under invasion. Who is doing more to heal the rift really?

[@GSpandy]

The arrogance of English speaking countries amaze me. They proclaim German as Nazis by forgetting their own colonial past! Britain did the same thing to its colonies like famine in India and opium war in China et. By the way this video is brilliant no arguments. But what I meant to say is “Before insulting every German think about your ancestors crime”. It relates to all countries which had colonies in past 🇬🇧 🇫🇷 🇧🇪 🇷🇺

[@caroskaffee3052]

YES

[@julietide2253]

Totally agree

[@___Truth___]

💯

[@epewpew]

For me as a German this video gives me a new perspective, this video is so valuable. Thank you so much and I‘d love even more content about Germany 🇩🇪

[@ThePresentPast_]

DDR content dropping soon!

[@OscarOSullivan]

@@ThePresentPast_At least they are starting to remember it to a degree now

[@frontgamet.v1892]

Du bist absolut verblendet und tust mir leid.. Deutsche werden durchgängig manipuliert sich und ihre Geschichte zu hassen. Dabei sollten wir absolut stolz auf unsere Geschichte sein. Wir sind das Land der Dichter und Denker. Ich hab es satt das sich Leute, die nichts tatsächlich von Geschichte wissen, sich anmaßen uns zu erzählen wir sollten alles deutsche verteufeln. Ohne uns würde es die Welt heute nicht geben.. Wir sind heute die Marionetten der Amis und in einer Fake Demokratie. In my opinion, as a historian, nationality and also patriotism is a very important part of our world and of us. I don't think it's a good idea to throw away such a huge and rich identity. Simply because we are not all the same people. I think the basic nationality and country isn't something we made up anymore. There's a reason people were born in certain areas. This unique mentality and the characteristic in the genes are part of us. The behavior as a whole. The fact that you and I are here today is significant that we had a father who had a father and so on.. Until a father definitely stood on the battlefield with armor and probably killed someone too but he was killed too. But before that happened he had a son who had a son before you. That means through all the wars and diseases your bloodline has survived. It's just such a great understanding of the history and culture and tradition that you carry within you from the people who gave everything to keep the blood of their nation and mentality alive that you can't just throw that away. This identity merged with the areas of your country or their countries. I think you can gain strength and understanding from nationality. I'll take myself as an example.. I'm German. I haven't had national thinking for long. But when I developed this patriotic and national thinking, I started to understand my environment better and it helped me. Since the Germans have always had a hard worker mentality and perfectionism in their blood and genes, this motivated me to work just as hard as my ancestors and to achieve something. Because we have so many incredible thinkers and poets, it motivated me to follow in the rich footsteps of my country and history to achieve something just as great. Which may help all societies. I don't think you can just open the borders and let others in. At least those who have completely different backgrounds. I think that patriotism but especially nationalism has a meaning.

[@frontgamet.v1892]

​@@OscarOSullivan You are completely delusional.. The Germans are consistently manipulated into hating themselves and their history. We don't forget it, it's beaten into us. Also, the German colonies were the best because the Germans actually invested in the colonies... a lot. Build good houses and cities. Now you dare to say that we are not informed enough about our "Bad Bad Devils" German history. To hell with you

[@nasalekausalitat]

​@@OscarOSullivanhaha, like we forgot about it. When you go to school and pay at least a little attention in history class, you know this stuff as a german. Also its not like states like namibia wouldnt remind us of it.

[@kaesebrot649]

Great Video, but I think it's also important to mention why the Herero Genocide was/is so downplayed in Germany. In the 50s and 60s there was a push by the Americans and the conservative German government to rearm West Germany due to the cold war. That meant any continuity between imperial Germany and Nazi Germany had to be downplayed, and the Crimes of the Nazis were treated as an aberration instigated only by Hitler and the top Nazi leadership. For example the movie 'Der Untertan' from 1951 was banned for portraying a continuity between Imperial and Nazi Germany and the first and second world war. For that reason a Genocide that in many ways prefigures the Holocaust had to be downplayed. (This is also the reason for the clean Wehrmacht myth.)

[@doriends1155]

Thank you for that insight!

[@CG-yq2xy]

That's what I was going to comment in here too. Frankly I was somewhat surprised that the video didn't mention it. However there is one other factor that closely ties with your comment. After WWII, the US and allies had to "rehabilitate" the German image after both the holocaust and the various atrocities they committed in the regions that they occupied. So the way that they "went around" the issue was to show Germany as a civilized nation that went down a dark path. The holocaust and all the all the atrocities performed in occupied Europe (mainly Poland, USSR and the Balkans) were just a unfortunate historical deviation, caused by a cadre of evildoers to took a great nation down the war path. And as you noted they leaned on the pre - WWII history which inevitably contributed to the "clean Wehracht" myth. However close examination of the Imperial history definitely shows the seeds of the National Socialist school of thought including the Herero Wars, the setting up of the Tutsi-Hutu classification in German East Africa and the training of the Ottoman officer class that was involved with Armenia in 1915. Dive too deep into this factor and some really uncomfortable questions start to emerge.

[@timothyhicks3643]

+

[@medealkemy]

Incredibly good comments here. I knew how a lot in history is interconnected, but I didn't know how far it went in this case. Definitely going to read up on that👌

[@CapCody]

man no army is clean so a "Clean Wehrmacht myth" doesnt even makes sense

[@muscledavis5434]

As a German who already knew a lot of our Colonial history, i have to say this is a really good Video. It's absolutely true that the colonial history is overshadowed by Nazi history, just like absolutely all of german history is overshadowed by it. It's like a paradox: dealing so much with Nazi history and being so aware of it makes us unaware of the earlier history. The history of the Kaiserreich seems important ONLY when it's about what happened later, not really what happened during it's time. Most people don't even know how many emperors it had (they think it's 2). And before the Kaisserreich? No German even thinks about this time. There is always so much history to learn, for everyone. You do good and important work with your channel! PS. Yes the change is visible here. More and more people start learning and thinking critical about Germanys colonial time. I think we'll get there 👍

[@normalman4762]

this isnt rue before the kaiser rech is regularly though about jsut not in a whole german sense yknow

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

I am not surprised they thought it was two. Practically speaking, there were only two Emperors: the one before 1888 and the one after 1888. Friedrich III was known more for being anybody OTHER than him being Emperor. He has statues everywhere in Germany but all of them commemorate him being a war hero, not as an Emperor...

