Tanzania Colonial Records

German Colonization (1885-1919)
In 1885, Germany declared East Africa a protectorate, and established the colony of German East Africa (present-day mainland Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi) in 1891. After the defeat of Germany during World War I, German East Africa was divided under the Treaty of Versailles.

British Colonization (1919-1961)
During World War One, British and Belgian forces occupied Tanzania. After the war, the territory was divided under the Treaty of Versailles. The British renamed its part of the territory Tanganyika. In 1961, Tanganyika was granted independence from British rule, but during the first year of independence was ruled by a governor general who represented the British monarch. Tanganyika gained its independence from Britain in 1961 and became a democratic republic under an executive president in December 1962. Zanzibar gained its freedom in 1963. In 1964, the Republic of Tanzania was formed by the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.