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This is a list of former German Empire colonies and protectorates (German: Schutzgebiete) outside of the Empire's European borders, the German colonial empire.

Brandenburger-Prussian colonies

These were colonies unsuccessfully settled by the Kingdom of Prussia or of Brandenburg before the foundation of the German Empire in 1871.

Africa

• Groß Friedrichsburg (in Ghana), 1683–1718
• Arguin (in Mauretania), 1685–1721
• Whydah (in present Togo), circa 1700 (this Brandenburg 'colony' was just a minor point of support, a few dwellings at a site co-inhabited by British and Dutch)

North America

These territories were held briefly under lease or occupation during the early European colonizations of the so-called New World.

• Saint Thomas. Leased by Brandenburg from the Danish West India Company, 1685–1720.
• Island of Crabs (Krabbeninsel in German) (Caribbean, now US), Brandenburg annexation in the Danish West Indies, 1689–1693
• Tertholen (Caribbean), 1696. Occupation.

German imperial colonies

These are colonies settled by and controlled by the German Empire from 1884-1919.

Africa

The following are German African protectorates.

German colonies in Africa, 1884-1920

• German East Africa (Deutsch-Ostafrika)
  • Tanganyika - which in 1962 became independent and in 1964 joined with former British protectorate of the sultanate of Zanzibar to form present-day Tanzania
  • Ruanda-Urundi (1885–1917) - present-day Rwanda and Burundi
  • Wituland (1885–1890) - since 1890 in Kenya
  • Kionga Triangle - since 1920 (earlier occupied) in Portuguese Mozambique
• German South West Africa (Deutsch-Südwestafrika) - present-day Namibia (except then-British Walvis Bay) and part of Botswana (Südrand des Caprivi-Zipfels)
• German West Africa (Deutsch-Westafrika) - existed as one unit only for two or three years, then split into two colonies due to distances:
  • Kamerun (1884–1914) - after World War I, separated into a British part, Cameroons, and a French Cameroun, which became present Cameroon. The British part was later split in half, with one part joining Nigeria and the other Cameroon. (Kamerun, Nigeria-Ostteil, Tschad-Südwestteil, Zentralafrikanische Republik-Westteil, Republik Kongo-Nordostteil, Gabun-Nordteil)
  • Togoland (1884–1914) - after World War I it separated into two parts: a British part (Ghana-Westteil), which joined Ghana, and a French one, which became Togo

Pacific

These are German colonies in the Pacific.

German colonies in southern Pacific: Kaiserwilhelmsland and the Bismarck Archipelago (Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Caroline Islands)

• German New Guinea (Deutsch-Neuguinea) (1884–1914)
  • Kaiser-Wilhelmsland
  • Bismarck Archipelago (Bismarck-Archipel)
  • German Solomon Islands or Northern Solomon Islands (Salomonen or Nördliche Salomon-Inseln) (1885–1899)
  • Bougainville Island (Bougainville-Insel) (1888–1919)
  • Nauru (1888–1919)
  • Marshall Islands (Marshall-Inseln) (1885–1919)
  • Mariana Islands (Marianen) (1899–1919) - present-day Northern Mariana Islands
  • Caroline Islands (Karolinen) (1899–1919) - present-day Federated States of Micronesia and Palau
• German Samoa (Deutsch-Samoa) (1899–1914) - present-day Samoa

Colonial Possessions and Protectorates of the German Empire, 1883-1920, confirmed by Treaty, International Agreement, or Purchase

China

These are German concessions in China leased to it by the Qing Dynasty.

• Jiaozhou Bay (Deutsch-Kiautschou) (1898-1914)
• Chefoo (190?-1918)

Other

• New Swabia was a part of Antarctica, claimed by Nazi Germany 19 January 1939 - 25 May 1945, but not effectively colonized; the claim was completely abandoned afterward

See also

• German colonization of the Americas
• German colonial empire
• Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty
• Postage stamps and postal history of the German colonies

Sources and external links

• German colonies (German)
• WorldStatesmen

List of former German colonies and protectorates Colonies Africa Wituland · German East Africa (Tanganyika · Rwanda · Burundi) · Togoland · German South-West Africa (Namibia) · German West Africa (Kamerun · Neukamerun) Pacific German New Guinea (German Solomon Islands · German Marshall Islands · Caroline Islands · German Mariana Islands · Nauru · Palau) · German Samoa Concessions China German Kiautschou (Tsingtao)  · Tientsin Unrecognised Antarctica New Swabia