Memory of the World; 2012 - unesdoc - Unesco

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German records of the
National Archives
Inscribed 1997
What is it
The German records concern particularly the
establishment in the late 19th century of German
East Africa (now the countries of Tanzania, Rwanda
and Burundi).
Why was it inscribed
The records show the situation in East Africa during
the ‘Scramble for Africa’ in the late 19th century
when European powers were dividing Africa among
themselves, events which can be understood by referring
to these documents.
Where is it
Tanzania National Archives, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
The European powers partitioned Africa among themselves
with such haste that the process has been called the
‘Scramble for Africa’. Never in the history of Africa had
so many changes occurred with such speed as between
1880 and 1935. By 1914, with the exception of Ethiopia
and Liberia, the whole of Africa had been subjected to the
rule of the European powers. During this period, Africa,
which once was regarded as a ‘dark hell’, was partitioned,
conquered and occupied effectively by the industrialized
nations of Europe.
The German records under the custody of the Tanzania
National Archives show that German efforts to find
colonies in East Africa began in 1884. In September
of that year, Dr Carl Peters, one of the founders of the
German Colonization Society (Gesellschaft für deutsche
Kolonisation) and his friends Juhvke, Pfeil and Otto, set
out on a voyage to East Africa to look for colonies. In
November 1884, they managed to conclude a number
of now historically famous so-called ‘treaties’ with the
local chiefs of Usagara, Nguru, Uzigua and Ukami. After
the signing of these treaties, Carl Peters hurried back to
Germany to report his achievements. This was followed,
on 25 February 1885, by the German Imperial government’s
declaration of the emperor’s sovereignty and protection
over the territories contained in the treaties. The
administration of the territories was handed over to the
388 German records of the National Archives
newly formed German East Africa Company (Deutsch-
Ostafrikanische Gesellschaft).
The administrative activities of the German East Africa
Company in the territories were closely supervised by
the German Imperial government, which appointed
its representative for East Africa in 1887. Meanwhile,
the Germans and the British negotiated an agreement
to end the reign of the sultan of Zanzibar on parts of
the mainland Tanganyika. An agreement was reached
on 25 September 1890, whereby the Sultan of Zanzibar,
Seyyid Barghash, permanently gave up his possessions
on the mainland against a payment of £200,000. The
German Imperial government took over direct control of
the colony’s administration on 1 April 1891. After the defeat
of Germany in the First World War (1914–18), the former
German East Africa (Tanganyika, Rwanda and Burundi) was
divided, with the Belgians occupying Rwanda and Burundi,
while the British took over Tanganyika, with the borders
established in a peace treaty with Germany signed on
10 January 1920. The archives also hold information on the
activities of Nazi sympathizers and organizers in the years
leading up to the Second World War.
The Azania Front Lutheran Church in Dar es Salaam,
built in 1898 by German missionaries, 14 years
after German colonization of East Africa began. �
(following page) A letter of manumission
(the granting of freedom) of a former female slave issued
by the Imperial Government of German East Africa in 1911. �