[@muscledavis5434]

@@theotherohlourdespadua1131 true. And i mean... He didn't really do much as emperor, since he died after 99 days in office and was already unable to speak thanks to his cancer. So it makes sense he is forgotten. Still i think he should be remembered a lot more, since he had enormous potential to actually make a change. His views were pretty libertarian and socialdemocratic. With him the empire might have become more integrated into the International community, because France and Great Britain had sympathies for him and his political views. He wanted to establish a parliament and might have even changed the empire into a parliamentaric monarchy like GB. To think about what could've all be avoided hadn't he became ill... Wilhelm II played a completely different game, and it didn't end well as we know. I think he is a good example of the selective views on history in Germany. In other countries they had many more rulers and remember all of them; in Germany the focus is mostly on the dark parts of history, which is good and understandable, but this way we tend to neglect other parts since they don't seem important in comparison and also because history as a whole has a really negative connotation for the average German. If Friedrich in his short rule had done anything that can be connected to the later rise of national-socialism, I guess everyone in Germany would know who he was.

[@muscledavis5434]

@@theotherohlourdespadua1131 also a funny thing: when i tell people about Friedrich III, they often think i mean the prussian king Friedrich the Great (Friedrich II), because he is the only Friedrich they have heared of😂

[@frontgamet.v1892]

Deutsche werden durchgängig manipuliert sich und ihre Geschichte zu hassen. Dabei sollten wir absolut stolz auf unsere Geschichte sein. Wir sind das Land der Dichter und Denker. Ich hab es satt das sich Leute, die nichts tatsächlich von Geschichte wissen, sich anmaßen uns zu erzählen wir sollten alles deutsche verteufeln. Ohne uns würde es die Welt heute nicht geben.. Wir sind heute die Marionetten der Amis und in einer Fake Demokratie. In my opinion, as a historian, nationality and also patriotism is a very important part of our world and of us. I don't think it's a good idea to throw away such a huge and rich identity. Simply because we are not all the same people. I think the basic nationality and country isn't something we made up anymore. There's a reason people were born in certain areas. This unique mentality and the characteristic in the genes are part of us. The behavior as a whole. The fact that you and I are here today is significant that we had a father who had a father and so on.. Until a father definitely stood on the battlefield with armor and probably killed someone too but he was killed too. But before that happened he had a son who had a son before you. That means through all the wars and diseases your bloodline has survived. It's just such a great understanding of the history and culture and tradition that you carry within you from the people who gave everything to keep the blood of their nation and mentality alive that you can't just throw that away. This identity merged with the areas of your country or their countries. I think you can gain strength and understanding from nationality. I'll take myself as an example.. I'm German. I haven't had national thinking for long. But when I developed this patriotic and national thinking, I started to understand my environment better and it helped me. Since the Germans have always had a hard worker mentality and perfectionism in their blood and genes, this motivated me to work just as hard as my ancestors and to achieve something. Because we have so many incredible thinkers and poets, it motivated me to follow in the rich footsteps of my country and history to achieve something just as great. Which may help all societies. I don't think you can just open the borders and let others in. At least those who have completely different backgrounds. I think that patriotism but especially nationalism has a meaning.

[@arndbrack2339]

The 'rememberance' culture was in good parts forced upon them/us. Also by a vigilant youth, whom had been just sick of their nazi parents - this transformation was fought for, and against all odds. I am really proud of this movement, and reflectively on my parents' generation.

[@williambrasky3891]

As an American, I'm hoping a similar culture is developing here. We're sick of our boomer parents. (And their fascism)

[@davinnicode]

The „rememberance“ culture is used as a dismissive tool against any opposition. It has lost its purpose long time ago. This dismissive tool prevents any real development in Germany.

[@hamzahnurreez8420]

​@@williambrasky3891don't you dare to ever compare boomers to the WW2 era Italy.

[@kingpredator117]

tf you mean fascism@@williambrasky3891

[@jukebox5600]

​@@kingpredator117"kingpredator117" ok bro

[@boomerix]

Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck was well respected by his African soldiers and he helped and advised the people who would establish the independent nation of Tanzania. He also strongly rejected the Nazi leadership and opposed them using his name for propaganda purposes. He was one of the few people who had great respect for Africans and was in turn well respected by them and who supported their path to independence, it is sad that in modern times his name is being sullied by radical liberals who paint him as an evil colonialist by cherry picking "crimes" he supposedly committed during WW1. WW1 was one of the most brutal wars in History where no side was afraid of committing what we today consider war crimes, it shouldn't be compared to the atrocities the Belgians committed to the native population during Peaceful times.

[@nicholaslisse5043]

As a German Namibian, this is a very interesting video. Facing a lot of fallout of what happened here as a younger person, it’s interesting how different things are taught. German history is ever present and continues to play a huge role here. But I find that nobody in Germany really understands why Namibia is so germanized and why certain feelings continue to persist.

[@khorgor]

One thing that always come to mind for me is what people say about the Holocaust:"Es passierte hier" It happened here. The Holocaust and the Nazis happened here, our Fathers and Grandfathers were involved, people todays germans know. The african Genocide was far away, by an older generation, sometimes even declared as justified. There still is much work to be done and i hope one day know about the crimes in the colonies. Which brings me to another point, Germany was not the only colonial power, thats why other colonial powers had no interest in talking about the Herero, it would suddenly shine a light on their crimes in their colonies...its such a damn hard topic to find a good solution for.

