Das Album.

Theodor Schneemann’s records indicate his involvement in the suppression of the Maji-Maji Rebellion, which broke out in early August 1905. According to a note in his file at the Reich Colonial Office, he was engaged in the conflict during the years 1905, 1906, and 1907. Digital copies of such records can be accessed online at the German Federal Archives. There, many details about all soldiers—from official duties to shoe sizes – are available. However, the exact nature of Schneemann’s participation in the violent suppression of the Maji-Maji Rebellion remains unclear. Unlike his comrades, there is no record of his involvement in battles.
When the uprising began in July 1905, Schneemann was on leave in Germany. His official service obligation extended until September 9 of that year. It is possible that the outbreak of the war prompted him to extend his service. He did indeed return to duty and wrote a postcard from Naples, where he took the ferry to Dar es Salaam on September 5, 1905, addressed to Bertha Kopp. The card is dated September 3, 1905:
“Dear Bertha! Arrived very well. The captain just wanted to see us. Departure Tuesday. The uprising is over again. Greetings to all, Yours, Theodor”
At that time, the uprisings had actually reached their peak. This is the only reference to the war found in Schneemann’s preserved records, despite the fact that all of his friends were involved in battles.

After the Coastal Uprising and the Wahehe Rebellion, the Maji-Maji Wars (1905–1907) were the third major resistance movement against German colonial rule. They also represent one of the major German colonial crimes. The suppression of the uprising was not limited to those who were actively fighting. Instead, it involved systematically burning villages, fields, and supplies with the intent to starve the population. Casualty estimates range from 250,000 to 300,000 people, which was up to a third of the population in the southern regions. But how did this uprising come about? The immediate trigger for the rebellion was the introduction of a head tax, which had to be paid through forced labor on cotton fields. What was unique about this rebellion was that for the first time, different ethnic groups united against German rule. They were united by the belief in the magical power of the Maji potion (meaning „water“ in Swahili). Initially, they won some battles, but the German „scorched earth“ tactics deprived the rebels of their means of survival.

Although there was no explicit order to annihilate specific ethnic groups, the actions and outcomes of the „Protection Force“ during the Maji-Maji Rebellion clearly exhibit genocidal intent. The absence of a formal genocide order poses significant obstacles to legal proceedings. Currently, the lack of legal succession by the Tanzanian state to the victim groups further hinders such processes.
In 2023, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Songea and apologized for the violence and „cruel harshness“ of the colonial administration. Despite this, Germany has not officially recognized these events as genocide. Consequently, neither the descendants of the victims nor the Tanzanian state are receiving any form of reparation for these atrocities.