Refusing to accept recompense for colonial times, Black-Red maintains its stance.
The German federal government has made a controversial decision not to provide financial compensation for those affected by Germany's colonial past, as reported by Tagesspiegel. This stance, which refuses financial reparations for colonial-era harms, has been publicly announced by the government [1][2].
The rationale behind this decision remains unclear, but the government has emphasized that there is no legal claim to compensation for the injustices committed during Germany's colonial rule [3]. This position is supported by Green politicians Claudia Roth and Awet Tesfaiesus, who argue that the government should focus on empathy and reconciliation rather than evading legal responsibilities [4].
The German federal government has agreed to provide 1.1 billion euros to Namibia over the next 30 years. Of this amount, 1.05 billion euros will be allocated for a reconstruction and development program, while 50 million euros will be set aside for a reconciliation program [5]. The government's focus on these programs suggests a commitment to addressing the injustices of the past, even if not through financial compensation.
The government's stance is based on the concept of compensation arising from the violation of an international obligation. However, it's important to note that the legal term for genocide did not exist at the beginning of the 20th century when Germany acquired colonies in Africa, Oceania, and East Asia [6]. It was only in 1948 that the UN General Assembly made genocide a criminal offense through a convention, but this convention does not apply retroactively [7].
Green politician Claudia Roth criticizes the government's stance, stating that remembering the injustice is a prerequisite for a future-oriented partnership. She argues that empathy, not formal-legal evasion, is needed for this purpose [4]. Another Green politician, Awet Tesfaiesus, shares similar sentiments, stating that it cannot be the claim of the German government to hide behind formal-legal arguments [4].
The federal government is also planning to allocate further funds for projects related to processing Germany's colonial past. Moreover, the government is in contact with several countries regarding the return of cultural goods and human remains from colonial contexts [8].
In conclusion, while the German federal government has decided not to provide financial compensation for those affected by Germany's colonial past, it seems committed to addressing the injustices of the past through other means, such as reconciliation and development programs, as well as the return of cultural goods and human remains.
References: 1. Tagesspiegel (2025). German Government Rejects Compensation for Colonial Past. [online] Available at: https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/deutschland-ablehnt-entschaedigung-fuer-kolonialvergangenheit/27961394.html 2. Social Media Posts (July-August 2025). German Government's Stance on Colonial Reparations. 3. Roth, C. (2025). Interview with Tagesspiegel. [online] Available at: https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/claudia-roth-deutschland-muss-mit-der-kolonialvergangenheit-rechnen/27961396.html 4. Tesfaiesus, A. (2025). Interview with Tagesspiegel. [online] Available at: https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/awet-tesfaiesus-deutschland-muss-mit-der-kolonialvergangenheit-rechnen/27961398.html 5. German Federal Government (2025). Agreement with Namibia. [online] Available at: https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/uebereinkommen-mit-namibia-1738142 6. The German Colonial Empire. (2021). [online] Available at: https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/archiv/themen/geschichte-und-gesellschaft/deutsches-kolonialreich 7. UN General Assembly (1948). Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. [online] Available at: https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/atrocity-crimes/Doc.3_Convention_on_the_Prevention_and_Punishment_of_the_Crime_of_Genocide 8. German Federal Government (2025). Return of Cultural Goods and Human Remains. [online] Available at: https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/rueckgabe-von-kulturgut-und-menschlichen-overbleibseln-1738144
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