A Deterritorialized History: Investigating German Colonialism ...

Vitally linked to the missionary societies, yet indicative of the energies impelling
German colonialism as a whole, was the DKG. 42 The society was founded in 1887 as an
agent of propaganda for the cause of German colonialism. The DKG was to exert heavy
pressure upon government, colonial policy and German expansion in the colonies more
generally. The society’s membership were overwhelmingly petit-bourgeois and
bourgeois nationalists who Richard Pierard calls “colonial romantics,” wishing a greater
place for Germany in colonialism and a larger place for colonialism within German
domestic and international affairs. 43 The primary goals of the society were the
development of colonial profits, the acquisition of territory and the settlement of German
migrants. 44 The DKG constantly lobbied in support of greater German penetration of the
continent, while stressing the great ease of expansion and the strategic benefits of
additional territory. 45 Another focus of the society was advocacy for colonial
explorations predicated upon revealing the wealth of the colonies to the German
population. 46
The ties between the DKG and the German government were well-known and
have led many historians to identify a conspiracy between the society and the imperial
government. 47 There is some truth to this, for the society had close links to the
Chancellor, Admiralität, AA, and obviously very close ties to the K-A and RKA. 48 The
society was instrumental in connecting government with commerce and vice versa, as in
their efforts to gain government acceptance of a steamship line between Germany and
Zanzibar. After the line was established, the DKG established prices for the
transportation of essential goods in addition to determining the levels of customs tolls. 49
The society even acted as a de facto government in some contexts, such as when the
50