‘Lost Territories’ card game

Although Germany’s defeat marked the end of its colonial empire, it did not bring an end to its colonial ambitions. Even after 1918, the German Reich continued to be shaped by colonialism and the idea of European superiority. As a result of its defeat, Germany was stripped of all its colonies under the 1919 Treaty of Versailles.

From the far right to the Social Democrats, the demand for a return of the former colonies was an integral part of the general opposition to the peace terms of the Treaty of Versailles. A colonial revisionist movement emerged. Emphasizing the supposedly excellent relations between Germans and the local population, it called for a return of the colonies.

Like this card game, a large number of books, films and propagandistic articles continued under the Nazi regime to promote the myth of ‘idyllic life’ in the colonies. This myth had a broad influence on public perceptions of German colonial history throughout the 20th century.