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The 'German West African Company', in 'German Deutsch-Westafrikanische Gesellschaft / Compagnie', was a German chartered company, founded in 1885, which exploited two German ''Schutzgebiete'' in West Africa known as German West Africa, but apparently, unlike German East Africa, without a central authority.

Contents

History

Early Settlement

Namibia

The Rise of the German West Africa Company

Namibia

Kamerun

Togo

South West Africa

See also

Sources and references

History

Early Settlement

Namibia

Initial European contact with the areas which would become German West Africa came from traders and sailors, starting in January 1486 when Diogo Cão landed in what would become Namibia. However, for several centuries, European settlement would remain small and temporary. In February 1805 the London Missionary Society established a small mission in Blydeverwacht. The efforts of this group met with little success. In 1840 the London Missionary Society transferred all of its activities to the Rhenish Missionary Society. Some of the first representatives of this organization were Franz Heinrich Kleinschmidt who arrived in October 1842 and Carl Hugo Hahn, arrived in December 1842. They began founding churches throughout what would become Namibia. The Rhenish missionaries had a significant impact initially on culture and dress, and then later on politics. During the same time that the Rhenish missionaries were active, merchants and farmers were establishing outposts.

The Rise of the German West Africa Company

Namibia

On 16 November 1882 a merchant from Bremen, Franz Adolf Eduard Lüderitz requested protection for a station that he planned to build in South-West Africa, from Chancellor Bismark. Once this was granted, his employee Heinrich Vogelsang established a city at Angra Pequena which was renamed Lüderitz. The German claims on this land were confirmed during the Conference of Berlin. By 1885 Lüderitz was in financial trouble and was forced to sell his holdings to a private company that would become the German West African Company.

Kamerun

Main articles: Kamerun

Now modern day Cameroon

Togo

Main articles: Togoland

Now modern day Togo and part of Ghana.

South West Africa

Main articles: South-west Africa

Now modern day Namibia

See also

★ German colonial empire

Sources and references

★ CRWFlags.com contains its flag

★ WorldStatesmen- here Cameroon & Togo

★ Chronology