HOLOCAUST REHEARSAL OF NAZI, THE FIRST SYSTEMATIC MASSACRE OF CENTURY: BLOODY REGION OF THE DARK CONTINENT, NAMIBIA
AUTHOR : HAZEL ÇAĞAN ELBİR
28.07.2016
Share : 
Download PDF : 
Hazel ÇAĞAN ELBİR
Analyst, AVİM
Where is Namibia?
Since 21th March 1990, region which, was named as Namibia, is located in southwestern of Africa. Surface of Namibia is 824. 282 square kilometres[1]. Namibia, whose east neighbours are Zimbabwe and Botswana, north neighbours are Angola and Zambia, southern neighbour is The Republic of South Africa, is an underpopulated country[2]. Region, which was colony of German at the beginning of 20th century, was governed by The Republic of South Africa in the eye of United Nations in 1915. However, consequences of international talks which were decade-long come to conclusion of Angola civil war, and in consequence of struggles against colonialism in Namibia and South Africa in 1988 under the control of United Nations there were elections which presented to freedom to Namibia as region which rule of international law expired in time. As consequence of such elections, rebellions which were at South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) were supressed in 1989, and process for transition of democracy freedom was gained with eight political parties[3].
Namibia is extremity rich geography in terms of underworld resources. Hence, economy of country depends on this basis. At the same time, the country is rich in terms of agriculture, husbandry, and fisher industry. A large proportion of revenue of the country was transferred to companies of South Africa and international companies. Namibia, which is dependent country on outside financial resources, has to import to almost all of the semi- processed products. Also, the most important harbour of Namibia is Walvis Gulf.
Netherlands and England confiscated to Walvis Gulf at the end of 1700s as at the beginning of 1800s. In 1800s, geography transformed to region which English and German missionaries started to patrol[4]. Although English annexed Walvis Gulf in 1878, Namibia became German colony in 1884. Germany had started to put in a claim for not only lands but also finished goods that were gained by lands in region that the affect of German increased every passing day. Region that, the effect of German increased every passing day, was named as Southwestern Africa of German (Deutsch- Sdwestafrika) . This name had hold good until 1919. Injustice and cruelty which, Herero and Nama clans exposed to, hit the top between 1904 and 1907 during the period which effect of German was intensive.
The Colonization Process of Southern West Africa
Region which was named as Namibia today had started to colonial of German when it was under the rule of English colonial and in 1882 Adolf Luderitz, who is commercial man, came to relevant region[5]. Also, English gained Walvis Gulf with an agreement which was signed between English and German[6]. In addition, between 1882- 1890 it transformed to a region which the number of other German commercial man who were supported by more experienced commercial men increased. English commercial men were suspended from the region with the attempt of German commercial men. Even though, some resources indicated that it pursued an unwilling colonial policy, Bismarck, took the first step to ensanguine to this region of Africa[7].
Berlin Conference, which was known as beginning of colonialism, is known as milestone which England, France and Germany put in claim for Africa, shared some part of Africa among them and compromised on this issue on 15th November 1884- 26th February 1885. Furthermore, in today’s Namibia, in other words Southwestern of Africa of that time, was declared officially that it was colony of Germany. In addition, African countries came to light after this conference[8]. England gained Nigeria, Botswana, Basutoland, South Africa and Uganda as for that Germany gained Namibia, Tanzania and Cameroon[9].
The Most Bloody Period of the Dark Continent (1904- 1907)
On 2th 1904 when the exploitation of German transformed to cruelty, General Von Trotha autographed the most important document which was about systematic mass murder. The transition of Vernictungsbefhl whose meaning is subordination of destruction is below.
“As the general of German troops, I present this letter dedicated to Herero community. Herero community is not subject of German anymore. They are murderer and usurper because they cut ears, noises and other parts of bodies of wounded soldiers. Also, now they escape the battle cowardly. I address the nations, whoever brings to one of their chiefs will gain 1000 mark, whoever brings to head of Samuel will gain 5000 Mark. Herero community have to leave from these lands. If they do not leave, I will force them to leave through ‘groot rohr’. In addition, Herero community regardless of armed or unarmed, will be shot inside boundary of German. After this stage, I give order to shot and dispel all of them regardless of women or children. That is all that I want to address to Herero community.”[10]
In the meantime, the number of Herero community decreased from 80.000 to 15.000 and the number of Namakua community decreased from 20.000 to 9.000.
