A Deterritorialized History: Investigating German Colonialism ...

conveying German political, social and cultural goals but that their overall support for
expansion was marked by heterogeneity. 36 For example, from as early as 1894 colonial
administrators complained to the K-A about how German missionaries were interfering
in political affairs. 37 But the very fact that colonial bureaucrats expected missionaries to
be compliant transmitters of German policy is a statement in itself. Therefore, the
deterritorialization of German interests in Africa met not only opposition from the
peoples of colonial Africa, but also from Germans themselves who questioned the
government dictation of missionary objectives. This variation indicates an occasional
problem of definition within deterritorialization, since missions were subject to many
tensions that render understanding the interchange of deterritorialization and
reterritorialization somewhat difficult. Missionary activities nonetheless are understood
by emphasizing specific and plural articulations of such social organizations.
Missionary organizations were closely linked to the campaigns against some of
the perceived “evils” of African social life. These campaigns often had obvious public
support; for example, one lottery in support of missionary and DKG efforts against the
slave trade garnered 2.1 million marks in 1891. 38 Additionally, missionaries traveled
throughout the German territories, preaching against the liquor and firearm trade, and
labouring to suppress aspects of traditional African social life such as polygamy,
animism, sacrifice and tribal social structure. But the largest missionary campaign was
against the slave trade. The crusade provided a vital source of funding for the missionary
groups who in their anti-slavery speech tours always stressed the “Christian mission” to
be accomplished in Africa. 39 A particularly illustrative story derives from an 1892-1894
military expedition to central Africa to suppress the slave trade. The voyage was funded
48