[@MichaelReidOttawa]

Two very valid points I like to remind people who criticize my ancestors in the UK, about their colonial past is. To begin with we must analyze the levels of injustice committed. While for example the British were not on Humanitarian missions, they did invest in and improve most of the colonies they founded. And I hate to sound insensitive or cavalier about our offences. The fact is, that other powers treated their colonies far worse. Second and much more important, that must always be remembered. The world was a much different place even 100 years ago. We did not hear about Human Rights, until after WWII. Throughout history, rights were a privilege, enjoyed by wealthy and privileged classes. Even White British in the UK were treated terrible through most of history. In North America Blacks in the US were discriminated and enslaved. Mexico and Russia shared a common Surf type system until 1910/1917 respectively, that had the peasants considered property of wealthy estate owners. Contemplate that. Mexicans were enslaved by other Mexicans! While atrocities must be remembered and condemned. The “Guilt” that goes with them, must be tempered, by reality of how the world was even 60 years ago! Every country, society and ethnicity has skeletons in the closet. We must do as the Germans and remember,the past. But let’s all work for a very just, inclusive and prosperous future for all!

[@crypticTV]

@@MichaelReidOttawa "invest in and improve most of the colonies they founded" only so UK can steal more efficiently. The UK gave nothing to its colonies without the guarantee that it would help them steal more from the colonies. Also, while committing genocide on the local population!! Spoken like a true white supremist and genocide denier 🙄😒😒

[@The0neAnd0nlyUnicorn]

I think whaf also contributes to the holocaust being recognize more is due to the situation after the crime. With the Holocaust, us germans killed our people and neighbours. The Herero and Nama were far away. And the Alliierten (England, france, usa) were doing tribunals not only for important war crimes in Nürnberg, but also for common people in places like Rastatt. We were forced to look at the issue and live with it. With the genocide against Herero and Nama, we just gave the remaining people and land away and nobody cared...

[@marcellocorrea7168]

Just say that the difference is killing black people in Africa and then doing the same thing to white people years later in Europe

[@Hongaars1969]

Another excellent presentation. Thank you. Having reviewed the comments thus far, it amazes me how quickly people lose focus of the topic. South west Africa became a South African protectorate under a League of Nations mandate and continued to be a defacto colony of SA until 1990. That entire period could be topical as it is barely mentioned anywhere. The horrors of colonialism, apartheid and of slavery can never be over emphasised. Their pervasive and lasting effects continue through to the present day. These stories need to be highlighted and reparations are only a small part of the process of allowing the descendants to heal and recover.

[@Ulostdgame]

Marxist detected opinion rejected

[@madlyjp]

The reason the German colonial empire was forgotten about is it didn't last very long it was destroyed in world war 1

[@frontgamet.v1892]

You are completely delusional.. The Germans are consistently manipulated into hating themselves and their history. We don't forget it, it's beaten into us. Also, the German colonies were the best because the Germans actually invested in the colonies... a lot. Build good houses and cities. Now you dare to say that we are not informed enough about our "Bad Bad Devils" German history. To hell with you. German Empire was absolutely great.

[@dave_sic1365]

Its part of the Curriculum but Nazis are far more dominant.

[@FlagAnthem]

possibly

[@bantenglewat9799]

As a dutch can u made video about dark past about dutch colonialism?

[@ThePresentPast_]

Did quite a few on Dutch colonialism already, check out the backlog!

[@lisaanimi]

Dutch and germans: We are bad colonisers, please see our dark past!!! Spain: If you stay still they won't notice you...

[@user-ni1dm2oc5v]

Spain wasn't as bad. The Spanish ended up mixing with the Natives and gave them 1st class citizenship! @@lisaanimi

[@licjar.xeymelloz]

I feel like a lot of the same things can be said for Japan. People focus a lot on war crimes during WW2, but in reality many of the problems are colonial problems, especially for Korea which was officially annexed to Japan in as early as 1910. WW2 for Japan was a continuous colonial/war effort from Mukden Incident in 1931 all the way to 1945, and even the Mukden Incident can be thought as an extension of prior colonial effort since Japan actually acquired Manchurian railway all the way back in 1905. Talking only about the 2nd Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific War misses a lot of context and doesn't really address the real problem that's behind the historic tension between Japan and its neighbors, which is a lot more like a colonial relation.

[@challalla]

True, Germany and to a lesser extent Japan had to confront their crimes during the war because that's when they were defeated, but they were not really forced to confront their former colonial history in the same way, especially because they were not defeated by their former colonial subjects but by other colonial powers. Unfortunately, it's hard to think of any colonial power that has really confronted its colonial history. It's common to see people that have a positive view of their imperial past or just not being aware of it.

[@ImperialSublimeEmpire]

Many non-European colonial powers must face their colonial past (🇯🇵,🇹🇷,🇵🇰, etc)

[@crypticTV]

@@ImperialSublimeEmpire lol name checks out. Both European and non-European colonial powers must face their colonial past. Europe however has the additional baggage of always being arrogant and believing that they somehow have a monopoly on morality. They clearly don't and have no right to be lecturing other nations.

[@ImperialSublimeEmpire]

@@crypticTV what’s wrong with my name?!?😂

[@Sketlux]

Some Germans might not know about their former colonies but you forgot to put Alsace-Lorraine in the borders of Imperial Germany...

[@challalla]

I see a lot of references to the Baltic genocides in the comments, but I can accept that this video is meant to talk about the first genocide commited by the modern state of Germany after unification

[@2failepic]

If you want to go further back, there is also some data leading to the theory that Neanderthals were genocided by Homo Sapiens tribes in Europe.

[@jonobidonofanas3677]

🤓

[@paleoph6168]

​@@jonobidonofanas3677🤡

[@lolpuuroa]

​@@jonobidonofanas3677😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 youre so fucking funny

[@Nakla]

The Reich was led by Prussia was an extension of Prussian power How is the comparison wrong when the head of the snake is the same?

[@selenium-es7hl]

This is what I like to call Historical Revisionism.

[@vickypedia1308]

I actually was taught about German colonialism in secondary school. Pretty sure we watched the exact movie you showed a clip of too. Frankly, I forgot a lot of it, as my history teacher wasn't good at making topics sound as interesting and significant as they are. This video was a nice refresher, and I'm a bit impressed with myself for recognizing some of the events you summarized.

[@marcelroy6034]

The colonial history has been rather well covered in Germany with lots of info reg the respective atrocities in Namibia, China etc. really not much of a secret

[@Isaidggfivetimes]

It depends on which state you are from and which school you attended. I have been in real-school in Baden-Württemberg and we glossed over it. We didn't even talk about where these colonies were or why and when they were established or what happened in these colonies. But at least we had 2 years about ancient Greece and Egypt alone!!!

