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History of Namibia

South West Africa, Südwest-Afrika, Suidwes-Afrika

by Željko Heimer, 3 Jul 2002

Deutsch Südwestafrika (1884 - 1915)
Mandated Territory of South West Africa (1915 - 1990)

See also:

Deutsch Südwestafrika (1884 - 1915) - German South West Africa

The German administration of South West Africa lasted little more than three decades from 1884 to 1915. In contrast to territories which made up the British Empire, virtually all of which were granted a distinctive heraldic and vexillological identity, German colonies and protectorates did not have their own heraldic devices or flags. Following in the Portuguese and Dutch colonial practice, the Germans treated their overseas possessions an integral part of one empire and consequently the Imperial German Arms and flags were used throughout the Empire, including German South West Africa as Namibia was then known.

During a visit by the then German Secretary of State, Dr. Solf, to German possessions in Africa during 1912 - 1913, he noted that each of the British colonial territorities had their own distinctive colonial emblem. The fact that these "