25 Facts About Carl Peters

Carl Peters was a German explorer and colonial administrator.

Carl Peters was a major promoter of the establishment of the German colony of East Africa and one of the founders of the German East Africa Company.

Carl Peters was a controversial figure in Germany for his views and his brutal treatment of native Africans, which ultimately led to his dismissal from government service in 1897.

Carl Peters studied history and philosophy at the universities of Gottingen and Tubingen, and at the Humboldt University of Berlin as a student of Heinrich von Treitschke.

Bismarck refused a second time when Carl Peters returned to Germany during the last days of the Berlin Conference of 1884, demanding an imperial charter.

Carl Peters threatened the Chancellor successfully by threatening to sell his acquisitions to King Leopold II of Belgium who was eager to expand his territory of Congo.

Carl Peters had no training or experience in running a business, and the German East Africa Company was in financial difficulties.

Carl Peters concluded a treaty with Kabaka Mwanga II of Buganda in favour of Germany.

Carl Peters had to leave Uganda hastily on the approach of an expedition commanded by Frederick Lugard, the representative of the Imperial British East Africa Company.

Nevertheless, on his return to Germany Carl Peters was received with great honours, and in 1891 published an account of his expedition entitled Die deutsche Emin Pasha Expedition, which was translated into English.

Carl Peters soon moved the German station from Moshi to Marangu, and he undertook a punitive mission against the Rombo in September 1891.

Carl Peters was furious and had the man hanged as punishment.

In January 1892 one of those African women, Jagodjo, was hanged, because Carl Peters suspected her of having been a spy.

Carl Peters was recalled to Berlin and employed in the Colonial Section of the Foreign Office from 1893 to 1895, while official accusations were brought against him of excesses in regard to his treatment of the African population.

Carl Peters correctly denied the authenticity of the letter but had to admit the executions.

Carl Peters evaded final sentencing and further criminal prosecution by relocating to London, where he occupied himself with schemes for exploiting parts of Rhodesia and Portuguese East Africa.

Carl Peters returned in 1901 and gave an account of his explorations in Im Goldland des Altertums.

In 1914, Carl Peters was able to return to Germany, after Emperor Wilhelm II by personal decree had bestowed upon him the right to use the title of an Imperial Commissioner again and had given him a pension from his personal budget, while the sentence by the disciplinary court remained in effect.

Carl Peters published an autobiography in February 1918 and died on 10 September.

Besides the books already mentioned and some smaller treatises, Carl Peters published a philosophical work entitled Willenswelt und Weltwille, and a disquisition on early gold production entitled Das goldene Ophir Salomo's, translated into English in 1899.

Carl Peters was known by natives as "mkono wa damu", meaning "the man with blood on his hands".

However, Carl Peters was feted as a national hero among colonial-minded people.

Carl Peters was celebrated as a national hero in Nazi Germany, and was officially rehabilitated by personal decree of Adolf Hitler in 1936.

Carl Peters was the subject of a 1941 propaganda film, Carl Peters, by Herbert Selpin, starring Hans Albers as Peters.

For example, Petersallee in the Afrikanisches Viertel in Berlin was originally named after Carl Peters, but was rededicated in 1986 to Hans Peters, a member of the anti-Nazi resistance.