By: Jill Fleishinger

CountryGermanyCameroons LocationCenter EuropeWest Coast of Central Africa Time Period/ YearsOccurred from Rulers/ LeadersKaiser Wilhelm IIGustav Nachtigal Population68 million (in early 1900’s) 15, 421, 937 (as of 2000) General Information

Why Germany imperialized Cameroon Germany wanted to colonize to expand their country and make investments in Cameroon railways. They were a protectorate to Cameroon against the Reich and soon Cameroon became a German colony.

What was wanted… They wanted a trading country to produce large trading companies;  built two rails in Cameroon from Douala to bring in good agriculture products to the market.

…Geopolitically Has a coast that’s able to dock goods, along with railways to major cities. The land is attached to a great proportion of the states surrounding it.

…Economically Cameroon is diversified in agriculture and supplements; stable plantations They are part of the Bank of Central African States, Customs and Economic Union of Central Africa (UDEAC), and the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA).

…Socially The most important products were yams, bananas, palm oil, fish, ivory, gold, panther skins, and ostrich feathers. Cameroon has ethnic groups that work together in the field and enjoy harvesting.

…Politically Cameroons economy is all about high political and social stability. This permitted the development of Railways, agriculture, roads, and large timber industries. The power lies in the hands of the President.

Some Key Facts Investments were made in the infrastructure of Cameroon; railways and hospitals. “On July 12, 1884, Gustav Nachtigal had signed a treaty with the Chiefs of Doula on behalf of the German Kaiser Wilhelm. In return for trade advantages the chiefs accepted a German protectorate.” In Colony. In 1886 at the Conference of Berlin, European colonies with higher power divided Africa between them. During the “Scramble for Africa” Germany beat Britain to a claim of the Cameroons by seizing the region as a German Colony.

Some Key Facts In 1884 Germany began constructing the port of Douala and then advanced into the interior, where they developed plantations and built roads and bridges. In 1907 the German Governor, Baron Von Puttkamer, constructed railways and with brutality and forced labor he developed the colony with roads, schools, and hospitals.

Results Geopolitically… The rails lead directly into the cities, and the country itself is attached to three main rivers Benue, Nyong, and Sanaga making transportation excellent for trading. It’s now one of the largest trading companies in the world.

…Economically In 1891Germany’s Social Democratic Party advocates:

…continued Major Exports: Coffee Cocoa Palm Oil Cotton Sugar Tobacco Rubber Major Food Crops: Rice Corn Millet Sorghum Potatoes Agriculture contributes 24% to the GNP GDP: $6,77 billion, $526 per capita

…Socially …Socially There are now 24 major African language groups. 40 % of people are traditional, 40% Christian, and 20% Islam. The literacy is 79%

…Politically France and Britain fought Germany for Cameroon and succeeded, now Cameroon follows the concept of indirect ruling, closely related to the American Political System

Examples of Resistance The indigenous people in the southern part of Cameroon resisted German power due to the loss of their lucrative trade position. German Governor, Baron Von Soden’s biggest task was fighting back rebellious tribes in the country

Works Cited Background Note: Cameroon. Bureau of Public Affairs, 10 Oct Web. 25 Oct Cameroon. Mary Holmström, Feb Web. 21 Oct "Cameroon- Economy." Encyclopedia of the Nations. Advameg, Inc., Web. 20 Oct Cameroon: History, Geography. HighBeam Research, LLC., Web. 25 Oct Cameroon History Timeline. Crawfurd.dk, Web. 21 Oct DeLancey, Mark W., and Mark Dike DeLancey (2000): Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cameroon (3rd ed.). Lanham, Maryland: The Scarecrow Press. Map of Cameroon. Graphic Maps, n.d. Web. 26 Oct Neba, Aaron, Ph.D., Modern Geography of the Republic of Cameroon, 3rd ed. Bamenda: Neba Publishers, World News Timeline. Frank E. Smitha, Web. 21 Oct

Application Dear Diary, Since I was 14 years old I have been working day in and day out in the fields with my family to put food on the table, but now the Germans have imperialized our nation. They say they were going to make our lives easier, help us out by protecting us from the Reich and colonizing us. There tactics for this better life made me happy, I thought that now we would not have to work so much, that the Germans would cover all the necessary resources for the Cameroonians. They planned on making roads, more railways, bridges, hospitals, and schools. Germany has 68 million people in there country so you would think that they would do all this for us, but no, instead they made us adapt to there way of doing things. My family and I, as well as many other Cameroon citizens were forced into all this labor of roads and such. Slavery has recently been forbidden by the Reichstag, but this is the new form of slavery it seems, the forced labor recruitment. Not only was this occurring, but even women were forced into the colonial money economy. It did not matter if you were man or women, every one was forced to do something somehow. Once Germany was defeated by France and Britain in 1914 the forced labor was abolished and Cameroons new labor code offered protection to workers, especially women like myself. I guess it’s good countries helped us out, but I can not wait till we’re an independent nation and are not forced around. Sincerely, Jill