[@marcelroy6034]

@@Isaidggfivetimes perks of a federal education system. Egyptian and Greek history has been the safe space in school ever since the II WW 😃

[@razzledazzle488]

​@@IsaidggfivetimesI covered it all in depth in BW high school. Just thank your ineffective teacher.

[@SamsonGuest]

Went to school in NRW and finished school with a focus on history (Abitur Geschichts LK). Finished school about 17 years ago. Never learned anything about german even having colonies until long after i finished school. And the interviews in the video suggest that it is the similiar for a lot of other germans young germans. So maybe people who made different experiences are not representative for many germans.

[@nootnoot877]

9:18 that's not entirely true. I am German and I went to school in Germany in the early 2000s. We DID actually talk about the shameful history of German colonies especially about the genocide of the Hereros. I remember this clearly, because we made posters and presented them in history class. The problem is not that nobody talks about this problem, the problem is that there is NOT ENOUGH talk about this (the curriculum for the subject history only allocates 45 minutes to the genocide, which is too little). Another thing are those street interviews. I can also go to Amsterdam, ask if the Dutch did ever anything wrong, edit the video and voila you have a video that only shows ignorant people.

[@Tobi-ln9xr]

We also had that topic in school. He only asked people in Berlin and I guess it’s commonly known that the education in Berlin isn’t the best…

[@vornamenachname1069]

@@Tobi-ln9xr We did so too. (Brandenburg)

[@OscarOSullivan]

@@Tobi-ln9xrToo much decadence there I believe :)

[@nootnoot877]

@@Tobi-ln9xr I did attend school in Berlin

[@schoenwettersl]

The difference is that the Holocaust was possible due to average citizens not standing up against the Nazi regime or even supporting it actively. But the colonialization of countries was usually an act of the nobility. This is not only true of the Prussia-led German Empire but also of the efforts of smaller "states" like the patrician family Welser of Augsburg or Hanau I think it is wrong to approach this as a horrible act of "Germany". It was the rich, as always. It wasn't the average worker in a wool factory in Augsburg, Chemnitz, Krefeld or Plagwitz. It wasn't the immigrant from Poland to Westphalia who worked in the mines over there. It were rich people from nobility who were seeking to exploit more cheap labor and receive more land more easily. We should focus much more on what capitalism can do to peoples who aren't even close to the industrialization level of nations such as Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and so forth. The proletariat does not only include the factory workers, but also the beggars, workers in prostitution and obviously also oppressed peoples. All of these suffer under the social order that results in the capitalist economy. We should name not the abstract nation state as the enemy, but the group of people who oppresses people beyond their nationality.

[@matttheking1655]

A much needed video! Respect!

[@Joker-no1uh]

The money didn't go to the people? Omg, that's almost surprising. Who would have thought? Should the Italy pay reparations for Rome? Greece for Macedonia? Persians, Arabic Empires, Mongols, Kongo, Chinese dynasties, Aztecs?

[@Nakor29]

10:00 what also leaves a very strong impression on the Mahnmal when you think about it are the interactions with other people in it. It's designed in such a way, that it isolates you from others, while at the same time make people appear and disappear quite suddenly. While you're going into it, your isolation grows, while you're sinking deeper and deeper into those giant unpersonal blocks. At first it's a bit like a game. You see people jumping from block to block, there is still live around you. And it's not only totally okay, that those people jump from block to block, it also works so well in reminding you that in the beginning of the political process people took the first steps not that serious. The distances between the blocks grow a bit farther inwards and so nobody really jumps anymore happily from block to block deeper into the Mahnmal happy times vanish more and more... and deeper it goes indeed. The whole Mahnmal is built into a pit and so while you're walking further on you decend more and more into that pit and your horizon raises as are the blocks are also become bigger around you. They're taking away not only your "freedom of view" but also the sounds and almost all signs of live around you. They isolate you, the walkable floor is built from strict hard stones as are the blocks around you. You're only able to walk in straight lines, you can also see in straight lines. Freedom, live, other people... they are mostly gone. And what is left can easily vanish by moving just a few steps to the side, into another way through those blocks. You become so isolated that seeing other people in it feels different. Most are just visible for a short moment, while they move parallel to you somewhere else in the Mahnmal, they appear behind a block and are gone just one or two breaths later. Others are coming your way or are behind you, but usually it's just very few of them. Most people are even drawn to search for more isolation within the Mahnmal than the other way around, so people become relatively scarce. And then, suddenly, someone may just suddenly appear right before you behind a block, often people look a bit surprised for a short moment when that happens, you get used to it, but still it feels different than outside the Mahnmal. People tend to be quieter in there... or it's the stones who swallow up most of the sounds around you. Who knows. When you're living in an oppressive regime I presume that's quite likely how it feels. You're not alone but isolated, everything you do or say might be suddenly and surprisingly seen by someone you didn't know was nearby. And everyone you know or see might vanish just a few steps later. You might or might not see them again, while you're in there... It's such a simple designed place but when you're aware what it is about and think a bit about it while you're there, it actually can give you quite an experience.

[@samuelschonenberger]

I was not taught about this in German History class but I held my Abitur (final High school) presentation about something English colonialism related. Then the teacher asked me about German Colonialism in Namibia and I had vaguely heard on KZbin that there were killing so I gave a response in that vain. When I googled this after the presentation I was shocked to find out that we didn't even cover this horrible truth in the lesson because the Curriculum is so focused on demestic matters

[@stijnnijssen2974]

Interesting topic, thank you for the vid!

[@Why_So_Serious_279]

Love your channel and your videos. My heritage is German, English, Russian with a large portion of it being German. Being a self-taught historian, this really hit home hard. Thank you for doing what you do and don't stop. We need more information about the past, so we can better the future.

[@Kamome163]

Didn’t know about this story! It’s great that there are such high quality channels covering our past. Thank you Present Past🙇‍♂️

[@Idkpleasejustletmechangeit]

Am I the only one who literally got taught about the German colonies and the genocide in school?

