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The reborn Prince Hechingen of the Swabian branch of the Hohenzollern family perceives the unfolding situation in Europe, where war is imminent. Europe cannot afford to delay. The strategy involves establishing a presence in East Africa, fostering immigration and development, and laying the foundations for agriculture. This gradual approach leverages the crisis to expedite the process of industrialization

African Entrepreneurship History

Chapter 19: Hechingen Military Academy

In just a few months, the Hechingen Military Academy had been constructed at its grassroots level, but the recruited teachers had not yet begun their instruction. The five hundred teenagers recruited from the Far East were in a fragile state, having suffered from malnutrition and hardships during their journey.

Ernst was cautious in providing food to these newcomers. He offered them vegetables, bread, and potatoes to help them gradually recover from their weakened state. He was concerned that feeding them too much at once could be detrimental to their health, especially after their ordeal at sea.

These teenagers, who had known hunger and hardship, were overjoyed to have regular meals. For many of them, even basic sustenance was a luxury. This revealed the dire conditions faced by people in ancient eastern countries, where exploitation by authorities was rampant, and the lower classes bore the brunt of financial burdens.

The Qing Dynasty, plagued by war and natural disasters, had intensified its exploitation of the lower classes, causing untold suffering among the population. In these circumstances, recruitment by Ernst's Far East Commercial Liaison Office was swift. For those who had lost hope, even the promise of a meal was a lifeline.

Ernst recognized that these Chinese immigrants, with their experience of suffering and hard work, were valuable laborers. They were disciplined and diligent, traits that were essential for his plans in East Africa.

Chinese workers were known for their work ethic and adaptability. Ernst believed that they could be a productive labor force for developing East Africa. While he aimed to use European workers, he understood that they were not as disciplined as the Chinese and were less willing to undertake strenuous labor.

In Europe, the balance between nobles and serfs had led to a relatively comfortable life for European peasants, reducing their incentive to work hard without adequate wages and rest time. In contrast, the Chinese labor force was more accustomed to hardship and was willing to put in the effort.

Ernst's priority for East Africa was agriculture, as he believed that industrialization could only follow successful agricultural modernization. Chinese immigrants, recruited through the Far East Commercial Liaison Office, would play a vital role in farming in Africa.

The young recruits from the Far East had come to Europe seeking opportunities and a better life. Their wages would be invested back into the company, and the labor-intensive farming would also involve local indigenous people.

Ernst's plan included using these indigenous people for labor-intensive tasks like plowing and ditch digging. These natives had traditionally relied on hunting and gathering, making the transition to farming challenging. However, Ernst intended to transport them to other regions once they had served their purpose in East Africa.

Ernst considered these teenagers as potential leaders who would assist him in managing the Chinese labor force in East Africa. Teaching all the Chinese workers German was impractical, and translation services were limited. Ernst aimed to eventually establish German as the dominant language in East Africa, with Germans in positions of authority.

This chapter sheds light on Ernst's pragmatic approach to labor recruitment and his long-term vision for East Africa, which included language and cultural transformation.