Jesko von Puttkamer

For the German rocket engineer, see Jesco von Puttkamer.

Jesko Albert Eugen von Puttkamer (2 July 1855 – 23 January 1917) was a German diplomat, colonial administrator, and military officer who served as colonial governor of German Kamerun from 1895 to 1907.

Jesko von Puttkamer
4th Gouverneur of Kamerun
In office 13 August 1895 – 9 May 1907
Preceded by	Eugen von Zimmerer
Succeeded by	Theodor Seitz
3rd Landeshauptleute of Togoland
In office 4 June 1892 – 13 August 1895
Preceded by	Eugen von Zimmerer
Succeeded by	August Kohler
Personal details
Born	2 July 1855 Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia
Died	23 January 1917 (aged 61) Berlin, Prussia, German Empire
Cause of death	Suicide by hanging
Military service
Allegiance	German Empire
Branch/service	Imperial German Army Schutztruppe
Years of service	1885–1908
Rank	Major
Battles/wars	Adamawa Wars Bafut Wars

Early life and career

Jesko von Puttkamer was born to an aristocratic family. His father, Robert von Puttkamer,^[1] served as Interior Minister of Prussia, while his aunt, Johanna von Puttkamer, was the wife of Otto von Bismarck. Puttkamer studied law at various schools throughout Germany, and as a young man became notorious for engaging in gambling and prostitution.^[2] In 1883, he began his diplomatic career working at the German Consulate in Chicago.

Colonial service

In 1885, as a result of his frivolous lifestyle, Puttkamer was sent to the newly-established German colony of Kamerun in Africa, where he became a colonial diplomat, and was also drafted into the Imperial German Army as an officer in the Schutztruppe. He was eventually appointed by governor Julius von Soden to serve as Deputy Governor, a position which he served until 1890, after which he worked as a German diplomat in Nigeria. From 1892 to 1895, Puttkamer served as Landeshauptmann of Togoland.

Governor of Kamerun

Jesko von Puttkamer was appointed Governor of Kamerun on 13 August 1895, succeeding Eugen von Zimmerer. During his term, he launched military campaigns against the kingdoms of the Adamawa and Bafut, after both had uprisen against German rule. It was during these campaigns that Puttkamer and his troops committed several atrocities, including forced castrations, fatal floggings, and the kidnapping of young girls to be employed as concubines.^[2] In addition, he employed forced labor and favored the rights of white men and his troops over those of native women, which put him at odds with missionaries in the region.^[3] In response to these misdeeds, King Manga Ndumbe Bell of the Duala led a delegation of tribal chieftains to Berlin in 1902 to appeal to the German government in protest of Puttkamer's actions. This delegation was unsuccessful, and three years later Bell made a second attempt, only to be arrested by Puttkamer upon his return and given a prison sentence of nine years.

Puttkamer's residence in Buea

By 1906, news of Bell's arrest and the events in Kamerun had led to a public outcry, and Puttkamer was finally put on trial. During the trial, Puttkamer was found guilty of acts of insubordination, and was made to pay a fine of 1,000 Reichsmarks. On 9 May 1907, Puttkamer was dismissed as governor by German colonial secretary Bernhard Dernburg.^[2][4] Puttkamer had built a lavish residence for himself in Buea; following his dismissal, the residence was occupied by the new civilian governor of Kamerun Theodor Seitz.^[5]

Marriage and death

Jesko von Puttkamer officially retired from military service in 1908. In 1914, after many decades of celibacy, he married Elisabeth Passow. They had one son, who died in infancy. Puttkamer hanged himself on 23 January 1917.