Theodor Leutwein
Theodor God Help Leutwein ( born May 9, 1849 in Strümpfelbrunn, today community forest Brunn, Baden, † April 13, 1921 in Freiburg im Breisgau) was from 1895 to 1905 commander of the Imperial Colonial Army and governor of German South-West Africa.
Life
During his studies, he became in 1867 a member of the fraternity Alemannia Freiburg. Theodor Leutwein went through a classical education officer in the Prussian army, 1869 Baden the 5th Infantry Regiment No.113 was to lieutenant in 1885 and promoted to captain and company commander. He then worked for several years until his promotion to Major in 1893 as a teacher at the military schools and Neisse Hersfeld and stood à la suite in the Infantry Regiment of Stülpnagel (5th Brandenburg ) No.48.
In the same year Leutwein was ordered to German South-West Africa and solved there two years later, the former commander of the troops, Major Curt von François, in this function from. Leutwein led the security force in 1894 compared cited by Hendrik Witbooi Orlam strain of the Witbooi and forced them to conclude a protection and assistance contract that met the Witbooi also almost 10 years faithfully. Furthermore Leutwein succeeded the revival and continuation of the protection Vertages with the Herero in Okahandja, so that their chief Samuel Maharero Leutwein accompanied not only on its several months exploring tour through the north of the country, but also in the suppression of a riot of Mbanderu / Eastern Herero 1896 energetic gave to military support. In recognition of both military and diplomatic successes ( the so-called system Leutwein: " Divide and Conquer ") was Major Leutwein 1896 appointed the first governor of German South-West Africa.
When in 1904 surprisingly broke the revolt of the Herero, who is now a colonel promoted Leutwein tried - his line following - initially given the military balance of power and its hitherto good relations with the Herero to reach a negotiated solution, but what it in both of the German settlers the colony when it was designed in Germany as a weakness. Therefore, the command of the protection force 1904 Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha was transferred, the - going extremely tough against the insurgents and operated the total destruction of the Herero - after the arrival of massive reinforcements, including artillery and machine guns. Leutwein initially remained governor, had a falling out but with von Trotha because of its inhuman warfare and came back in 1905 by the Office of the Governor.
Nevertheless Leutwein was still in 1905 promoted to Major General, retired in the same year from the imperial army, and returned to Germany, where he spent his life in Überlingen on Lake Constance. Leutwein died on April 13, 1921 in Freiburg im Breisgau and is at the main cemetery buried there.
Writings
- Theodor Leutwein: Eleven years governor of German South West Africa, 1906; . Namibiana Book Depot, 4th edition 1997, ISBN 978-3-936858-36-5
- The fights with Hendrik Witbooi 1894 and Witbois end. Voigtländer, Leipzig 1912 ( digitized ).