Namibia: Genocide and the Second Reich
A hundred years ago, three quarters of the Herero people of the German colony of Namibia were killed, many in concentration camps.
Today, the descendants of the survivors are seeking reparations from the German government. This film tells for the first time this forgotten story and its links to German racial theories.
Described by the BBC as the story of Germany's forgotten genocide. This powerful documentary by David Adetayo Olusoga took a sensitive and uncompromising look at the tragic circumstances leading to the massacre of three quarters of the Namibia population in German concentration camps built in Africa.
The programme included graphic reconstructions and did not shirk from showing disturbing scenes which revealed the savagery of european colonial ideology put into practise.
The documentary also showed the 2004 footage of Germany's ambassador to Namibia expressing regret for their killing of thousands of Namibia's Hereros during the colonial era. Unsurprisingly, the Germans refused to agree to the justifiable calls for reparations.
The programme also explored the current call for land reforms where most of Namibia's commercial land is still owned by european farmers who make up 6 percent of the country's population of 1.8 million.
Throughout it included interviews and powerful testimony from African survivors, descendants and reparation movement representatives thus making this a compelling programme which both educated the audience whilst treating the sensitive subject matter with the respect it deserved.
I am 72 years old and have never heard of this. Man's inhumanity to man is an awful thing...
@ Baldwin Thecrusader, wrt Eugenics let us not leave out Sir Charles Darwin, Sir Francis Galton, Friedrich Blumenbach, Carl Linnaeus, Margret Sanger, and that is just scratching the surface. let us not forget all the 'Family planning" programmes sponsored by various governments to support them African e.g. the Canadian government 'donating' to Africa 250 million for reproduction purposes...
Ps. You may want to re-check the whole title of the “Origin of Species”…
@ urban deadite, wrt to the Congo how we miss ol' King Leopold a very kind man (and country).
@ leanmv, yes History is written by the victors. For the conquered, that statement should tell you what you should be reading, else you end up believing lies.
I guess the Jews should not have received reparations? or the Germans should not have had to pay any reparation after the 1st world war? Are we being selective with reparations?
@ Matej "Problem isnt in white race. And that is pretty racist point of view from you." A racist will always call you a racist when you identify their racism.
And the my most important point wrt this documentary is directed to the AFRICANS, do not, and I repeat, do not, bother debating any European on such issues as the African Holocaust, you should raise the awareness of any and every African as to the nature of the European.
To you African the question is, if you see track hurtling down the street crushing and killing all in its way, would you stand in front of it, try stop the driver to reason and be logical?? NO, you WARN your people that there is mad person behind the wheel and do what you have to defend yourself.
Ah, the German love affair with eugenics and genocide...
Wow, love these comments. I'm not going to watch it, came here by accident; but just finished watching "Adolf Hitler - The Greatest Story Never Told", which shows everything we know/have been told about Hitler is a LIE; another duping uncovered. I'm truly ecstatic to see these comments confirming we are really waking up to Truth. Trust no govt. Govts must be treated like junk yard dogs and no better.
There will be very rough times when we clash with govt but I am more certain than ever we will overcome and the future will be better than ever for our children. God bless America!
oh, check this out: Thegreateststorynevertold dot tv. it's a mind blower.
remember, we can be lied to effectively by anyone, especially those who have an interest in telling us what they want us to believe....
I do not trust most..... I do my own thinking.. and I do deep research to back it up...
Be careful... propaganda and psychology are very effective... and if you don't conform you can be eliminated... like Hitler did and the current liar in DC is planning for most of us... unless of course we buy his bull****
History is written by the victors... SAY NO MORE
The red dyed people (women) displayed a couple of times in this documentary are no Herero, but Himba, who live mainly in the north of Namibia ... if one makes a documentary about this subject, then please use footage of the Herero people!
I dont know of one Empire in History that has not done some form of Genocide including a lot of African nations too, Shaka Zulu (one of the worlds top Military commanders) did not carve an empire by throwing flowers around nor did the great fortress builders of Zimbabwe or Jenna.
What about what the Bantu are doing to the Mbuti/Baka /Aka peoples in the Congo??..one of the worst cases of genocide and slavery/rape/cannabalism as a scare tactic in Human History and its still going on.
A lot of peoples dont have written language in the past so its all kinda one sided.
All of this is wrong just wish people would see its a human condition that needs addressing and it is not just 'white' countries who have a Barbaric and Inhuman past.
