Ottilie Abrahams was a second generation survivor of the Nama Herero Genocide. This was the first genocide of the 20th century and a precursor to the Holocaust. In January 1904, the Herero people, led by Samuel Maharero and the Nama led by Captain Hendrik Witbooi rebelled against intensification of German colonial rule. In response, General Lothar von Trotha gave the explicit order to annihilate any Herero people found within ‘German territory’ whether armed or not. They were surrounded then driven into the desert where many died of dehydration or were killed in the retreat.  Survivors were sent to extermination camps such as Shark Island.  Between 25 000 and 100 000 Herero (50-75% of the population), and about 10 000 Nama people were murdered. With the closure of the concentration camps, all surviving Herero were ‘distributed’ as labourers for white settlers. All tribal and missionary lands were then expropriated and, uncultivated land tightly controlled. In 2011 the first 20 of the estimated 300 skulls stored in museums in Europe were returned to Namibia for burial. In 2015, Germany officially acknowledged the events a “genocide” and “part of a race war,” but has continued to refuse to consider reparations, despite ongoing law suits.