[@_jpg]

Honestly, I don't think so. Yes, it was comparatively short to other topics, but we definitely did talk about that - the interviewed people in the video either forgot about it or didn't pay attention in the first place (I might even suspect, they were deliberately chosen to invoke a certain impression, since they looked also relatively young)

[@Arcaryon]

Na but it’s more fun to do street interviews with random citizens when most people on the planet barley remember anything from their history classes.

[@dave_sic1365]

No we had it almost a month, then the maji killing, then very short ww1 and Weimar and then finally every history teachers wet dream: Holocaust and Kommissarbefehl.

[@xxklesx1]

I had that 15 years ago i school. A Realschule.

[@swanpride]

Nope. Learned about it...but it was kind of a foodnote between the whole history of Colonisation, which also did what the French and the Brits did. The Dutch kind of slipped through, though....

[@WeedMIC]

Dit was veel goed gedaan. Dank je.

[@Seriouspatt]

Great video. Just discovered your channel and I like your highly intelligent look at history.

[@One_In_Training]

The British could learn a lot from the Germans on how to acknowledge the past and fix what they broke.

[@saturationstation1446]

lol those people dont have souls

[@Ulostdgame]

The british have been a force for good in the world.

[@konrey3980]

@@Ulostdgame 80 % of the world disagrees and also the people who aren't british or german or european, rather like going to germany and like the country more than britain

[@Alex-zs7gw]

We pretend to be a progressive, tolerant nation but in reality it's bullshit. Yes our media does a lot to promote liberalism and diversity in some respects ...but with that you just know there's some old farts sat at home complaining about it and willing us to embark upon the same culture wars found in the US. These are the same twats who venerate the Empire. Please know there are many more of us who are disgusted by it. What really makes me laugh when I come across these Empire idolising, Brexiters is that likely 90% or whatever of us prospered absolutely nothing out of such an aristocratic attrocity....so stfu!

[@dave_sic1365]

Please dont do the same mistake and develope a remembrance culture. You should know about it but you shouldnt apologize or repent for it.

[@leehaseley2164]

Absolutely fantastic work. You really did hit the nail on the head when you said that if any nation is good at coming to terms with the past, it is Germany.

[@maxpil3682]

Great video, well done 👍

[@NapoleonDynamyte]

Your videos are fantastic!

[@smokeboozedrinkweed6524]

As a Dutch person it's pretty accurate, we are a small country with al lot of history that ruled the ocean for a time, i think most dutchies are proud about the old empire not the dark side of it, lots of history including America, many places have dutch names.

[@schnitzelsemmel]

a lot of dutch people associate the colonies with successful business endeavours as well as the golden age of Dutch art financed by it. The atrocities of the colonial reality have not been known to a lot of people

[@smokeboozedrinkweed6524]

​@DeeztNutztkk537are you drunk? This video has everything to do with Germany, Spain, Holland, and many more, all part of history, (obviously) so yeah Dutch has everything to do with this video, don't need a fucking Karen like you telling me otherwise, why u comment? I already mentioned we aren't proud of the dark side of it, maybe read again next time.

[@crypticTV]

@shakazulu556 exactly!! Dutch are proud cause they are uneducated and ignorant about the atrocities committed by them. Netherlands need to focus on educating its people about the full history.

[@onurbschrednei4569]

which is insane. "Dutchies" of that time period literally committed multiple genocides and caused extreme human suffering. The only settler colony became infamous for Apartheid. And all this for what? To go back being a small country that is just as wealthy as all other North-Western European countries. Btw, not many places in America have dutch names, really only some areas around New York. There's more Italian and greek names in America, simply because those were cultures that people admired.

[@smokeboozedrinkweed6524]

​@shakazulu556it has everything to do with Dutch, always has, since Germany and The Netherlands have al lot of similar history and traditions, like most countries who we're part of Germany empire, if you can't see the similarity then u don't understand our history.

[@refugetube4800]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! I'm north african and Africa is a word in our language (Ifri meaning cave) the thing is the first German genoc*de was in Africa but in my country they thaught us that they only copied "assemblement camps" (camp de rassemblement) from the French in North African Algeria. Unlike our jewish cousins we have a darker skin so we don't as much empathy and first and foremost it didn't happen in front of western white european eyes. So nobody gave a damn, and I ain't gonna critcize the West, cuz "thanks to that" our countries banned slavery which was very legal in Arab colonial rule. Both my grannies were slaves but now they be free, of course the West was/is horrible but at least it can recognize its wrong doings unlike them Arab countries... and keep in mind if you're Arab in some north african countries like Mauritania and Morocco you get extra citizen privilege and its marked on your ID so the police gives you extra respect which clearly discrimination Sorry for the long text, I thought it would give some fans of yours some topics to look into, but from my heart I thank you and I hope some Arab content creators can share more thanks to your inspiration, we got just 2 for now Kosay Betar and Nostik but I hope your videos can inspire future ones to come! (ofc i can't cuz im too afraid for my consequences and im not arab just a queer north african)

[@paulvrl3263]

This was the best video I have ever seen on KZbin

[@davidst.5583]

This is so important!

[@elizabethduplat5998]

I knew a small amount about German colonial history (mostly due to growing up watching "The African Queen" lol) but this really expanded my knowledge. Danke.

[@ikonographics]

Thank so much for covering this subject. My 4x great grandfather Frederick Thomas Green helped the Herero fight against the Germans. He was given a Herero wife, Ada Maria Green. His Great grandson from that marriage Mburumba Kerina (born Eric Getzen. Kerina is the Herero pronunciation of green) had petitioned the UN for Namibian independence since the 1950s and is the man who gave the Country Namibia it's name.

[@ThePresentPast_]

Thanks for sharing!

[@bjolie78]

... he then went on to fight for independence of Zimbabwe...

[@immeremma]

Great video! Thank you!

[@brdemorais]

What a great video!

[@ThePresentPast_]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@thomasscream4179]

Why is it always the Dutch making these Germany-related educational videos? There's a channel exclusively dedicated to discussing the GDR run by a Dutch guy. I know that, per capita, more Dutch people speak English than Germans, but surely its not just a language issue considering Germany's much larger population.

