Gottlieb Viehe
Encyclopedia
Gottlieb Viehe; full name Friedrich Wilhelm Gottlieb Viehe (March 27, 1839 - January 1, 1901) was a German
missionary
of the Rheinische Missionsgesellschaft (Rhenish Missionary Society
) and an early settler in present-day Namibia
.
His first exposure to missionary work in Africa
was in 1867 at the settlement of Otjimbingwe
where here worked with the Ovaherero. In 1870 he moved to Omaruru
and established a small school for children of European settlers. In 1872, he built a mission house in Omaruru, and soon after translated the New Testament
into the Otjiherero language.
In 1885, Viehe constructed the first meteorological station in the newly formed colony
of German Southwest Africa at Omaruru. In 1890, he moved to Okahandja
where he was head of a small school called the "Augustineum". It was here he had a confrontation with Theodor Leutwein
, commandant of the Schutztruppe
, who accused Viehe of "mild treatment" in regards to his relations with indigenous Africans.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
of the Rheinische Missionsgesellschaft (Rhenish Missionary Society
Rhenish Missionary Society
The Rhenish Missionary Society was one of the largest missionary societies in Germany. Formed from smaller missions founded as far back as 1799, the Society was amalgamated on 23 September 1828, and its first missionaries were ordained and sent off to South Africa by the end of the year.The...
) and an early settler in present-day Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
.
His first exposure to missionary work in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
was in 1867 at the settlement of Otjimbingwe
Otjimbingwe
Otjimbingwe is a settlement in the Erongo Region of central Namibia. It has approximately 8000 inhabitants.The Rhenish Mission Society used Otjimbingwe as a central location for their Namibian mission in 1849. Johannes Rath and his family settled in the area on 11 July that year, and the settlement...
where here worked with the Ovaherero. In 1870 he moved to Omaruru
Omaruru
Omaruru may refer to:* Omaruru, Namibia* Omaruru Constituency* Omaruru River...
and established a small school for children of European settlers. In 1872, he built a mission house in Omaruru, and soon after translated the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
into the Otjiherero language.
In 1885, Viehe constructed the first meteorological station in the newly formed colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
of German Southwest Africa at Omaruru. In 1890, he moved to Okahandja
Okahandja
Okahandja is a town of 14,000 inhabitants in Otjozondjupa Region, central Namibia, and the district capital of the Okahandja electoral constituency. It is known as the Garden Town of Namibia. It is located 70km north of Windhoek on the B1 road...
where he was head of a small school called the "Augustineum". It was here he had a confrontation with Theodor Leutwein
Theodor Leutwein
Theodor Gotthilf Leutwein was colonial administrator of German Southwest Africa from 1894-1904. Born in Strümpfelbrunn in the Grand Duchy of Baden, he replaced Curt von François as commander of the Schutztruppe in 1894...
, commandant of the Schutztruppe
Schutztruppe
Schutztruppe was the African colonial armed force of Imperial Germany from the late 19th century to 1918, when Germany lost its colonies. Similar to other colonial forces, the Schutztruppe consisted of volunteer European commissioned and non-commissioned officers, medical and veterinary officers. ...
, who accused Viehe of "mild treatment" in regards to his relations with indigenous Africans.