In Defense of German Colonialism:

Publisher: Regnery Gateway, Washington: 2022, x+256pp. ISBN: 9781684512379.

An intelligent reader looking for a genuinely neutral academic assessment of the history of German colonialism will find this book a welcome relief.

The tome was inspired by abundant evidence of native populations formally requesting a return to German colonial governance after 1918. German rule only lasted two to three decades in many places and, as is well known, it is exceptionally difficult to govern polyglot multi-confessional societies. The plethora of political inclinations and opinions, backed by the social solidarity of each distinct group, make genuine consensus impossible: rebellions, civil disturbances, political compromises and carefully negotiated peace treaties are inevitable. Gilley asks how had this profound loyalty and dedication to German leadership and institutions been accomplished so rapidly? By the lash of a whip?

Originally the text was published as Verteidigung des deutschen Kolonialismus (2021), and this is a translated, revised and expanded version. The aim here is to critique German colonialism – a fascinating episode in itself – but also to explain the associated historiography for and against, particularly the capricious motifs that evolved after 1918. This study persuasively undermines the modern myth of Die Kolonial Schuldlüge (colonial guilt) entirely with irrefutable evidence and sound logic.

There are fourteen easily read chapters here, excellent footnotes and index, and several genuinely outstanding photographs from the era illustrating points under consideration.

To start with, Gilley demonstrates well that German colonial administration was guided by high ideals and good planning. The lands taken on board were conceptualised as Schutzgebiete (protected territories) rather than normative colonies for surplus populations from the Fatherland. In fact most German emigrants and investors preferred the Americas (so bang goes the Marxist theory about overseas colonies being driven entirely by metropolitan needs for raw industrial materials and cheap land, not to mention Socialist propaganda about European settlers automatically seizing native property and wealth.) Gilley agrees that facts on the ground did not always match these lofty aspirations – there were racist remarks said and written by various actors – but overall the system generally worked well, usually in favour of the native populations (in terms of law and order, economic and material advancement, and so on). Abuses and failures in the German colonies were invariably reported and handled efficiently and justly.