'As bad as the Congo?' : British perceptions of colonial rule and violence in Anglo-German Southern Africa, 1896-1918
This thesis examines British perceptions of Anglo-German colonialism in Southern Africa before and after the First World War. During the peace negotiations at Versailles, the British Foreign Office published the Blue Book which exposed Germanyâs brutal suppression of the 1904-8 Herero and Nama uprising in German Southwest Africa (GSWA) as an abuse of the responsibilities of a colonial power. This was part of a move to allow Britain and her allies to confiscate German colonies all over the globe through showing how Germany was unfit as a trustee of âbackwardâ nations. The German delegation responded by publishing a White Book which claimed Britain had committed similar atrocities in its colonies â particularly in Southern Rhodesia in the 1890s. This dissertation examines the entangled histories of British and German colonial violence in the cases of Southern Rhodesia and GSWA. It juxtaposes how the British viewed, and in part collaborated with, German counterinsurgency at the zenith of âHigh Imperialismâ vs. their position at Versailles. It explores the interests and agendas of British officials. These included the internal security of Southern Rhodesia and the extent of governmental influence,
Bomholt Nielsen, Mads
'As bad as the Congo?' : British perceptions of colonial rule and violence in Anglo-German Southern Africa, 1896-1918. This thesis examines British perceptions of Anglo-German colonialism in Southern Africa before and after the First World War. During the peace negotiations at Versailles, the British Foreign Office published the Blue Book which exposed Germanyâs brutal suppression of the 1904-8 Herero and Nama uprising in German Southwest Africa (GSWA) as an abuse of the responsibilities of a colonial power. This was part of a move to allow Britain and her allies to confiscate German colonies all over the globe through showing how Germany was unfit as a trustee of âbackwardâ nations. The German delegation responded by publishing a White Book which claimed Britain had committed similar atrocities in its colonies â particularly in Southern Rhodesia in the 1890s. This dissertation examines the entangled histories of British and German colonial violence in the cases of Southern Rhodesia and GSWA. It juxtaposes how the British viewed, and in part collaborated with, German counterinsurgency at the zenith of âHigh Imperialismâ vs. their position at Versailles. It explores the interests and agendas of British officials. These included the internal security of Southern Rhodesia and the extent of governmental influence,
bad congo british_perception colonial_rule violence anglo german southern_africa examines british_perception anglo_german colonialism southern_africa first_world_war peace negotiation british foreign_office publish blue book expose germany brutal suppression uprising german southwest africa abuse colonial_power part move allow britain ally german colony globe show germany unfit backward nation german delegation respond publish white book claim britain commit similar atrocity colony particularly southern rhodesia examines entangle history british_german colonial violence case southern rhodesia juxtapose british viewed part collaborate german zenith high imperialism position explores interest agendas british_official include internal security southern rhodesia extent governmental influence