Heligoland–Zanzibar Treaty

The contract between the German Empire and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland over the colonies and Helgoland from July 1, 1890 regulated the relations between territorial and sovereignty claims of the German Empire and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in colonized Africa. Above all, it went for clarifications with respect to the African colonies, but Britain spilled over the North Sea island of Heligoland to Germany.

This German -British agreement is often called Heligoland - Zanzibar Treaty, which falsely gives the impression that these two islands had been exchanged. In fact, Zanzibar never belonged to Germany.

Designation

The imprecise, but grippy name Heligoland - Zanzibar Treaty is widespread and is also found in the science of history again. He goes back to the former Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who had recently been dismissed by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Bismarck wanted the comprehensive treaty of its successor, Leo von Caprivi depreciate. Caprivi was made ​​on a settlement with Britain.

Bismarck's polemical designation gives the impression that Germany had the valuable East African island of Zanzibar against a rock in the North Sea, Helgoland, exchanged. In fact, Germany renounced in the colonial treaty only on territorial claims, Zanzibar has never possessed.

Importance of Heligoland

The German interest in Helgoland was mainly related to the former plans for the expansion of the German navy. Helgoland was considered strategically important for a possible control of the mouths of the Weser and the Elbe and the 1887 began Kaiser Wilhelm Canal. Wilhelm II personally expressed interest in an acquisition of Heligoland in order to secure the naval strategic.

In the UK, however, you could see the military value to be low, as the Germans (or the then hostile French ), the island in a much shorter time could occupy, as it would have been possible to bring an auxiliary fleet on site. A backup would have been possible only through extremely elaborate fortifications.

Content of the contract

  • Article I: Limitation of the German sphere of interest in the area of ​​the later German East Africa.
  • Article II: transfer of the guardianship of witu from Germany to the UK. Waiver of German claims to the north.
  • Article III: Limitation of the German sphere of interest in South West Africa. Access to the Zambezi River on the Caprivi Strip.
  • Article IV: border demarcation between Togo and Gold Coast, Cameroon and Nigeria.
  • Article V: Free trade and transport in the Lake Chad area.
  • Article VI: subject to future boundary adjustments.
  • Article VII: definition of the spheres of interest.
  • Article VIII: reservation of free trade according to the General Act of the Berlin Conference of 1885.
  • Article IX: Mutual recognition of rights of individuals and societies.
  • Article X: Freedom of the mission.
  • Article XI: UK is committed to pushing the Sultan of Zanzibar to the assignment of land leased from the German East Africa Company continental coast of German East Africa, " Germany undertakes to recognize the protectorate of Great Britain over the remaining territories of the Sultan of Zanzibar in inclusion the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, and on the territories of the Sultan of witu and the neighboring area to Kismayu, where the German protectorate was withdrawn. "
  • Article XII: cession of Heligoland to Germany.

Maps of the territorial concessions

  • Ceded by Germany
  • Ceded to Germany

Helgoland

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