German Empire annexes Nauru

Background. The German Empire, established in 1871, entered the colonial race in the 1880s, acquiring territories in the Pacific. This expansion occurred despite Chancellor Otto von Bismarck's earlier reluctance. The empire's administrative structure included various states, with Prussia holding dominant constitutional power. In this period of imperial expansion, Germany annexed Nauru in 1888 after an agreement with Great Britain.

Annexation and Administration. Germany annexed Nauru in 1888 after an agreement with Great Britain, incorporating it into the Marshall Islands Protectorate for administrative purposes. A German protectorate was proclaimed in 1888, and the name 'Nauru' was adopted in the Reichskommissar's report, becoming the standard spelling. Christian missionaries from the Gilbert Islands arrived in 1888, marking the beginning of religious influence on the island.

Early Administration. Robert Rasch, a German trader who married a Nauruan girl, was appointed as the first administrator in 1890. This appointment followed the initial annexation and the establishment of the protectorate. The exact date of the annexation is not specified in the provided passages, though the legacy row suggests April 16, 1888.