Genocide: More than the Gas Chamber
The word “genocide” is generally applied to the Holocaust, because the Holocaust is the most taught genocide in todays modern society. Some of the smaller genocides are completely ignored and most people don’t know that there are at least four genocides happening this very day. One of those smaller genocides that has been ignored by many people is the Herero Genocide.
Before Genocide spread through the country of Namibia, located on the south western tip of Africa, the area had already been scarred with the stealing of its natural resources and men for slavery by the White Europeans. Though the country had been stolen from, it was still rich with natural resources such as uranium, tungsten, tin, copper, diamonds, gold, silver, lithium, and natural gasses (Namibia 19). These resources had mainly been of use to the native tribes for trading with others. These metals became a universal currency used throughout all of the tribes, which lived peacefully until the Germans came. In the 1880’s Germany made Namibia a colony of its own and began pushing the Herero away from their lands. when Diamonds were discovered, the situation was made even worse and led to the eventual revolt of the native Herero community in 1904 (Namibia 19).
With the revolt of the Herero and the assassination of the previous commander of the German Colony, a new commander was appointed by the German Emperor. Lothar von Trotha was well known for his brutality and specialty in suppressing the native Africans. Von Trotha brought an army of 10,000 armed german soldiers to push back the Herero to a position where they could attack from three sides. The fourth side allowed for escape, but only into the Kalahari desert where anyone would surely die. The only escape from the Germans was indeed death. Von Trotha said, “All the Herero must leave the land. If they refuse, then I will force them to do it with the big guns. Any Herero found within German borders, with or without a gun, will be shot. No prisoners will be taken. This is my decision for the Herero people” (Namibia 19). On October 2nd, 1904 von Trotha ordered for the extermination of the Herero. Any surviving Herero was banned from owning land and were sent to the Concentration or Work camps that the Germans had set up throughout the country. In 1907 the commander was withdrawn from the colony, leaving only 15000 Herero compared to the 80,000 that had previously been living. Though the german troops had left the country, the Herero woman were still infected with them. They were used as sex toys and were impregnated by the troops. Eugen Fischer was a man interested in genetics and studied the mixed babies that were born to these women and he noted that they were, “Physically and Mentally inferior to their German fathers.” (Namibia 19) He wrote this in his book that Adolf Hitler later read while he was in prison in 1923, sparking his new idea of “racial purity”.
With the end of the first world war, Germany’s colonies were all stripped away, but Germany was not punished for their Genocide that they committed against the Herero people. Namibia was now placed under the rule of South Africa, but in the late 1940’s an organization called SWAPO fought for the independence of South West African Nations. In 1968 namibia was recognized as a country but did not gain full independence until 20 years later (Namibia 19). The Herero never lived to see the independance of their country. The few that survived the genocide had already left to neighboring countries and the bloodline was so small that the Herero practically were now extinct.
Genocide was more than the gas chambers in Germany, it was also the brutal murdering of tons of people in Southern Africa. Most people don’t know the information that was presented and in fact may have never even heard of the Herero people that faced as much prejudice as the Jews in World War 2. Those that have been killed deserve to be remembered, they deserve to be a reminder to the people of the future so that Genocide can be stopped.
Gewald, Jan-Bart. Herero Heroes: A Socio-Political History of the Herero of Namibia, 1890-1923. Athens, Ohio: James Curry Ltd, 1999. Web. <http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=8AjKi2SUV2AC&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=herero&ots=gjUxa8cYS6&sig=d79CENEaPV7TC4kKfaIj5Qu416s#v=snippet&q=published&f=false>
n.a., . "Namibia 19." Peace Pledge Union Information. Peace Pledge Union, 13 Mar 2013. Web. 13 Mar 2013. <http://www.ppu.org.uk/genocide/g_namibia1.html>.