One more thing the Slavic peoples have been enslaved more and for longer than anywhere in the world yet never hear about them or about the millions of white slaves in various North African and Ottoman Empires whose treatment was just as awful as African slaves.
What about all those Native African slavers that got stinking rich? there were thousands of them and they were a massive part of the equation, in fact when slavery was abolished several countries had too go to war against them they were so rich and powerful and would not stop slaving.
The Japanese in most of Asia in the 30-40's did horrific genocide and concentration camps or more horrific than the nazis also the sex slaves (so called comfort women) but they 'got' away with it....so much wrong not just the terrible African slave trade.
Slavery is still a BIG PROBLEM today in 2012.
Colours are not bad but people are.
All Slavery and Genocide done by ANY people of the World is wrong.
It is a shame that this is a repeated pattern through Human History for one excuse or another from all corners of Earth....
Africans are hard to finish! Every wealth and power hungry monster has tried to eliminate Africans, but they live on. God must have made us uniquely strong but above all, God has not allowed our extermination. Germans and all other colonialists are equally guilty of the sin of attempting to eliminate God by their actions wherever they extended their empires. But when i look at the Namibian case; I just wonder how evil these Germans were!
Some people always say there are two topics that evoke such a strong negative emotion that it is impossible to reach any conclusive agreement... those topics being government and religion. I believe there is a third... race.
Typical BBC report, a lot of emotional music and very Anti-German. Fails to mention that Nambia receives approx. 14 Mill. Euros funds pa.. That might be the reason why reparation are out of the question (which would go to the Hereros only).
And of course we still have to struggle with our history today. How could it be otherwise. Thanks for the hint BBC.
BTW, the scientific racist movement at that time was not limited to Germany, say hello to the Brits and the US.
How is this any dif. that what America has done to the Native Americans? Drive them into worthless lands,starve them and murder them to take there land. Lets not act like Germany is the only "bad guy" that takes what is not theres.
i have a dream.....to put in reality....going to Namibia to explore the Namib desert and the extending Kalahari desert and to look eyes in eyes in the faces of the inhabitants of this beautiful country.
az
Thanks for a well researched documentary. These, and many other issues are still be worked through by me and my fellow citizens.
First, as for compensation, the German government and the Namibian government have a very good relationship today as do the people of both nations. In fact, most of the funds available to black farmers come from German assistance. (I am sitting in Düsseldorf, Germany as I write this.)
Secondly, we have a policy of national reconciliation which still makes us a model for other countries on how people can, and should, live together.
Third, today my daughter is the Junior Mayor of Swakopmund.
Lastly, and unfortunately a question that will be asked, I am not white or German in origin. I am a coloured and was the person who raised the flag over Windhoek the first morning on Independence.
@Curser
Problem isnt in white race. And that is pretty racist point of view from you. Problem is in people overall. All people act that way. Europeans were just more advanced in tech so they have enslaved africa south america etc.
But this is ?new? history from which we have writen doucuments and pictures.
What about Tatar invasion in Europe, or Mongol invasion? Or Turks? So many pillages, killings, destroyed futures.
Or , what about ethnic cleansning between Idia and pakistan? Nobody talk about that. Or tibet, or boxer rebellion.
So, you can see that there are a lot more examples of hate between people.
From our past we can try to learn not to make same mistakes but i think humanity is failing doing that.
@Jeigh
Africans never migrated....
“The Journey of Man” is a another big lie, another big fabrication of white man to justify economic globalization...
The White race ain't human but vampire, blood suckers, they even feed their offspring's with Innocent blood. until white race exits genocides shall prevail and the planet earth shall always suffer...............
@clix
*i accidently hit "add comment to soon"*
but on the issue of epigenetics... i would have to say its possible.
There is alot of latent agression in western society. like the direct eye contact someone mentioned earlier. its posible that that eye shape could have something to do with it.
I really cannot understand why someone would say reparations are not due in this instance. If the German government refuses the pay the Namibians the 2 million they ask for then shouldn't the Nambibians have the right to simply take their land back from the European settlers like what happened in Zimbawe? there is no reason why 50% of the good land in Namibia should be owned by a minority group. It would be better for the Germans to pay the Namibians the money they asked for so that they can legally buy the land for a fair price....
@clix
i certainly hope its not caused by genetics. i have always thought atrocities like this are the result of Charles Dawin's theory on evolution. His theorys gave people 'justification' to belive that they were somehow evolutionary superior than each other. they led to eugenics and genocide and i think that deep down alot of people still apply "the orign of species" to humans.
but anyway do you think its genitic?
