Carl Peters

In a London club in 1892, civil service members discuss Carl Peters, who has just crossed the English Channel with intelligence officers. They wonder whether to stop Peters before he can advance his objective. His goal is to solidify Germany's position in East Africa.

Peters returns to Germany to garner support for his expedition. He finds that his exploration projects meet with little enthusiasm from officials and financiers. The political wind in Berlin complicates his plans.

He arrives in Zanzibar and tries to win the consulate's backing. He intends to establish a German colony and make East Africa a protectorate. He also seeks commercial treaties with local tribal leaders before the British or Belgians move in.

To anchor Germany's influence, Peters pursues commercial treaties with local leaders. The negotiations form a key part of his bid to lay the groundwork for a protectorate. These efforts are conducted ahead of rival European powers.

As he pushes forward, Peters endures a tropical disease that nearly cripples him and survives an attempted poisoning by the Intelligence Service. The narrow escapes intensify his resolve to press the colonial project. The episode highlights the perilous nature of his mission.

He finally receives a letter from Kaiser Wilhelm I assuring protection for his colony. The imperial blessing provides a crucial seal on his ambitions. The moment marks official recognition of his efforts.

Peters returns to Africa and faces danger from the British and from the director of the Colonial Department of the German Foreign Office, who happens to be Jewish. He escapes danger, but his friend Karl Ludwig Jühlke is a victim. The episode heightens the peril and costs of colonial ambition.

Karl Ludwig Jühlke, Peters' friend, is killed during the expedition. The death underscores the high price of colonial ventures. Peters carries on despite the loss.

Back in Berlin, bad news reaches the capital that Chancellor Bismarck must resign, even as Peters is appointed Reichskommissar (Commissioner of Colonies). The appointment places him in a powerful position over colonial affairs while political storms swirl. The clash signals the complicated balance between imperial aims and domestic politics.

Returning to Berlin, Peters must answer to the Reichstag and to accusations of brutality from the SPD. He faces heated rhetoric and intense political scrutiny as his policy is debated at home. The scene underscores the fragile balance between empire and democratic accountability.

Despite the mounting attack, Peters gains crucial support from a witness who is a black Anglican Bishop. The bishop's testimony offers a counterpoint to the charges leveled against him. This endorsement influences the public debate about his actions.

Despite some support and rhetoric, Peters is forced to resign. The resignation marks the end of his official colonial career as portrayed in the film. The episode reflects the limits of empire and the political consequences at home.