WORLD

Germany returns to Namibia skulls from colonial-era massacre, the 20th century's first genocide

Namibian Culture Minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa (third from left) and German Minister of State in the foreign ministry Michelle Muentefering (third from right) stand together during a handing-over ceremony for human remains that were brought to Berlin during its colonial rule of the African nation, on Wednesday in the French Church in Berlin. The skulls are among an estimated 300 taken to Germany after a massacre of indigenous Namibians at the start of the last century during an anti-colonial uprising in what was then called South West Africa, which Berlin ruled from 1884 to 1915. | JOHN MACDOUGALL / VIA AFP-JIJI

Reuters

Aug 30, 2018

BERLIN –

Skulls and other remains of massacred tribespeople used in the colonial era for experiments to push claims of European racial superiority were handed over by Germany to Namibia at a church ceremony in Berlin.

In what historians call the first genocide of the 20th century, soldiers of German Kaiser Wilhelm slaughtered some 65,000 Herero and 10,000 Nama tribespeople in a 1904-08 campaign after a revolt against land seizures by German colonists.

At Wednesday's ceremony, a Namibian delegation received the skulls and bones from German Foreign Ministry representatives. They will be taken to the Namibian capital Windhoek on Friday, where rituals will be carried out.

Germany returns to Namibia skulls from colonial-era massacre, the 20th century's first genocide

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