What role did Germany play in Africa's annexation?

Germany played a significant role in Africa's annexation during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known as the Scramble for Africa.

In the late 19th century, European powers began to take interest in Africa, leading to a period known as the Scramble for Africa. Germany, under the leadership of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, was a key player in this process. Bismarck initially showed little interest in overseas colonies, but under pressure from other European powers and to safeguard Germany's growing industrial economy, he changed his stance.

Germany's involvement in Africa's annexation began in earnest at the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885. This conference, organised by Bismarck, aimed to regulate European colonisation and trade in Africa. It was here that the principle of effective occupation was established, meaning that powers could only claim those African territories where they had established government authority or presence. This led to a rush among European powers, including Germany, to establish colonies across Africa.

Germany's colonial empire in Africa included present-day Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and parts of Mozambique in East Africa; Namibia and Togo in West Africa; and Cameroon in Central Africa. These colonies were exploited for their resources, such as diamonds, rubber, and ivory, to fuel Germany's industrial economy. The German colonial rule was often marked by brutal repression and exploitation of the local population.

However, Germany's colonial empire in Africa was short-lived. Following its defeat in World War I, Germany was stripped of its colonies under the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. These territories were then divided among the victorious Allied powers as League of Nations mandates.

In conclusion, Germany played a significant role in Africa's annexation during the Scramble for Africa. It was instrumental in organising the Berlin Conference, which set the rules for European colonisation in Africa, and established a colonial empire across the continent. However, its colonial rule was marked by exploitation and repression, and its colonies were lost following its defeat in World War I.