[@page2828]

The Netherlands are a small nation That's the entire reason. They are far more connected with the culture of their neighbours (including the anglosphere through the internet). In Germany every movie is translated into German, you usually only get recommended German KZbin videos, and lots of Germans feel no need to interact with other cultures for anything more than trade and tourism. It is very hard for a dutch person to isolate themselves from the much bigger cultural hubs of England and Germany.

[@Tobi-ln9xr]

Because people from English speaking countries are very "America-centralized“ like Johnny Harris for example. Most of their videos are about the USA and they don’t really care for the history of other countries.

[@MyILoveMinecraft]

As a German who likes to study history as a hobby, I always find it sad how little we look at history WW2 aside. If I remember correctly in my school time we spend maybe 2 lessons on post unification, pre ww1 Germany. Which is honestly sad. We have so much to learn, both as signs of cautions but also some more posetive aspects

[@Nakla]

🤣 You are funny We spend YEARS on the Holy Roman Empire and only a very tiny amount on WW2 Hell Germany past WW2 was just 2 weeks

[@Aetherguy-cb9bu]

​@Nakla Not really?? We basically learned about medieval life in general, the investiture dispute, the reformation, and then went on to the French Revolution and the end of the Empire. Overall I'd say it was a somewhat chronologically "balanced" focus albeit necessarily oversimplified.

[@MyILoveMinecraft]

@@Nakla I never even got 1 lesson on the HRE had to read about that myself

[@Arcaryon]

@@MyILoveMinecraft Important question: what school / focus and which federal state ( Bundesland )? There can be a lot of differences even in the same school after all.

[@MyILoveMinecraft]

@@Arcaryon Realschule in lower saxony followed by 3 years gymnasium in Westphalica.

[@thedutchnomad3544]

Very good informative video! I do like that you give the facts and not your opinion. It makes it very informative and it’s not something you can deny. Thank you and keep up the good work!

[@ThePresentPast_]

I appreciate that!

[@TomasTemperley]

Amazing video!

[@ThePresentPast_]

Thanks!

[@x--.]

The capacity of human beings to bring forth such pain and suffering upon their fellow creatures never ceases to amaze and terrify me. I had no idea and the countless examples from recent history make you wonder how much of our collective past was filled with such actions. "Wipe them all out." The only antidote is to teach the value that all human life is deserving of respect, right? Is there some other solution? I don't know but I worry for our future as people who don't seem to know the lessons seek and hold power.

[@MichaelReidOttawa]

What terrifies me, is the extreme ignorance in the world these days. People listening to extremists like Trump and Balsanaro (Brazil). It seems we are condemned to repeat the past errors! The world is a very ignorant place.

[@x--.]

@@MichaelReidOttawa Sadly, I agree. Education, education, education... Ignorance is a natural state, without good education, good teachers, we are dooming our posterity to the poverty of thought and knowledge. Dooming them to the mistakes of our past. It takes a concerted effort to break the cult of ignorance through education and sadly, it does not seem to be a focus of many.

[@MichaelReidOttawa]

@@x--. unfortunately it’s not valued

[@x--.]

@@MichaelReidOttawa IKR. It seems like the instinct these days, in the US, is to use the education system for indoctrination and less about history, literature, math, and science. Hopefully that's just the media-bubble and not reality, though.

[@lukasrentz3238]

The only thing i learnt in school about German Colonialism can be summed up as "Yes, Germany also had Colonies" not more. And maybe the meaning behind the Retailer name "Edeka".

[@prit04]

This video needs more views!!!

[@ekesandras1481]

Berlin is not the place to remember the colonial past, such a memorial should be in Hamburg. It was mainly merchants from Hamburg that got into the colonial trade and sometimes even individual adventurers started their own colonies, that were later taken over by the state. It is Hamburg were all the ships to Africa and the Pacific departed.

[@jgr7487]

Meanwhile, German East Africa's education was far superior to that of any other African colony, which was stated by members of the Phelps-Stokes Comission in 1924, 10 years after it became the Tanganyika Territory under British rule.

[@martinvandenbroek2532]

Changing names of streets won't do history awareness any good. I would much rather see some context below a street name that will actually tempt me do some research about a person or a place. The way the German government is acknowledging its wrongdoings and reaching out to Namibia for example is something other former colonizers still fail to do.

[@michaelmallal9101]

Great video.

[@59patrickw]

more to the point how many country's DO NOT have a dark past

[@sylviamontaez3889]

another unfortunate event regarding german colonialism is Paul von Lettow vorbecks guerrilla campaign in Tanzania. On the whole an interesting slightly bizarre story, vorbeck and his troops unfortunately robbed civilians for supplies. this, combined with bad harvests and other factors, resulted in Mass famine in the colony

[@Ghreinos]

same goes for the british btw.

[@Tricorncitizen]

Haven't watched the video yet, but doesn't Germany have enough history to move past lol

[@realhawaii5o]

I'm happy they didn't ask Portuguese about it, or most people would say they were proud, I feel.

[@ktipuss]

The highest mountain in Oceania is Mt Wilhelm in Papua New Guinea (PNG), named after the youngest child and second son of Chancellor Bismark. It would seem an odd choice to name the highest peak after the third child, but errors in surveying were made which made the explorers think that it was the fourth highest peak in the Bismarck Range and not the highest. The Bismarck Sea and Bismarck Archipelago (which includes The Solomon Islands as well as PNG) are also named after Chancellor Bismarck. Although in 1914 Australia occupied the German Pacific territories south of the Equator, it retained the use of German currency alongside Australian and U.K. pounds, as everybody on September 1914 thought "it will be all over by Christmas" and the colonies would be returned to Germany at the end of the War. Of course it continued for another 4 years.

[@Tobi-ln9xr]

The interesting thing about Germany is that forced "We were the bad people and we acknowledge that“ mentality. I don’t want to say that it’s something bad that Germany openly calls it a "genocide“ but to put it into perspective, just a short time after that, there was the so called "Maji-Maji genocide“ in German East Africa. The culprit there wasn’t Lotha von Trotha but Carl Peters and the German colonial authorities killed in that genocide up to 300.000 to 400.000 people which is far more than in the Herero and Namaqua genocide. But nobody talks about that, just because the governments of Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda (the countries which nowadays make up the territory of the former colony of German East Africa) are silent about it.