Namibia was given to the rule of South Africa in the eye of League of Nations in 1920 after the war between German- Herero. However, in the next period, in today’s world’s Namibia geography faced with justification which claimed that it implemented racial discrimination – apartheid – and international social pressure. However, in 1915 German Administration had to transfer this region to South African administration despite all of such pressures[11].
Events which have taken place in between 1904 – 1908 became the most prominent problem of Germans and colonial administration in the context of trade and sovereignty with the coming of Priest Michael Scott to Windhoek in 1947[12]. Moreover, Michael Scott is a priest who is known as anti- racist and human rights activist. Scott, gained to chance to hear the problems of Herero and Nama communities from first-hand. Right after Second World War, in other words right after genocide which was done against Jewish, listening to problems of Herero and Nama communities remark that there are regulations which are how mentality of Nazi’s ancestor behaved through Jewish community.
“In 1904everyone was killed regardless of women, men and children with batting order. In the land of South Africa, ransack, tortures and massacres were done. Archives evoke what Polish had lived because there were killed babies, ill and elderly women who were killed by burning in their cottages…. An impoverished and deported tribe…Most of them is either blown to bits or left to thirst…[13]
In the region where nationalist resistance troops were established in 1950-60s, SWAPO and South West Africa National Union (SWANU) were founded in 1966[14]. SWAPO was initially founded as a political party yet, it transformed into a resistance group aspiring unity of the region[15]. SWAPO came into existence especially through the apartheid[16] policy implemented in region by Republic of South Africa initiated an armed resistance against racist policies.
SWANU is known as the most essential political party of Namibia established in 1959.This party founded by notables of Herero folk, 10 years after their establishment, became significantly prominent as SWAMPO comes from Ovampo roots[17]. By a decision taken in General Assembly of United Nations in 1966, mandate of Republic of South Africa over South West Africa was suspended and these regions were called “Namibia” after 1968. After its independence 1990, systematic massacre of German government in Namibia was not at public agenda. Even this subject was forgotten.
Blue Book
Blue Book, or in other saying, Union of South Africa – Report on the Natives of South West Africa and Their Treatment by Germany[18] was published by Government of South Africa as a diary including confessions about the treatment of Colonial Administration of Germany to Namas and Hereros. In 1926, copies of aforementioned book were destroyed wherever they are found by English and South African Governments. Assuming that they were all annihilated, it arose that one copy of it was present in a library in Pretoria city. Thus, the very first systematic mass massacre of the century which was meant to be kept as a secret and “order of destruction of natives - Vernichtungsbefehl” of General Von Trotha which is given deliberately and advertently became known[19]. Also Republic of South Africa did not only follow apartheid policy but also helped the destruction of documents[20].
Germany admitted that it conducted Herero Massacre[21], yet…
In 2004, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, a minister from Social Democrat Party of Germany visited Namibia to call attention to 100th anniversary of Herero Massacre. Zeul gave a speech pointing that Germany is guilty of those events[22]. Despite her speech in this direction, she did not neglect to say that these do not represent official remarks of German Government. Even though she expressed her apologies for those events in the regard of 100th anniversary in 2004, Germany did not make any official statement related to the topic.
Corpses of Hereros and Namas who were subjected to inhumane treatment between 1904-1907 were sent to research institutes Germany so as to be used in medical experiments[23]. After ‘Blue Book’ came out, Germany stated that they will not pay any compensation; however, they will send back 300 skulls belonging to Hereros[24]. Severe and systematic massacres and genocide (especially Holocaust) conducted by Germany, transfer of dead bodies of Nama-Hereros and Jews, who are slaughtered, to institutes for use of them in medical experiments, providing human beings to be ‘experimented’ by death machines who purport to be doctors in the very middle of cradle of civilization, Europe transgresses the concept of atrocity in minds. Instead, Germany passes law to accuse Turkey of 1915 Events to find another party in crimes carried out by itself and tries to dilute the effect of its massacres in history of mankind, ultimately, this means that past is forgotten by Germany. After Pope’s claim in 2015 addressing 1915 Events as the first genocide of 20th century, Nama-Herero mass killings which were committed between 1904- 1907 have taken place in public agenda. For the order caused Nama-Herero massacres was requesting total destruction, most people characterise these events as genocide. That Pope did not mention history of Namibia in his self-proclaimed genocide describing forms the proof for his crusade mentality (for these massacres are committed by Germany, a Christian country) and lack of impartiality. In that context, that history of colonialism is interwoven with religious bigotry and evangelization mission makes Pope’s effort to make Christian role in massacres forgotten and ignored intelligible.
No comments:
Post a Comment