The Herero Genocide

Genocide is defined as the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation. (Dictionary )During the beginning of the 20th century, the Herero, an ethnic group of indigenous African herdsmen were slaughtered by the Germans. The Herero people migrated to Southwest Africa, present day Namibia, in the 1600s. Then, in the 1800s, there was a “scramble for Africa” as European countries started colonizing and imperializing. During the Berlin Conference, European countries came together to divide up Africa, giving Germany Southwest Africa where the Herero people lived. Like the other European countries, Germany used its African colonial holdings to gain national prestige. As the Germans came into Southwest Africa, they asserted their control by taking over the economy and social life in Africa. As tensions rose between the Herero and Germans, the Herero people revolted. In retaliation, the German army came in and slaughtered the Herero. The Herero population went from 80,000 in 1904 and plummeted to a shocking 14,000 by the end of the revolt and genocide in 1911. (Perez 2) The Herero revolt and genocide of 1903-1908 occurred due to German colonialism in Southwest Africa, racism towards the Herero people, and Germany’s use of militarism to gain national power.

German colonialism in Southwest Africa created tension and economic disputes between the native Herero people and German colonists. After Southwest Africa became a German protectorate in 1884, the German government encouraged citizens to emigrate in order to recreate a German society in Africa. (SWAPO 17) The Germans, seeing that the Herero people were unsure of the colonization, signed protection treaties with the chief Maherer...

... middle of paper ...

... slaughtered 80% of the Herero population, or 65,000 people. (Sparks 23) The affect of the genocide today is still apparent in present-day Namibia. Not only has the population never recovered with 70,000 Herero living today, but also the depletion of natural resources along with other aspects of German colonialism has negatively impacted the economy. (Sparks 23) _____(fact about economy)______. The Herero genocide can be viewed as a precursor to Germany’s slaughter of the Jews during the Holocaust. Around 30 years after the Herero Genocide, Germany used the same militaristic methods to start another genocide. They placed the Jews in concentration camps, like they did with the Herero. Germany has been reluctant to take blame for the Herero Genocide, but has just recently apologized in the past century. The devastating massacre of the Herero people by the Germans is