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