Theodor Leutwein
4th Landeshauptleute of German South West Africa
In office
15 March 1894 – 19 August 1905
Preceded byCurt von Francois
Succeeded byLothar von Trotha
Personal details
Born19 May 1849
Waldbrunn, Grand Duchy of Baden,
Died13 April 1921
Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden, Germany
Military service
Allegiance Kingdom of Prussia (1868–1871)
 German Empire (1871–1905)
Branch/service Prussian Army
Years of service1868–1905
RankColonel
Battles/warsFranco-Prussian War
Khaua-Mbandjeru rebellion
Herero Wars
Theodor Leutwein (seated left), Zacharias Zeraua (2nd from left) and Manasseh Tyiseseta (seated, fourth from left), 1895

Theodor Gotthilf Leutwein (9 May 1849 – 13 April 1921) was a German military officer and colonial administrator who served as Landeshauptleute of German Southwest Africa from 1894 to 1905.

Life and career

Born in Strümpfelbrunn in the Grand Duchy of Baden, he joined the Prussian Army in 1868. Following several promotions he achieved the rank of major in 1893. In 1894 he replaced Curt von François as commander of the Schutztruppe (Imperial Security Troop). His personal goal in German Southwest Africa was to create "colonialism without bloodshed". During his tenure there, Leutwein created a decentralized administration with three regional centers (Windhoek, Otjimbingwe and Keetmanshoop). The construction of the first railroad between Windhoek and the seaport of Swakopmund was built during his rule. In 1899 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, rising to the rank of colonel in 1901.[1]

His policies with the native Africans, which he called the "Leutwein System", was a mixture of diplomacy, "divide-and-rule" and military coercion. His relationship with the indigenous Namaqua and Herero tribes were tenuous at best. Conversely, he was often criticized by German colonists as being too lenient with the Africans. In 1904 an uprising by the Herero was the beginning of the end of his colonial leadership. Soon afterwards, Wilhelm II replaced Leutwein with the notorious General Lothar von Trotha.[1] In May 1904 he admitted that the Germans had not taken one Herero prisoner, following an inquiry by the social democratic Reichstag deputy August Bebel.[2]

In 1906, Leutwein published an autobiography, "Elf Jahre als Gouverneur in Deutsch-Südwestafrika"[3] ("Eleven Years as Governor in German South West Africa"), an historical account of his career in German Southwest Africa. He died in Freiburg.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Biographies of Namibian personalities by Klaus Dierks
  2. ↑ Drechsler, Horst (1980) [First published 1966]. Let us die fighting : the struggle of the Herero and Nama against German imperialism (1884-1915). London: Zed Press. ISBN 0-905762-47-9. OCLC 7398398.
  3. ↑ Leutwein, Theodor Gotthilf (1997). Elf Jahre Gouverneur in deutsch-südwest Afrika (4. Aufl ed.). Windhoek: Namibia Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft. ISBN 99916-40-07-X. OCLC 40783547.


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