Wed Feb 26 14:53:03 UTC 2025: ## Germany’s Colonial Past: A Forgotten History?
**Berlin, Germany** – 140 years after the Berlin Conference carved up Africa, Germany grapples with its colonial legacy. While the country meticulously commemorates its Nazi past, its role in the 1884-85 conference, which formalized the colonization of Africa, remains largely unacknowledged.
A recently installed plaque at 77 William Street, the site of the conference, stands in stark contrast to the prominent memorials dedicated to Nazi atrocities. Its understated presence reflects the relative obscurity of Germany’s colonial history in public consciousness. Many Berlin residents, even those working near the site, express unawareness of its historical significance.
School curricula, according to several Berlin residents interviewed, largely focus on the Holocaust and World War II, with colonial history receiving minimal attention. This lack of awareness is highlighted by the experiences of individuals like Sanga Lenz, who only recently connected her family history to German colonialism through a chance discovery of a photograph.
Tour guides like Johnny Whitlam are among the few actively highlighting this neglected aspect of German history, but their efforts are hampered by the lack of official support and public interest. Activists like Nadja Ofuatey-Alazard argue that Germany’s focus on its Nazi past overshadows its equally brutal colonial predecessor, urging the nation to confront its historical responsibility and integrate this crucial period into mainstream education.
The Berlin Conference, attended by European powers but excluding African representation, established rules for the “effective occupation” of African territories, accelerating the continent’s colonization. While some historians debate the conference’s singular impact, it undeniably fueled a rapid expansion of European control, reaching 90% of Africa within five years. Germany’s colonial rule, particularly in Namibia, was characterized by brutality, including massacres and the use of concentration camps.
The comparatively muted German acknowledgment of its colonial past is partly attributed to the loss of its colonies after World War I, leading to a sense that Germany’s role was less significant than other European powers. Activists, however, reject this narrative, emphasizing the shared culpability of European nations in the atrocities committed.
Efforts to raise awareness, such as the “Decolonisation” Conferences organized by Ofuatey-Alazard and the Decolonial City Tours initiated by Justice Lufuma Mvemba, are gaining traction. These initiatives aim to expose the lingering impact of colonialism in Germany, from the naming of streets to the origins of major corporations. However, these efforts face resistance, with some Germans questioning or dismissing the less palatable aspects of their nation’s history.
The recent election results, with the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, raise concerns about the future of acknowledging and confronting Germany’s colonial past. The AfD’s denial of this history poses a significant threat to ongoing efforts to promote a more complete and nuanced understanding of Germany’s role in shaping Africa’s fate. Activists emphasize the urgent need for greater investment in memorialization and reparations to address the lasting consequences of Germany’s colonial era.
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