Mission, church and state relations in South-West Africa under German rule

The study examines the interaction of missionaries and clergymen with the colonial administration in South West Africa/Namibia under German rule (1884–1915). It seeks to put forward a new, more specific picture of members of religious societies often characterised as „advocates of the natives“ or „collaborators of the colonial state“. On the basis of detailed archival research of German, Namibian, Finnish, South African and English archival sources the study aims at providing sufficient evidence for the argument that it is not only misleading, but historically incorrect to characterise mission, church and state relations in a colonial society by general terms such as „collaboration“ or „opposition“, arguing against the assumption that the groups involved had homogeneous social and political structures. „. this is a well-researched and judicious piece of scholarship which will be of lasting value as a guide to the organization of religious life under German colonialism.” The International History Review “Oermann provides an intense and disturbing insight into German colonial society. […] this is a satisfying book to read, which has been written by somebody who kept an open mind, worked hard and truly knew his material.„ Journal of African History “Ohne Abstriche ist Oermanns Versuch, unter Aufnahme prosopographischer Fragestellungen das Bild eines homogenen Missionarskollektivs zu dekonstruieren, als gelungen zu bezeichnen. Man kann ihm nur viele Nachahmer sowohl für andere Missionsgesellschaften als auch für die Gruppe der Siedler oder der Kolonialbeamten wünschen." Das Historisch-Politische Buch