[@danielwolfgang8234]

Well, i can not speak for students of today, but when i was in 10th grade the colonial holdings of the German Empire were a subject. Since it among other things contained the infamous gunboat policy and subsequently adding to the growing conflict between the Colonial Powers. It also included the genocide of the Herero and Nama Peoples during the conflicts between 1904 to 1908. Mind you i attended 10th grade in 2006. Maybe things changed, or my history teacher at the time was more invested into the subject overall.

[@neonredfox3579]

I want to give my own opinion and experience with the subject as a German: The title is partially right, i am German and i have attended two different schools. And the school with the lower teaching level did not teach anything about Germany's colonial past, we did however talk about n*zi Germany in great detail (which is obviously very important), but we were never taught about events like the herero genocide in South-West Africa. However the other school which i attended did cover it with great detail, but the sad part is that this part of our history class was optional to choose because you could choose to not continue the subject or leave the school completly. I think it's good that this part is taught in school, but regardless i think that this should be part of the basic teaching programm for history class.

[@danielbomgaars1008]

Great video

[@SynomDroni]

Heinrich Heine wrote a lot about this. Worth studying.

[@CarmelMould]

I went on a Berlin walking tour recently and was amazed that they understood the concept of remembering their historical crimes but did not refer to colonialism. Thank you for this work, I think you presented the issue really well. !!

[@awellculturedmanofanime1246]

its because of its almost irrelevant considering how unknown it was to germans themselves but also to europe . we also dont learn about further into the past of germany its just how it is you have limited time to teach

[@cyrilbataille8497]

No one gonna talk about the fact he rickrolled us at 2:50?

[@ananasslel6788]

He got me too

[@szariq7338]

I have a slight feeling you've been inspired to do this episode thanks to Polish channel "Irytujący Historyk", who couple of years ago published his video with even the same title, just in Polish, and even he connected Namibia with the hecatomb of WW2.

[@ThePresentPast_]

I think you overestimate my language skills

[@szariq7338]

@@ThePresentPast_ OK, so it looks like you didn't, however it's still accessible for you as it has English subtitles (and if you're feeling adventorous Russian).

[@Arcaryon]

Summed up, WW1&WW2 were from a German perspective mainly a European affair and also GIGANTIC in their scale, the death toll is comparatively tiny, the colonies were themselves very small with few German people living there, everything happened an entire continent away and on top of that, the colonies themselves were lost a century ago. Simply put: this issue was & kind of is too small to really gain any traction. Like the video said; the world wars and especially world war 2 essentially cut Germany into a before and and after and the after has so little connection to the before that it might as well have happened on a different planet entirely in the collective awareness of the general public.

[@swanpride]

Well, also in WWII, Germans were the main killers by far. But in Africa, the French and the Brits compete for that spot. That's the history which is taught in school, and it is largely correct, but has the effect that the history of the Heroros kind of get lost between all the killing everyone else did.

[@simonkraemer3725]

Yes, in history class just four pages where dedicated to the genocide of the Herero and Nama people. The overwhelming opinion I get in response of this dark past is „we just had colonies for a very short time and there are more important issues“. I hope history class will change and that this genocide won’t be a sidenote anymore

[@yahee1657]

Tolles Video. I actually wrote my dissertation on this about 5 years ago now on germanys failure to recognise its colonial past. Super interesting when you compare with the general Begangenheitsbewältigung around the holocaust. Thanks for covering!

[@pufferkuesser97]

I held a presentation about Germany South-West in middle school. It was very interesting to learn :)

[@user-vd9pf6pu3o]

I am polish and still waiting for reparations from mongolia. They still have not even apologised for the genocide and mass slavery they committed in my country 800 years ago. Lol.

[@RadicalAntifa]

Would you say same thing about Germany?

[@Mezelenja]

People are so weird about Europe's past. I remember seeing a poll that showed that like a good percentage of Dutch people had a positive view on the country's past. And I commented, "It's weird that they will have a positive look on colonialism." And someone replied, "Of course, you would think that, you're black." As if you have to be black to think colonialism is bad. Interactions like that really show me that we need content like this. The amount of ignorance and lack of empathy surrounding the impact of colonialism in Africa is astounding.

[@atilla4372]

That last sentence ^^ I just read one of the replies to the top comment, someone called a colonial figure "based" very annoying reading that.

[@KaiserOfKnowledge]

no, but you're more likely to think so if your black

[@arthurschildgen5522]

The Belgian empire is generally thought about as more of a trading empire than a territorial one. They didn't commit atrocities like the Belgians did, I don't think, nor like those of the British, Germans, and French.

[@olympia5758]

@@arthurschildgen5522 Reread your comment.

[@bobdollaz3391]

Because you never hear black people criticize their colonial last!

[@JAM-65]

I love your channel. So much information and history that no one really knows and my education is a masters in German History. Well done

[@wordytoed9887]

Why am I only today learning of the terms Sinti and Roma? I suppose it is because I am American. Thanks for sharing. This was astoundingly informative.

[@derdude6214]

When I was in 8th grade I had the luck to meet a survivor. The woman was a Sinti herself and we could ask her questions on her experience in a camp. It was very impactful and it's cruel to me that so many peoples suffering is seemingly forgotten.

[@MimOzanTamamogullar]

Roma people are more commonly referred to as Gypsy, but that's seen as derogatory by many people

[@Tobi-ln9xr]

Great analysis and perfect presentation. It’s sad that KZbin is sometimes so unpredictable because this video deserves much more views.

[@WB-se6nz]

It's a shame that Germany's identify is defined by mistakes of the past.

