Story: Samoans

Raising the German flag, 1900

Raising the German flag, 1900

Samoa became a focus for the colonial ambitions of Britain, Germany and the United States at the end of the 19th century. In December 1899, the USA gained control of eastern Samoa and Germany took over western Samoa. The German flag was formally raised the next year. When the First World War broke out, New Zealand occupied Western Samoa, which it administered from 1920 to 1961 under mandates from the League of Nations and the United Nations.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PAColl-3062-2-01

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Lupematasila Melani Anae, 'Samoans - History and migration', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/1562/raising-the-german-flag-1900 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Lupematasila Melani Anae, published 8 Feb 2005, reviewed & revised 7 Sep 2022 with assistance from  Lupematasila Melani Anae