Germany in the shadow of colonial history: urgent need to come to terms with it!

Germany in the shadow of colonial history: urgent need to come to terms with it!

Germany still faces the challenge of adequately coming to terms with its colonial past. This is criticized by historian Jürgen Zimmerer, who teaches at the University of Hamburg and headed the research center “Hamburg’s (post-)colonial legacy”. According to Tagesspiegel, he has noticed a certain rethinking that has gained momentum since 2015, especially after the Black Lives Matter protests in 2021. Nevertheless, Zimmerer expresses concerns: He speaks of a conservative rollback in the way of looking at things and criticizes it as before, the federal government's lack of interest in this important issue.

Colonialism not only led to structural dependency, but also to a brutally forgotten history of violent oppression. Historical events such as the Maji Maji uprising between 1905 and 1907 claimed thousands of lives, and the genocides against the Herero and Nama claimed around 100,000 victims. While Germany has recognized the genocide, the “Joint Declaration” with Namibia remains unratified, which Zimmerer considers inconsistent. The federal government is avoiding the word “reparation” to avoid possible legal claims, which raises the question of whether the moral compass has been lost here.

Museums and cultural property return

Tens of thousands of objects from the former colonies are stored in German museums. The return of cultural assets is not only a political but also an emotional issue. While Germany returned ownership of 1,000 Benin bronzes to Nigeria in 2022, the Nigerian government's handling remained controversial. Critics, including Zimmerer himself, complain that the federal government focuses primarily on the return of human remains, while art objects are often neglected.

Also worrying is the fact that the budget for the protection and repatriation of cultural property was cut by around half in the 2025 budget. An honorable place of remembrance for the victims of colonialism is being planned, but the topic is excluded from the memorial concept. The creation of an opera house at Hamburg's Baakenhafen is also criticized, giving the impression that something is going wrong in terms of political priorities.

Political reactions

Bundestag member Awet Tesfaiesus from the Greens sees the government as having a moral duty to make amends and calls for a fundamental discussion about the power asymmetries that have arisen as a result of colonization. It's not just about accepting the past, but also about the responsibility it brings.

In a different political context, Attorney General Pam Bondi in the USA called for cooperation with various states that are pursuing a so-called “sanctuary jurisdiction policy”. This topic shows how different countries deal with the assumption of responsibility. While dealing with the colonial past in Germany has many facets, striving for fair and responsible dealings is also important in other contexts.

The discourse about coming to terms with the colonial past remains a hot topic. The more questions arise: How much is Germany prepared to stand up for its past? And will serious steps be taken in the future to eliminate the grievances mentioned?

The challenge remains, and it remains to be hoped that voices like those of Jürgen Zimmerer and Awet Tesfaiesus do not go unheard and that the dialogue about colonial history finally comes to the social surface.