When most people of any ethnicity hear the word Holocaust, immediately they think of the Jewish Holocaust perpetrated by Adolph Hitler and the Nazi regime of the 1930s and 1940s. When most people hear the word Auschwitz, they think of the concentration death camps the Jews were put in2 by the Nazis and murdered by the millions. But how many people know about a concentration camp just off the east coast of Luderitz,Namibia in Africa called Shark Island? A concentration camp that laid the blue print 4 what Hitler would do 2 the Jews in the years 2 come, and it was African people who would be the first victims of German Nazi racism. The German Empire began its genocide of the African people known as the Herero and the Namaqua in 1904-1908. Between 1,302 and 3000 Herero and Namaqua men, women and children died in the Shark Island concentration camps between its opening in 1905 and its closing on April 1907. But the death toll went in2 the unknown. Its a safe guess 2 say its probably in the billions. Prisoners at Shark Island were forced in2 heavy strenuous labor, often times 2 the point of exhaustion or death. Many were starved 2 the point of being skin and bones. They were hardly given anything 2 eat. Sometimes, the starving prisoners would pick up pieces of refuse food thrown away by transport riders. If they were caught doing so, they were severely whipped. There were also many cases of rape of the prisoners by Germans. The Germans wanted 2 create a bastardized race by whom they could rule over this area of Africa under German occupation. It is customary 4 Herero women 2 save themselves 4 marriage. They dont even give themselves 2 another African man unless she is 2 be his bride let alone a German invader. There were some cases where the perpatrators were successfully punished where a White champion took up the victims cause, but the majority of the cases went unpunished. The incident at Shark Island was the precursor 2 what would befall the Jews of Poland and other parts of Europe when Adolph Hitler rose 2 power in Germany. And u never hear about it nor do the Jews themselves, who claim 2 be the friends of African people, ever speak of Shark Island. This is because most people dont feel any compassion 4 the loss or mistreatment of African lives. Even in present day 2015, there r still many who view African people as less than human and lower than animals. The man responsible 4 the atrocities at Shark Island was the Commander of the German military named Lothar Von Trotha. He justified his actions by deeming the Africans as a lesser breed and therefore subject 2 any means of discipline the German military cared 2 enforce. Trothas methods caused a public outcry which led 2 the Imperial Chancellor Bernhard von Bulow 2 ask Wilhelm II the German Emperor, 2 relieve Trotha of his command. But it was 2 late 2 help the Herero, as the few survivors were herded in2 camps and forced 2 work as laborers 4 German businesses where many died from being over worked, malnutrition and disease. On August 16th, 2004, the German government apologized 4 the genocides of the Herero and Namaqua peoples, but refused 2 pay reparations 2 the victims descendants. In 1933, a street in Munich wasa named after Lothar Von Trotha, but was changed in 2006 by the city council and named after the Herero in honor of the victims on Shark Island. In October of 2007, distant relatives of Von Trotha travelled 2 Omaruru, Namibia by invitation of the local Herero chiefs, and publicly apologized 4 the actions of Lothar Von Trotha. Wolf-Thilo von Trotha, a member of the family said, We the von Trotha family, r deeply ashamed of the terrible events that took place 100 years ago. Human rights were grossly abused that time. Yet, European nations r still robbing and exploiting the African continents mineral resources and its people 2 this day. Things will only be set right once Europe relinquishes its hold on Africas mineral resources and its ran totally by Africans. Africans should only share Africa with Europe 2 the extent that Europeans r willing 2 share Europe with Africa.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 21:50:07 +0000
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