Bernhard Dernburg

Bernhard Dernburg (1865–1937) was a German politician and banker known for his roles in colonial administration and finance. Born into a distinguished Jewish family in Hesse, he converted to Lutheranism and pursued a career in banking, eventually becoming a director at Deutsche Bank and managing several industrial companies.

Dernburg entered politics in 1906 as Prussian Representative at the Federal Council. Appointed Colonial Secretary by Chancellor Bernhard von Bülow in 1907, he sought to reform Germany's struggling colonial empire, emphasizing economic development through railway construction and recognizing the importance of indigenous labor. His tenure included tours of East Africa and German Southwest Africa, where he advocated for agricultural reforms and railway expansion.

Despite facing criticism, Dernburg resigned as Colonial Secretary in 1910 but remained influential in shaping colonial policies until World War I. During the war, he represented Germany's interests in the United States. After the war, he co-founded the German Democratic Party, served in the Weimar National Assembly, and briefly held the position of Minister of Finance and Vice Chancellor from April to June 1919.

Dernburg was a prominent figure in Germany's liberal democratic movement, serving in the Reichstag until 1930. His publications included works on colonial finance and development. He died in Berlin in 1937.