German colonization of the Americas
The German settlement of America consists of attempts by the establishment of dependent colonies in Venezuela ( Little Venice ) and on Tobago and several attempts to build a closed German settlements here.
- 2.1 Brazil
- 2.2 Paraguay
- 2.3 Chile
- 2.4 Nicaragua
- 2.5 Venezuela
Colony founding in the Americas
The Welser colony in Venezuela
Main article: Little Venice
The Habsburg Charles V in 1528 pledged Venezuela to the Augsburg banking family of Anton and Bartholomew Welser. These rights were negotiated by Heinrich Ehinger and Hieronymus Sailer, independent agents of the Welser. 1531 acquired the Welser the appropriate privilege. A Kolonisierungsplan was erected and Ambrosius Ehinger intended for governor.
He left Seville on October 7, 1528 together with the Spaniard García de Lerma and 281 settlers. In Santo Domingo, the group de Lerma with 50 companions left for his mission in Santa Marta, where he was to restore Spanish rule, after he had been murdered by the governor. Ehinger and the others moved on to the Venezuelan coast and landed on February 24, 1529 Santa Ana de Coro. From there Ehinger explored the hinterland in search of the legendary golden city of El Dorado.
Other German governors followed: Nikolaus spring, Georg Hohermuth Speyer, Philipp von Hutten, who were, however, especially for gold. Spring man crossed the Andes to Bogotá, where he and Sebastian de Belalcázar fought over the original claims by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada in this province. German miners were recruited. Then there were about 4,000 African slaves who were forced to work on sugar cane plantations. 1541, however, came to dispute with Spain in 1556 and the bankers control of the colony was withdrawn. Many of the German settlers died of tropical diseases or by fighting against locals in the frequent trips to the Indian territory.
The kurbrandenburgische colony of St. Thomas
The Brandenburg- African Company leased from 1685 to 1693 a part of the Caribbean island of St. Thomas of Denmark.
Kurland and Semgallen
Main article Courland colonization of the Americas
At the same time undertook the German dominated Duchy of Courland and Semgallen two attempts to establish a colony on Tobago, both settlements existed only briefly.
History of German settlements in different countries and regions of America
German immigrated over the centuries in probably all present-day states of America. In several cases it was organized attempts at establishing a closed German settlements. Below are some examples.
Brazil
See main article German immigration to Brazil
Approximately 10% of Brazilians have German ancestors, many places in Brazil emerged as foundations German settlers. Even today, for example, in southern Brazil Riograndenser Hunsrückisch a widespread minority language.
Paraguay
The small village of Nueva Germania in Paraguay today testifies to a trial for racist motives with a handful of German settlers to build a kind of refuge for the " Aryan race " in South America, the end of the 19th century.
Chile
Main article: German minority in Chile
Approximately 700,000 ( 4%), Chileans are descended from Germans, for around 150,000 to 200,000 German is still the mother tongue. German settlements were established in the Zona Sur in southern Chile.
Nicaragua
In 1850 saw the founding of German settlements in Nicaragua.
Venezuela
1843 migrated 358 citizens from the area of the Imperial chair over Le Havre to Venezuela, mainly from Endingen chair, Forchheim (Kaiser chair), Wyhl and Oberbergen. There they were settled after some turmoil at its present location. The farmers planted in vegetables and fruit and also brewed the first beer of Venezuela; they built their houses with half-timbered style. The local community was up in 1942 with its own laws among themselves and fell gradually into oblivion.