Deutsch-Ostafrika: Geographie und Geschichte der Colonie

This volume offers a detailed snapshot of German East Africa at the turn of the century, blending geography with early colonial history. Drawing on trade statistics, travelers’ accounts, and the few existing maps, it sketches the region’s rivers, soils, climate zones and the distribution of native production. The author examines how these natural factors shape the colony’s agricultural promise, from coffee‑rich highlands to coastal plantations, and assesses the prospects for expanding European industry.

Beyond the physical landscape, the work surveys the practical challenges of turning raw potential into profit. It highlights the severe shortage of reliable transport—no navigable rivers or roads—and argues that railways are essential for linking producers to markets. By weighing the reports of numerous explorers and confronting gaps in knowledge, the book provides a measured, data‑driven foundation for anyone interested in the early economic and environmental dynamics of East Africa’s German colonial experiment.