https://dspace.library.uvic.ca:8443/dsp ... thesis.pdf
Analysis of German cultural symbols of the African expansion begins with the
dissection of urban structures relating to colonialism. The most obvious example of this
colonial architecture is the 1898 Deutsches Kolonialmuseum. The museum was designed
to display the missionary work, trade, literature, history, culture and everyday life of the
German colonies. Particular focus was given to advertising colonial products designed
for the German domestic market. A clear indication of the propagandistic focus of the
museum was the layout, which included import and export rooms, life-size
representations of village life, Schutztruppe battle scenes, and an exhibition of missionary
activities. The contemporary inclination towards colonial exotica meant that the
museum soon became a popular destination for Germans of all classes.
Other important colonial-themed structures included the 1891 Berlin tropical
greenhouses, the 1903 Africa-Haus of the DKG and the 1911 Kolonialhaus. The
Kolonialhaus featured minarets, Ottoman domes, lions, elephants and African warriors on
its façade. The building featured a wealth of exotic products and technologies, combined
with overtly pro-interventionist colonial propaganda.