The German colonial history is a short one. All the more contradictory the legends and controversies that developed around it. What the Germans really made overseas? A historical documentary with unreleased footage.
Vom Entdecker zum Eroberer
Hesitant attempts at Germany’s own colonial adventure first took place during the 17th century. But with the rise of the missionaries, merchants, and great explorers of the 19th century as well as the formation of the German Reich in 1871, calls for a “Place at the Sun” grew louder. By this time, other European empires had already claimed large territories in the South Seas. Accordingly, Imperial Chancellor Bismarck finally agreed to the arrangement of the so-called protective areas in Africa, China, and the Pacific in 1884.
Afrika brennt
In 1904, the territory of German South-West Africa had to endure a revolt of the Herero clan, which was brutally struck down by German protective forces. The Herero were nearly wiped off the face of the earth by this first battle of the young empire. Soon after, the Maji-Maji rose up between 1905 and 1907 in German East Africa and in the ensuing struggle, even more people lost their lives. These horrible events in the colonies led to heated debates in the Reichstag. After the so-called “Hottentotten-Wahlen”, Germany’s colonial politics were reformed and some peace finally found its way into the territories overseas.
… und morgen die ganze Welt
Confidence reigned in 1914 as the Germans ran to arms, not only in the fatherland but also in the so-called protective areas in Africa, China and the Pacific. But only a few weeks after the beginning of the war, nothing of the imagined world empire was left. The Weimar Republic kept alive a longing for the lost colonies, and the takeover of Hitler brought with it preparations for a new colonial empire.
Deutsche Kolonien - Backstage
Concept: | Gisela Graichen |
Written and directed by: | Peter Prestel, Thomas Hies |
Director of photography: | Ciro Cappellari |
Film editor: | Susanne Strobel, Sergios Roth |
Location manager: | Sven Heiligenstein |
Production manager: | Jörg Kunkel |
Executive producer: | Andreas Knoblauch |
Program manager: | Daniel Manthey, ZDF |
Head of production: | Ulrich Lenze |
Shooting locations: | Tanzania, Ghana, Cameroon, Namibia, Togo, China, Papua New Guinea and others |
Principal photography: | January – June 2005 |
To be aired on: | ZDF, starting November 8 2005 |
