Surviving genocide: a voice from colonial Namibia at the turn of the last century

Origin date: 26 January 2020
Updated: 31 Jan 2020

Document Preview

Summary

Germany committed genocide in Africa 40 years before the Holocaust of the European Jews. In 1904 and 1905 the Ovaherero and Nama people of central and southern Namibia rose up against colonial rule and dispossession in what was then called German South West Africa. The revolt was brutally crushed. By 1908, 80% of the Ovaherero and 50% of the Nama had died of starvation and thirst, overwork and exposure to harsh climates.

How we know this

01Becker, H. (Prof.). Surviving genocide: a voice from colonial Namibia at the turn of the last century, from The Conversation, 26 January 2020. Available https://theconversation.com/surviving-genocide-a-voice-from-colonial-namibia-at-the-turn-of-the-last-century-130546, online. Accessed on 28 January 2020

Last updated · 31 Jan 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2020, January 28). Surviving genocide: a voice from colonial Namibia at the turn of the last century . South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/R-0149916

South African History Online (2020) 'Surviving genocide: a voice from colonial Namibia at the turn of the last century ', South African History Online, 28 January. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/R-0149916 (Accessed: 9 September 2026).

South African History Online, Surviving genocide: a voice from colonial Namibia at the turn of the last century [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/R-0149916, (accessed 9 September 2026).

"Surviving genocide: a voice from colonial Namibia at the turn of the last century ." South African History Online, 28 Jan. 2020, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/R-0149916. Accessed 9 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "Surviving genocide: a voice from colonial Namibia at the turn of the last century ." South African History Online. January 28, 2020. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/R-0149916.