@williamstoni
Who is fighting over Jesus today? I thought we're fighting over oil and other vital resources.
Also, curiously (not judgmentally), how can you reconcile proud service in the military and progressivism? Progressive thought assumes the concept of armed struggle is an antiquated way of resolving conflicts, if not an aberrant one. What do you find to be proud of your military service? How do you think the military you served in cannot be used in the manner the German Reich used its military?
@Will
This discussion is not over. You can still jump in.
Yes, it is unfortunate that such discussions have to deteriorate to name calling at times. But, that's the nature of the medium.
So, what say you? Do you agree that there are genetic or at least epigenetic variations among humans that predispose them for certain type of aberrant behavior similar to the Germans during the 2nd and 3rd Reich?
Definitions of reparation on the Web:
• compensation (given or received) for an insult or injury; "an act for which there is no reparation"
• (usually plural) compensation exacted from a defeated nation by the victors; "Germany was unable to pay the reparations demanded after World War I"
• repair: the act of putting something in working order again
• something done or paid in expiation of a wrong; "how can I make amends"
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
• In jurisprudence, reparation is replenishment of a previously inflicted loss by the criminal to the victim. Monetary restitution is a common form of reparation. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reparation_(legal)
In my humble opinion, I believe reparations are a controversial topic because there are many ways to describe this “concept” - as any quick web search will prove.
As a woman who served proudly in the U.S. Marine Corps for over eight years before being discharged honorably under medical conditions, I perceive the concept of reparations as a method of acknowledging past transgressions AND as an apology to a person/ people who have been victimized.
In essence: Does saying, “I’m sorry” suffice for theft, rape, torture, and mass genocide? When reparations are not awarded to victims, it seems to me that is exactly what we are saying… ‘it’ll be alright… time heals all wounds…”
In my opinion, time does not heal all wounds… at least, not by our standards! We are still fighting over Jesus’ death… and, that occurred over two thousand years ago!
It seems to me that our world will continuously suffer simply we are too weak to apologize with sincerity… because we cannot admit when we are wrong.
Our race (meaning human) will never heal… and, the vicious cycle of hurt will continue until we concede to our past… all of it… especially the painful periods… it is the only solution for a SHARED, healthy future!
There is absolutely no harm in repaying what is owed… It is the HUMAN thing to do!
Btw… after watching this documentary, I realized where Eisenhower borrowed the idea of the prison industrial complex from… the Germans!
that said... BE PROGRESSIVE... BE KIND!
@clix @jeigh @Menelik1&2 Wow...that was a damn good arguement. It's a little unclear why you guys were arguing in the first place, as you seemed to agree on the most fundamental concepts discussed (until u started making personal attacks). But I read the whole thing and I definatly learned a lot. I wish I could have joined in! Haha
@Jeigh
You're really not good at guessing. :-)
The word Selam is an Amharic equivalent of the Arabic Salaam and the Hebrew Shalom. It is not a westernized version of Salaam.
I feel for you man. Truly I do. You seem to have a visceral need to make sure everybody is like you. Yes, we're all genetically the same over 99% of the time. But we're also unique as in the finger prints of every individual on this earth. That's the beauty of humans and nature in general. We should reveal in that, not run away from it. I think you should too. Whether you're 'mixed' is irrelevant, as the most unique thing about you is you. Otherwise, why do you want to be like any of the other 6+ billion rascals roaming this earth?
I think the topic of race (or the absence of it) is an issue deeply personal to you, and I don't want to continue to appear callous by trivializing what is so important to you. I think we approach the whole argument from two polar opposites. My focus is not on what makes us (humans) similar. That's quite obvious to me. What fuels my intellectual pursuit is what makes us different despite much of our similarity. Your approach appears to be the exact opposite of mine. May be seeing the difference in our approach helps you understand I and others who focus on such differences are not the cancers of the world (or racist as you call us), but merely exploring our nature from a different angle than yours. I think it is certainly our prerogative to do so, whether you agree or not.
Selam.
Ahh...what you meant to say was Salaam. Your westernized spelling helps identify you more than you would wish. Perhaps now that you are no longer ignorant, you will also learn the word's true meaning. Since you are obviously a religious person (which you may also attempt to deny) I impart with you this:
"To God belongs the East and the West, Wheresoever you look is the face of God.(Sura 2:115)
And if that doesn't work for you, a little Rumi, my favorite poet:
"in the shop for Unity; anything that you see there except the One, is an idol."
You really should research the Genome Project. You are as "naturally" mixed as they come.
?? ????? ??? ??