As a colonial official in Togo: Dr. Paul Grade (1856–1894)

Paul Traugott Reinhold Grade was born on 13.11.1856 in Berlin. [i] His life stands prototypically for a German-nationalist educated middle class that was interested in the politics of the Reich and involved in the pursuit of German greatness, but limited itself privately and publicly to its small circle of interaction in order not to jeopardize its ambitions and to be able to lead a life in comfort. [ii]

In 1879 he applied for the position of "Aspirant for the Legation Registry Service". According to all that can be assumed from later documents and publications, he was interested in a secure, well-paid job, which he could combine with his interest in languages. His request was not granted for several years. [iii] During this time, Paul Grade invested in his further education and in his promotion to reserve officer. [iv]

In colonial service

Paul Grade belonged to the first generation of colonial officials in the "protectorate" Togo. He was assigned ("assigned") to the first commissioner sent to Togo, Ernst Falkenthal, as secretary. One could argue that he owed his entire career to the fact that the German Reich decided to take possession of foreign territories, because there seem to have been problems in filling such positions, although they were associated with comparatively high remuneration. Especially in the early phase, the colonial service did not have a good reputation among the German civil service, it was considered dangerous to health and a playground for shady characters. In general, the new civil servants of the Reich had to build up at least a minimal administration within a very short time with scarce resources. [v]

Grad's stay in Togo was marked by the difficult, unclear situation on the ground (lack of personnel, unclear territorial conditions, disputes over jurisdiction among the German officials) and was interrupted several times by serious illnesses. The information about his work in the "protected area" is contradictory, among other things, Grade is said to have been involved in the conclusion of "protection treaties" with the rulers of the Towe, Kewe, Agotime and Agome-Palime regions in 1886. Other sources link Grade to the establishment of the police force, i.e. the attempt to establish a state coercive authority. [vi]

In August and September 1887, Grade undertook an expedition with Dr. Ernst Henrici, the "well-known anti-Semitic agitator". [vii] This expedition had unforeseen and unpleasant consequences for Grade, which led to a scandal and his recall from Togo. [viii] The retired reserve lieutenant Richard Strensch, who was involved in the travel preparations but was not allowed to take part in the expedition, accused Grade of various offenses in the colony. [ix] He accused him, among other things, of insulting imperial officials, various side businesses, poor administration and embezzlement. [x] The new interim commissioner of Togo, Jesko von Puttkamer, also strongly criticized the administration and the work ethic of Grade. [xi]

Here it becomes apparent that in the very small group of Germans and whites in Togo, personal tensions and rivalries often arose. Even contemporaries criticized the colonial officials, especially in Togo, where there were apparently particularly close ties between the officials and the merchants. [xii]

In any case, after this expedition, Paul Grade's career in Togo ended with disciplinary proceedings. Medical certificates prove that he was seriously ill with malaria and blackwater fever. Therefore, he left Togo in October 1887. The direct official proceedings against Grade ended in 1889 with a stern reprimand. [xiii] He was hit hardest by social ostracism on the part of the military, because Grade was dismissed from the officer's rank in 1890 with a simple farewell. [xiv]

In February 1890 he was appointed legation clerk in Caracas, Venezuela. This, as well as a post in Mexico, Grade apparently never took up. Instead, he was sent to the Imperial Embassy in Madrid in March 1891 in the same function. [xv]

Paul Grad's worldview

Grade's own positioning in contemporary racism cannot be clearly clarified. Despite his connections to Ernst Henrici, there is no indication of anti-Semitic attitudes in the texts reviewed for this article. [xvi] His choice of words and positioning towards blacks and his use of the N-word also remain ambiguous. [xvii] On the one hand, there are a number of contemporary stereotypes in Grade's texts. On the other hand, he was interested in local cultures and languages and advocated an examination of them. [xviii] But especially in popular scientific presentations, such as the article "Popular Customs and Laws in Togoland", which appeared in 1889 in the popular journal Aus allen Welttheilen , he tended to repeat negative stereotypes, such as that of a stagnating Africa that did not develop by itself. [xix]

It remains unclear whether Paul Grade himself acquired objects for the Museum of Ethnology in Berlin, such as the staff of the chief of Gridji, or was involved in the acquisition. He was in contact with the museum at least as early as 1886 during his vacation in Berlin and Stendal and sold a number of objects, including musical instruments, to the museum. [xx] Later, he bequeathed various objects to the museum as donations. His widow Margarete then sold his collection to the museum and private dealers after his death. [xxi]

Rehabilitation in Pankow

But how can the life of Dr. jur. Paul Grade, as he liked to be called, be connected with the history of Pankow? My thesis is that both can be seen as examples of the rise of the (Berlin) bourgeoisie in the Middle Empire. The stabilization of the empire enabled new classes to rise socially and economically, and Pankow's founding and turn-of-the-century buildings became the preferred address of these up-and-comers. The proximity to expansive Berlin and Pankow's transformation from an upper-middle-class summer residence to an upscale place of residence were also attractive to the Grades: In addition to Paul and his family, his mother Auguste Caroline Mathilde also settled within walking distance of Pankow train station (today Wollankstraße). There is evidence of the addresses Breite Straße 24 and house numbers 22 and 48 in Florastraße. His future wife, Selma Margarete Martha Hübner, was also already living in Pankow at the time of their engagement. His relatives can still be traced back to Pankow until at least 1935. Paul Grade died on April 5, 1894 after a short, serious illness in the Augusta Hospital in today's Scharnhorststraße in Berlin-Mitte.