殖民地的目的在於為殖民母國服務。但是殖民地對「遲到」的德國而言，除?經濟、社會等方面的作用外，還有?強?的心?的作用：沒有殖民地，?是世界強權；?是世界強權，將會面?存亡的危機。俾斯麥對殖民地的消極態?在先，威?二世的積極態?在後，反映?德國自統一以?在經濟、社會、心態等方面的重大改變。殖民地的取得，管?和發展，與中央（柏?，外交部，國會）的決策、殖民地管?者（總督和其部屬）的政策以及被殖民者的反應等三項因素有密?的關係，彼此間交互影響，而為時僅三十餘?的德國殖民體制提供?很好的?證。

The purpose of establishing colonies was to serve the interest of the mother nation economically and socially. For a late comer as Germany in the late nineteenth century, colonies also provided the psychological reassurance of their ability in claiming the membership of super powers. It was stated that without establishing colonies, Germany could not be taken as one of the superpowers, and without being considered a superpower, Germany would face a life threatening crisis. While Bismarck was rather conservative in colonization, William II was much more active, which reflected the grave economic, social and psychological changes in Germany since her unification. Germany's colonial institution, which lasted no more than 40 years, provides an excellent example of the three-way interactions involving the imperial policies towards the colonies, the governance of the colonies, and the reaction of the people in the colonies.