Schaller, D.J. Centuries of Genocide. New York: Routledge, 2013. Web. <http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=6XYp-z5aP4MC&oi=fnd&pg=PR1&dq=herero+genocide&ots=cHi_opfoFc&sig=nZVN9qor4u_SBD03eW04JrrNvwE#v=onepage&q=89&f=false >
Before Genocide spread through the country of Namibia, located on the south western tip of Africa, the area had already been scarred with the stealing of its natural resources and men for slavery by the White Europeans. Though the country had been stolen from, it was still rich with natural resources such as uranium, tungsten, tin, copper, diamonds, gold, silver, lithium, and natural gasses (Namibia 19). These resources had mainly been of use to the native tribes for trading with others. These metals became a universal currency used throughout all of the tribes, which lived peacefully until the Germans came. In the 1880’s Germany made Namibia a colony of its own and began pushing the Herero away from their lands. when Diamonds were discovered, the situation was made even worse and led to the eventual revolt of the native Herero community in 1904 (Namibia 19).
With the revolt of the Herero and the assassination of the previous commander of the German Colony, a new commander was appointed by the German Emperor. Lothar von Trotha was well known for his brutality and specialty in suppressing the native Africans. Von Trotha brought an army of 10,000 armed german soldiers to push back the Herero to a position where they could attack from three sides. The fourth side allowed for escape, but only into the Kalahari desert where anyone would surely die. The only escape from the Germans was indeed death. Von Trotha said, “All the Herero must leave the land. If they refuse, then I will force them to do it with the big guns. Any Herero found within German borders, with or without a gun, will be shot. No prisoners will be taken. This is my decision for the Herero people” (Namibia 19). On October 2nd, 1904 von Trotha ordered for the extermination of the Herero. Any surviving Herero was banned from owning land and were sent to the Concentration or Work camps that the Germans had set up throughout the country. In 1907 the commander was withdrawn from the colony, leaving only 15000 Herero compared to the 80,000 that had previously been living. Though the german troops had left the country, the Herero woman were still infected with them. They were used as sex toys and were impregnated by the troops. Eugen Fischer was a man interested in genetics and studied the mixed babies that were born to these women and he noted that they were, “Physically and Mentally inferior to their German fathers.” (Namibia 19) He wrote this in his book that Adolf Hitler later read while he was in prison in 1923, sparking his new idea of “racial purity”.
With the end of the first world war, Germany’s colonies were all stripped away, but Germany was not punished for their Genocide that they committed against the Herero people. Namibia was now placed under the rule of South Africa, but in the late 1940’s an organization called SWAPO fought for the independence of South West African Nations. In 1968 namibia was recognized as a country but did not gain full independence until 20 years later (Namibia 19). The Herero never lived to see the independance of their country. The few that survived the genocide had already left to neighboring countries and the bloodline was so small that the Herero practically were now extinct.
Genocide was more than the gas chambers in Germany, it was also the brutal murdering of tons of people in Southern Africa. Most people don’t know the information that was presented and in fact may have never even heard of the Herero people that faced as much prejudice as the Jews in World War 2. Those that have been killed deserve to be remembered, they deserve to be a reminder to the people of the future so that Genocide can be stopped.
Gewald, Jan-Bart. Herero Heroes: A Socio-Political History of the Herero of Namibia, 1890-1923. Athens, Ohio: James Curry Ltd, 1999. Web. <http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=8AjKi2SUV2AC&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=herero&ots=gjUxa8cYS6&sig=d79CENEaPV7TC4kKfaIj5Qu416s#v=snippet&q=published&f=false>
n.a., . "Namibia 19." Peace Pledge Union Information. Peace Pledge Union, 13 Mar 2013. Web. 13 Mar 2013. <http://www.ppu.org.uk/genocide/g_namibia1.html>.
Schaller, D.J. Centuries of Genocide. New York: Routledge, 2013. Web. <http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=6XYp-z5aP4MC&oi=fnd&pg=PR1&dq=herero+genocide&ots=cHi_opfoFc&sig=nZVN9qor4u_SBD03eW04JrrNvwE#v=onepage&q=89&f=false >