Under '' Weltpolitik '' , despite a two front war still being at the forefront of Germany 's concerns as proven through the Schlieffen Plan , Kaiser Wilhelm II was far more ambitious . Colonial policies officially became a matter of national prestige , promoted by pressure groups like the Pan-German League ; in the ongoing Scramble for Africa , Germany was a latecomer and must stand firm to catch up . However , only relatively small acquisitions were made , such as Kiautschou Bay and Neukamerun , whereas Wilhelm 's support for a policy of colonization were shown in his Kruger telegram in 1896 and response to the Venezuelan crisis of 1902 – 03 ; Wilhelm 's social darwinist attitude was similarly reflected in the Herero and Namaqua genocide from 1904 onwards and the suppression of the Maji Maji Rebellion from 1907 , as well as in the First and Second Moroccan Crisis of 1905 and 1911
Herero and Namaqua genocide
Herero and Namaqua genocide
Weltpolitik