Helgoland: The controversial exchange with Great Britain 1890

Helgoland: The controversial exchange with Great Britain 1890

Helgoland, Deutschland - on July 1, 1890 was a day that became historically important for both Helgoland and the German Empire. On this day, the North Sea island of Great Britain was handed over to the German Reich, while in return the United Kingdom received areas in Africa, including Witu-Land (today's Kenya) and Buganda on Lake Victoria. This was part of the so-called Helgoland Sansibar Treaty, which is often regarded as an exchange business that regulated the geopolitical land claims of the time. [NDR] (https://www.ndr.de/geschichte/schauplaetze/im-bausch-kolonien-helgoland-werd-1890-deutsch, helgoland contract100.html) reports that Kaiser Wilhelm II personally took possession of the island, which was not only the Germans but also the British colonial lobby. This agreed that Helgoland was hardly worth value compared to the lost colonies.

The strategic location of the island, about 50 kilometers from the mainland and in the immediate vicinity of the Handelskätskäts Hamburg and Bremen, made it extremely interesting for the German Reich. By acquiring Helgoland, the German colonial politicians hoped to expand their naval power and to secure control over the waterways of Weser and Elbe. These geostrategic considerations were expressly approved by Kaiser Wilhelm II, even if the military value of the island in the United Kingdom was assessed as low.

The contract and its background

The contract that regulated the handover of the island was signed on July 1, 1890 in Berlin. At the same time, the patronage over Witu passed to the United Kingdom, and the German Reich recognized British patrons over Zanzibar and Pemba. The regulation of the regional and sovereign claims was of great importance for the colonial powers, especially considering the imperialist efforts in Africa. However, many colonial politicians in Berlin were dissatisfied with the exchange, since they saw Helgoland as insignificant compared to the areas that they had to give up on a large area [Wikipedia] (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ contract_dem_demeich_reich_dem_vereigte_k%C3%B6nigreich_%C3%BCber_Die_kolonien_und_Helgoland).

As far as the Helgolands were concerned, they only played a subordinate role in the negotiations. There were concerns that the islanders did not want to become Germans, which ultimately led to tensions and a certain uncertainty among the population. However, the contract secured some rights for the Helgoländer: So they could not pay taxes until 1918, and conscription only applied to those who were born after July 1, 1890. The existing laws and habits were also protected by paragraph XII, 4 of the contract wikipedia.

the reception of the emperor and the consequences

The solemn handover of Helgoland took place on August 8, 1890, at which Emperor Wilhelm II entered the island on August 10, 1890. A celebration was organized with great effort, and the Queen Street was given the name Kaiserstrasse to symbolize the new German rule. The Prussian discipline was introduced in the social life of the islanders, which did not like all residents and led to tensions. Before July 1, 1890, Helgoländer was freed from the compulsory military service and were able to choose between German and British citizenship.

But the story of Helgoland should not only be shaped by this takeover. After the Second World War, in which the island was heavily bombarded and used as a bombing, the evacuated Helgoländer was allowed to return in 1952. The island had been returned to the Federal Republic of Germany, and the last remnants of the political upheavals at that time disappeared slowly in history [ndr] (https://www.ndr.de/geschichte/schauplaetze/im-bausch-kolonien-helgoland-werd-deutsch ,Helgoland contract 100.html).