Namibia to distinguish German genocide for the first time with anniversary

The “forgotten genocide in Germany”, and historians described it as the first genocide of the twentieth century, and systematic killing of more than 70,000 Africans on a national day of the memory for the first time in Namibia.

About 40 years before its use in the Holocaust, focus camps and false experiences were used by German officials to torture and kill people in what was then called southwest Africa.

The victims were primarily targeted by Ovaeero and Nama societies, because they refused to allow those who are standing to take their land and livestock.

The day of the anniversary of the genocide in Namibia on Wednesday follows years of pressure on Germany to pay compensation.

The new national holiday will be marked every year as part of the “healing journey” in Namibia, including accurate silence and candlelight animals outside Parliament in Windhoek, according to the government.

She had chosen May 28, because on that day in 1907, German officials announced the closure of detention camps after international criticism.

Control of southern West Africa – along with what is now known as Cameroon, Togo and other colonial regions – from Germany through competing forces after the First World War.

For many years, Germany has publicly not publicly recognized the mass slaughter that occurred between 1904 and 1908.

But four years ago, he officially realized that the German colonists committed genocide, and offered 1.1 billion euros (940 million pounds; $ 1.34 billion) in development aid that will be paid over 30 years – without mentioning “compensation” or “compensation” in legal formulation.

Namibia rejected this offer, describing it as a “first step in the right direction”, which nevertheless failed to include the official apology and the “compensation” it was seeking.

Many Namibians did not like what they saw.

“That was the joke of the century,” I told the BBC at the time. “We want our land. Money is nothing.”

He is one of the ethnic offspring and a member of the city council at SwkopMund, where many atrocities occurred, and said, “Our wealth, farms, livestock were taken.”

A group representing the families of the victims of genocide were also outperforming the deal that was presented in 2021, and continued to it as evidence of a “racist mentality by Germany and the new colonial cooperation by Namibia” in a joint statement.

since then A draft deal was reached between the two countries This includes an official apology presented by Germany, and which of it It is said that it will increase the total amount by an additional 50 million euros.

But many Ovaherro and Nama activists say that the deal is an insult to the memory of their ancestors and that they have been fairly excluded from the negotiating table. The National Day news was met with the anniversary of the mockery of some, with Society activists who say reconciliation justice are still long -term.

Many activists want to see that the German government is now buying the lands of grandparents in the hands of German -speaking society, and returning them to the descendants of Ovaeero and Nama.

Historians refer to Germany’s paradox until now refuses to pay compensation, because before genocide, Germany itself extracted its so -called Ovahirro and Nama people Those who led against the colonies.

This was paid in the form of livestock and reached 12,000 cows – estimated by the American American historian Thomas Kremir somewhere between $ 1.2 million and $ 8.8 million in today’s funds, which must be added to the compensation bill.

This genocide that began in 1904 was followed by an extermination order of a German official named Luther von Truta.

“This genocide indicated that they will no longer face any prisoners – women, men, any person or without livestock – will be executed,” The history of Namibian Martha was the death of the national broadcast NBC.

This was added to enter the detention camps.

“People have worked to death, and many people died in detention camps due to fatigue. In fact, there were previously printed death certificates (saying)” death by fatigue, “waiting for these people to die, because they realize that they will die.”

Then the remains of some of those who were killed to Germany were shipped for now approved research to prove the racial superiority of the white Europeans. Several bones have now been returned.

Last year, Namibia criticized Germany after offering the attendees to Israel’s defense to prevent it from responding to a case of genocide in Gaza in the United Nations Supreme Court.

“The German government has not stopped after the genocide it committed on the soil of Namibi,” said President Hag Jingop.

Additional reports by Samantha Granville