Modaliteti eksterne kolonizacije u Bosni 1890-1914: Case Study za njemačke erarne kolonije
Modalities of External Colonisation in Bosnia 1890-1914: A Case Study on German State Colonies

Summary/Abstract: In Bosnian-Herzegovinian historiography the issue of external colonisation, particularly colonisation carried out by German ethnic element, has often been linked to political motives of the Austro-Hungarian authorities that, if simplified, could be encapsulated in the following manner: Austro-Hungarian administration was aimed at settling a foreign, loyal element (German in particular) in the areas prevailingly inhabited by Orthodox Christian population, e.g. Posavina which resulted in elimination of its influence. The Landesregierung, on the other hand, always emphasised that the purpose of establishing colonies was to provide domicile peasants with higher farming skills and, since arable land was mainly located in the northern part of Bosnia, it was logical that colonies were created there. The process of creation of state-owned colonies was in full swing in the 1880s. Thus, eleven German colonies were created, with settlers from the territories of Hungary, Bukovina, Galicia, mainly the followers of Evangelical Church (Helvetians and Augsburgians). In the beginning, these settlers encountered numerous problems, such as acclimatisation, malaria, shortage of potable water, poor communications and climate disasters. Although these colonies gradually succeeded to consolidate, they never had the status of private colonies that experienced great progress in the true sense of the word “Musterkolonien”. Relationship between these colonists and the Provincial Government was regulated by the contracts on lease of land that determined the rights and duties of settlers, so that settlers who had spent ten years diligently cultivating the land they had got on lease were entitled to assume the right to that land and could apply for ownership right over the plots of land they had cultivated. This was the most significant process that occurred in the state-type colonies at the beginning of the 20th century.

• Details
• Contents