Theodor Leutwein

Theodor Gotthilf Leutwein (9 May 1849 – 13 April 1921) was a German military officer and colonial administrator who served as Landeshauptmann and governor of German Southwest Africa from 1894 to 1905.

Theodor Leutwein
Governor of German South West Africa
In office 15 March 1894 – 19 August 1905
Preceded by	Curt von Francois
Succeeded by	Lothar von Trotha
Personal details
Born	19 May 1849 Waldbrunn, Grand Duchy of Baden
Died	13 April 1921 Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden, Germany
Military service
Allegiance	Grand Duchy of Baden (1868–1871)  German Empire (1871–1905)
Branch/service	Baden Army  Prussian Army Schutztruppe
Years of service	1868–1905
Rank	Colonel char. Generalmajor
Commands	Imperial Schutztruppe for German South West Africa
Battles/wars	Franco-Prussian War Khaua-Mbandjeru rebellion Herero Wars

Theodor Leutwein (seated left), Zacharias Zeraua (2nd from left) and Manasseh Tyiseseta (seated, fourth from left), 1895

Life and career

Leutwein was born in Strümpfelbrunn in the Grand Duchy of Baden. He joined the Baden Army in 1868, served in the Franco-Prussian War and afterwards was taken over into the Prussian Army. Following several promotions he achieved the rank of major in 1893. In 1894 he replaced Curt von François as commander of the Imperial Schutztruppe for German South West Africa (Imperial Security Troop). His personal goal in the colony was to create "colonialism without bloodshed". During his tenure there, Leutwein created a decentralized administration with three regional centers (Windhoek, Otjimbingwe and Keetmanshoop). The construction of the first railroad between Windhoek and the seaport of Swakopmund was built during his rule. In 1899 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, rising to the rank of colonel in 1901.^[1]

His policies with the native Africans, which he called the "Leutwein System", was a mixture of diplomacy, "divide-and-rule" and military coercion. His relationship with the indigenous Nama and Herero tribes were tenuous at best. Conversely, he was often criticized by German colonists as being too lenient with the Africans. In 1904 an uprising by the Herero was the beginning of the end of his colonial leadership. Soon after the uprising began Wilhelm II replaced Leutwein with the notorious General Lothar von Trotha.^[1] In May 1904 he admitted that the Germans had not taken one Herero prisoner, following an inquiry by the social democratic Reichstag deputy August Bebel.^[2]

In 1906, Leutwein published an autobiography, "Elf Jahre als Gouverneur in Deutsch-Südwestafrika"^[3] ("Eleven Years as Governor in German South West Africa"), an historical account of his career in German Southwest Africa. He died in Freiburg.^[1]