19th century – 19th century
Angra Pequena and South West Africa
Adolf Lüderitz was a German merchant whose land purchases in South West Africa initiated the process of German colonial occupation. In 1883 he acquired land around Angra Pequena through agreements negotiated with Joseph Fredericks and the Bethany people, then pursued further territorial acquisitions toward the Angolan border. His transactions provided the basis for the German government’s decision to place Angra Pequena under protection in April 1884.
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The Story
Adolf Lüderitz arrived in South West Africa in 1883, during a period of conflict in southern and central Namibia. His activities were not simply commercial: the pages describe his arrival and land purchases as laying the foundation for colonial occupation and for the political definition of South West Africa as a distinct entity. Lüderitz sought to turn Namibian resources and territory into the basis of a German sphere of influence.
To obtain land around Angra Pequena, Lüderitz sent his agent Heinrich Vogelsang, assisted by the Rhenish missionary Johannes Bam, to negotiate with Joseph Fredericks of the Bethany people. The first agreement was concluded on 1 May 1883, and a second sale followed on 25 August. The latter covered a vast coastal strip, extending from the Gariep or Orange River to the 26th parallel north of Angra Pequena.
The transactions were shaped by a misunderstanding over the meaning of geographical miles. The Bethany people understood a geographical mile as 7.4 kilometres, while Lüderitz’s interpretation corresponded to the shorter English mile of 1.6 kilometres. The resulting sale transferred much more land than the sellers had intended. The pages also stress that several agreements were concluded with leaders who possessed little or no effective control over the land.
19th century – 19th century
Angra Pequena and South West Africa
Adolf Lüderitz was a German merchant whose land purchases in South West Africa initiated the process of German colonial occupation. In 1883 he acquired land around Angra Pequena through agreements negotiated with Joseph Fredericks and the Bethany people, then pursued further territorial acquisitions toward the Angolan border. His transactions provided the basis for the German government’s decision to place Angra Pequena under protection in April 1884.
Continue exploring
The Story
Adolf Lüderitz arrived in South West Africa in 1883, during a period of conflict in southern and central Namibia. His activities were not simply commercial: the pages describe his arrival and land purchases as laying the foundation for colonial occupation and for the political definition of South West Africa as a distinct entity. Lüderitz sought to turn Namibian resources and territory into the basis of a German sphere of influence.
To obtain land around Angra Pequena, Lüderitz sent his agent Heinrich Vogelsang, assisted by the Rhenish missionary Johannes Bam, to negotiate with Joseph Fredericks of the Bethany people. The first agreement was concluded on 1 May 1883, and a second sale followed on 25 August. The latter covered a vast coastal strip, extending from the Gariep or Orange River to the 26th parallel north of Angra Pequena.
The transactions were shaped by a misunderstanding over the meaning of geographical miles. The Bethany people understood a geographical mile as 7.4 kilometres, while Lüderitz’s interpretation corresponded to the shorter English mile of 1.6 kilometres. The resulting sale transferred much more land than the sellers had intended. The pages also stress that several agreements were concluded with leaders who possessed little or no effective control over the land.
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