German East Africa (Deutsch-Ostafrika) was a colony of Imperial Germany from 1885 until 1918. The territory, much larger than Germany itself, covered what is today Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and part of Mozambique. As in many other European colonies, the region was subjected to land confiscations, forced labour, a harsh system of punishments, and the overturning of traditional economic networks and cultural practices. There were local rebellions, but only Germany's defeat in the First World War (1914-18) by the Allies saw a regime change when Britain and Belgium took over the region as colonies of their own.
More about: German East AfricaDefinition
Timeline
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1884Explorer Carl Peters establishes trade agreements with local rulers in what would become German East Africa.
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1885 - 1918German East Africa is a colonial possession of Imperial Germany.
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1887Explorer and colonialist Carl Peters begins to establish control over German East Africa.
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1890Britain and Germany sign a formal agreement which recognises each nation's claim to separate parts of East Africa.
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1891The German government takes over from the German East Africa Company as controller of German East Africa.
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1895Carl Peters is recalled and dismissed as governor of German East Africa.
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1905 - 1907The Maji-Maji revolt against colonial rule in German East Africa.
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1914 - 1918Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck leads a successful guerrilla campaign against the Allies in and around German East Africa.
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1919The League of Nations awards control of former German East Africa to Britain and Belgium.
