A Deterritorialized History: Investigating German Colonialism ...

coincided with government economic aims. Once established in Africa, enterprises
always looked to expand their markets and trading areas in order to maximize profits, and
the government strove to facilitate this. 10 In fact, companies often required government
protection to conduct business. For example, during the 1893 war with the Witbooi tribe,
trade completely ceased when the Southwest African colonial administration was unable
to exert its authority. As well, utopian dreams of “a German India” in Africa continued
to exist in the imaginations of businessmen and citizens that demanded both more money
and effort to fully realize. 11 Businesses maintained government support by reiterating
how colonial economic success would result in benefits for all Germans. 12 Commercial
groups and the government also ceaselessly tried to develop industries as diverse as
mining, rice, tobacco, rubber and the ostrich-feather trade. 13 Whatever the industry, the
Reich appreciated the profits accrued by successful companies and extolled the success of
the showpiece Togo colony. 14
The expected benefits of the exploitation of African resources, people and
territory led companies to zealously guard their colonial possessions and continually look
to expand their respective commercial zones. For instance, the plantation economy of
East Africa encouraged the DOAG to consolidate all social, political and economic
power in the colony in its hands. The DOAG provides a model of Marxist monopoly
capital in its rule of East Africa from 1887 to 1891. This and the DKG’s role in colonial
expansion present a crucial vision of the paradigm of cartel capitalism and its links to the
nation-state. The efforts of the government to assist companies’ extension and
consolidation through the construction of colonial infrastructure such as railways further
evidences the connections between commerce and government. 15
72