German colony: 1884-1914

The first German reference to Togo is the appearance of missionaries in 1847 to work among the largest tribal institution in the region, the Ewe. German buyers soon comply with, establishing a base at Anécho at the coast.

When Bismarck decides to prepare an off-the-peg German empire in Africa, Togo is one of the three places which he selects at the west coast. His consultant, Gustav Nachigal, duly arrives in 1884 to steer several of the tribal chieftains to just accept the safety of the German emperor and to fly the German flag above their villages. In 1885 Togoland is recognized by using the European powers as a German colony. Its coastal border is agreed with Britain's Gold Coast to the west and France's Dahomey to the east.

During the subsequent decade German military expeditions win control over the interior. By the cease of the century it's far possible to establish the inland frontiers with Germany's two colonial neighbours (with France in 1897 and Great Britain in 1899).

A new metropolis is built at Lomé (from 1897) as capital of the colony, and production starts on railways to Anécho, Blitta and Palimé. Using African compelled labour to work rubber, palm, cotton and cocoa plantations, the German management and private German corporations collectively turn Togoland into an economically green although particularly brutal colony. But in 1914 German tenure comes to a unexpected stop.