[@analyticalmindset]

That's how the people learn to be better. Unlike Americans who fight tooth and nail to revise their history

[@madjanetramerez2383]

@@analyticalmindsetwhat the hell? it’s quite the opposite. i’ve had to educate numerous europeans in their own colonial histories, and every american i’ve known is well aware of their past. why else would their be land recognition ceremonies? why else would their be more uprisings about their past, and the tearing down of controversial monuments across the US if americans weren’t aware of their meaning and status? last i’ve checked the only country on the european continent that has gotten close to this is the UK. most of my german, dutch, and french family members and friends told me directly they don’t learn about their colonial, imperial, or controversial past at all. idk why you had to bring the US into something that had nothing to do with them

[@analyticalmindset]

@@madjanetramerez2383 Germans know their history, I have 3 friends from Germany and it's apart of their school curriculum to

[@madjanetramerez2383]

@@analyticalmindset wwii is, my family is german, and i have dozens of friends in germany who tell me their colonial history, as well as the colonial histories of other european countries were and are not taught to them. recent atrocities yes, european colonial history, hardly, if at all

[@analyticalmindset]

@@madjanetramerez2383 yes you are right , not colonial history. I stand corrected

[@seanjanson9526]

2:48 I noticed a discrepancy in your video. Here you imply Chancellor Bismark sends the lyrics of 'Never Gonna Give You Up' by Rick Astley to Lisbon. However, upon further research into the area, I have found that the song in question dates to 1987, significantly after the fall of the second Reich. This would make the odds of Bismark actually sending such a letter to Lisbon very unlikely. I hope you will rectify the video and update the public about the mishandling of these facts.

[@ronaldhee6608]

Interesting video that shines a light on something mostly forgotten. Perhaps future videos on other colonies? In China, Micronesia, Papua.

[@vazeyo]

German here. I was a little disturbed by the interviewed Germans at the start of the video who knew nothing about this... it reminds me of these geography questions for Americans who don't know where certain European countries lie... Aber ganz ehrlich. Was will man auch von Berlinern erwarten. Wundert mich nicht, dass die keine Ahnung von Geschichte haben...

[@stillx1211]

Naja sind wir mal ehrlich wenn man kein Interesse an Geschichte hat wird es auch schwer. Ja wir hatten das in der Schule aber mehr als die Grundlagen lernt man ja nicht wirklich wenn man sich nicht eigenständig weiterbildet

[@rstous7691]

Humans have been attempting genecide throughout history. The colonial era is when it slowly fell from fasion I think those photos have a lot to do with it. I think young guys are prone to go with their peers to do whatever, but if news gets home they are more likely to feel the shame from their community back there. War stopped being a, what happens on campaign stays among you brothers at arms, type of thing.

[@GenericUsername1388]

I live in South Africa and have family in Namibia. I hope to visit Windhoek sometime soon👍

[@parksto]

Thank you very much!

[@9delta988]

Big problem with reparation here is that it the victim an crimal roles are tainted. Decendants asking money as compensation for people they never knew from people who never knew the criminals committing the crime is very complex. In WOII criminals and victims were alive and so it was very pure.

[@ailo4x4]

No. It isn't tainted at all. At least not by the (and let's get the terms correct) VICTIMS of such atrocities. The money is not being asked for to give to specific individuals but to entire communities. Those communities of Herero and San peoples are FOREVER injured by the genocide committed against them. There is no turning the clock 'off' just because it was 'a long time ago'. Reparations to the Herero and San communities will directly benefit them. If given to the Namibian government, it would be squandered across all of Namibia, thereby watering down the actual effect for those specific communities.

[@Arcaryon]

⁠​⁠@@ailo4x4Ladies and gentleman. This man right here just single handedly proposed to bankrupt states like Mongolia & Italy, and also Marocco, Turkey and many others. Mate, once the people who are directly involved are all dead, it’s over. Because if we do what you propose, what we end up with is a never ending conflict of „who did it“ based on issues which are quite literally buried in the soil beneath our feet. We all sleep on blood soaked earth. I would recommend you start to figure out a way to live with it unless you wish balance out the wrongs of campaigns by the likes of Ceasar in ancient history. Don’t be so naive.

[@gargesata]

love ur content brother. I would love it if you made a video on russian colonialism done to eastern europe, central Asia, caucas region and the far east

[@ThePresentPast_]

might very well do that!

[@gargesata]

@@ThePresentPast_ looking forward to it 🙂

[@misericorde6336]

When will the subtitles be uploaded?

[@MichelLarcher]

Merci!

[@baul997]

Yeah it's my biggest gripe with history class in school cause WW2 while very important to learn about takes up too much time in my school it was an entire year just WW2 we where lucky to even remotely having learned a tiny bit about the scramble for Africa and the GDR wich is a real shame (especially for me as an east German) we didn't even had enough time for getting too the Mauerfall

[@helioslegigantosaure6939]

If germany is remembering , turk is denying

[@FlagAnthem]

each country has its shit to clean

[@shrouddreamer]

@@FlagAnthem One of the reasons I'm so proud of my country (patriotic even). We don't try to hide our blood stains anymore

[@Marmitaboy_]

But everywhere in Europe there's a monument about the holocaust, the school books talk about it casually and say that the Europeans were "heroes", but nothing about the atrocities in Africa and the Americas and neither in Asia... It feel unseasy for me, when I ask about it people tell me is past is done. But the holocaust is not past and done? 300 years are more forgotable than 10~20?

[@jakegarvin7634]

Awe, it so sweet of you to include Spain like that

[@samuelfriden]

Still love Germany though🇩🇪🇩🇪

[@Valleybucker]

The German remembrance culture might be strong, but that didn't withhold them from assigning key positions in government to former Nazis. Also the dark past behind the histories of many German corporations. Its good that these atrocities are becoming more known.

[@ThePresentPast_]

Definitely true. The remembrance culture is something that evolved much later. Not directly after the war.

[@Brandenburg-Poznan]

to be the devils advocate, it is very difficult to just completely wipe out a current government and bureaucracy and find enough skilled locals to replace them, and usually the worst of them were definitely not allowed in government positions.

[@austinwald2731]

I minored in German at University and I'm pleased to announce we covered Germany's colonial past extensively! We covered much of what you talked about. I was amazed to learn Audrey Lorde had such an impact on Afro-German civil rights activism. The same time Afro-Germans and Black Americans were making civil rights strides during the same time! Great video

[@thequietkid7205]

Germany, Belgium, Britain…yuh we all fucked up pretty bad. Colonial history overall is a nightmare