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The 1904 Namibia Genocide was one of the darkest phases in the history of the country. This massacre of men, women and children of Namibia was the result of a long succession of events. An important part of Namibia history, the genocide in 1904 had its roots in the conflict between the colonizers and the colonized.
Germany occupied the country of Namibia in the 20th century. The native tribes living in the country did not oppose to the German occupation of land in the initial stages. With time the settlers in Namibia had acquired a large portion of land area used as cattle grazing grounds by the natives. The credit system adopted by the Europeans took advantage of the simplicity of the natives and completely tore down their means of living.
The Herero and Nama tribes started a revolt against the oppressors. The most prominent leaders of the revolt were Samuel Maherero and Hendrik Witbooi. They killed the Europeans but never harmed the women or the children of the settlers. The missionaries were also not killed. This revolt by the tribes resulted in the appointment of Lieutenant-General Lothar von Trotha, an important figure in Namibia Genocide.
The German Forces under Trotha cornered the fighting tribes from three sides. The tribal people were driven to the point where the only way of escape from the German Forces was the vast expanses of the Kalahari Desert. The techniques employed for genocide in Namibia consisted of poisoning the water sources. The majority of the people, including the women and children died from lack of drinking water.
Severe criticism of Namibia Genocide throughout the world finally stopped this cruel deed. However, most of the tribal people were tortured and murdered during this time. The terrible episode of Namibia genocide marks the inhuman cruelty of the German forces over hundreds of innocent lives.
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