German East Africa Company
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The German East Africa Company (German: Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Gesellschaft) was an organisation founded by Karl Peters (with imperial backing from Otto von Bismarck) on April 2, 1885, to govern German East Africa (modern Tanzania). The Company established the colony's first capital city at Bagamoyo, but soon moved the capital to Dar es Salaam.
The Company's harsh conduct with the native peoples of East Africa led to a number of confrontations and minor rebellions.
In 1888, the Company absorbed the bankrupt German Witu Society, which had been created to trade in the German protectorate of Wituland only a year and a half before.
In 1891, after it became apparent that the Company was handling the colony poorly, the German government began to rule German East Africa directly, thus rendering the Company redundant. It faded out of existence shortly afterwards.
