Although it lasted only thirty years, German colonial rule dramatically transformed South West Africa. The colonial government not only committed the first genocide of the twentieth century against the Herero and Nama, but in their efforts to establish a model colony and racial state, they brought about even more destructive and long-lasting consequences. In this now-classic studyavailable here for the first time in Englishthe author provides an indispensable account of Germany's colonial utopia in what is present-day Namibia, showing how the highly rationalized planning of Wilhelmine authorities ultimately failed even as it added to the profound immiseration of the African population.

Jürgen Zimmerer is Professor of History at the University of Hamburg and was Founding President of the International Network of Genocide Scholars (INOGS).

List of Illustrations
Preface to the English Edition
Abbreviations

Introduction

Chapter 1. The Establishment of theSchutzgebiet and Native Policy up until 1907
Chapter 2. The Codification of Native Policy after 1905
Chapter 3. Demographics, Economics and Institutions: Basic Factors after the War
Chapter 4.Securing Colonial Rule
Chapter 5. The Labour Market: Recruitment and Working Conditions
Chapter 6. Social Discipline, Educational Policy and the Taxation of the Africans

Conclusion

Appendix: Diagrams and Tables

Glossary
Bibliography
Index