Awards of Germany - Imperial Colonies

German colonies are all overseas possessions of the German Empire. They are also called German reserves.
The acquisition of colonies was promoted by the German Colonial Union (founded in 1882), and later by the German Colonial Society (founded in 1887).
Initially, the territories were managed by private companies. By 1900, the German Empire took control. The efforts were aimed at developing raw materials, expanding trade and creating space for emigration. The expansion of the German Empire was not planned.
German colonies included:
In Africa:
German South West Africa (now Namibia) became a colony in 1884 until 1915.
Togo (now divided between Togo and Ghana) became a colony in 1884 until 1914.
Cameroon became a colony in 1884 until 1914.
German East Africa (now the territory of Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi) became a colony in 1885 until 1918.
In the Pacific:
German New Guinea (now Northeast New Guinea) became a colony in 1885.
The Bismarck Archipelago and Marshall Islands also became a colony in 1885.
Nauru became a colony in 1888.
The Mariana Islands, Caroline Islands and Paula Islands became a colony in 1889.
Part of the Samoa Islands under the Samoa Treaty of 1889.
In China:
In 1898, the territory of Kiauzhou was leased by China for 99 years.
After World War I, the German Empire was forced to cede its colonies under the Treaty of Versailles.