Hans Tappenbeck (born 14 January 1861, Wolsier (today part of Havelaue), Western

Havelland Geographically, the Havelland is the region around which the River Havel flows in a U-shape between Oranienburg to the northeast and Rhinow to the northwest. The northern boundary of the Havelland is formed by the River Rhin and the Rhin Canal. ...

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; died 26 July 1889 in

Douala Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is also the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region (Cameroon), Littoral Region. Home to Central Africa's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Ai ...

Cameroon Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the C ...

) was a German officer and explorer of Africa.

Life

Tappenbeck was born as son of a ''Domänenpächter'' (tenant of an estate) and ''Oberamtmann'' (senior bailiff). He attended the ''Louisenstädtische Gymnasium'' in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

and the

Cadet Corps A corps of cadets, also called cadet corps, was originally a kind of military school for boys. Initially such schools admitted only sons of the nobility or gentry, but in time many of the schools were opened also to members of other social classes. ...

in Kulm (

Chełmno Chełmno (; older en, Culm; formerly ) is a town in northern Poland near the Vistula river with 18,915 inhabitants as of December 2021. It is the seat of the Chełmno County in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. Due to its regional importan ...

). He entered the 4th Westphalian Infantry Regiment No 17 as ''Portepee-Fähnrich'' (ensign with sword-knot). In 1880 he received his officer's commission. Between 1884 and 1886 Tappenbeck explored the

Congo region The Congo Basin (french: Bassin du Congo) is the sedimentary basin of the Congo River. The Congo Basin is located in Central Africa, in a region known as west equatorial Africa. The Congo Basin region is sometimes known simply as the Congo. It con ...

. In 1887 he was commissioned jointly with Richard Kund for the exploration of the back-country of Cameroon. His first advance was in November 1887, via

Bipindi Bipindi is a town and commune in Cameroon. Gallery File:ASC Leiden - van Achterberg Collection - 1 - 016 - Marché à Bipindi - Bipindi, Cameroun - 6-12 février 1997.tif, Market, Bipindi, 1997 File:ASC Leiden - van Achterberg Collection - 1 - 0 ...

to the

Nyong River The Nyong (formerly german: Yong) is a river in Cameroon. The river flows approximately to empty into the Gulf of Guinea. Course The Nyong originates east of the town of Abong-Mbang, where the northern rain forest feeds it. The river's lengt ...

until over the

Sanaga River The Sanaga River (formerly german: Zannaga) is the largest river in Cameroon located in East Region, Centre Region and Littoral Region. Its length is about from the confluence of Djérem and Lom River. The total length of Sanaga-Djérem Rive ...

. Military important was primarily the conquest by force of Wataré, a sub-center of the Vute tribe. In a second expedition together with Kund he founded in the territory of the Ewondo the station "Jaunde", from that the present capital of Cameroon

Yaoundé Yaoundé (; , ) is the capital of Cameroon and, with a population of more than 2.8 million, the second-largest city in the country after the port city Douala. It lies in the Centre Region of the nation at an elevation of about 750 metres (2,50 ...

emerged. The station was used primarily for scientific research, exploration of the flora and fauna in terms of economic exploitation, and as a base for further geographical expeditions. E.g., from this base Tappenbeck advanced as first Europeaon to the residence of Ngrang Gomtsé in Ndumba, the at that time most influential reign of the Vutes. With the foundation of Junda, that he – contrary to the instructions he had received from the Foreign Office – made significantly nearer to central Cameroon than planned, he quasi prepared an effective occupation of the back-country. On the march returning to the coast, Tappenbeck died of

malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...

Sources

* ''Erster Vorstoß in das Innere von Groß-Batanga aus''. In: ''Mitteilungen von Forschungsreisenden und Gelehrten aus den deutschen Schutzgebieten''. Vol. 1, 1888, p. 2–6 * ''Bericht über den äußeren Verlauf der Batanga-Expedition (Ende Oktober 1887 bis März 1888)''. In: '' Mitteilungen von Forschungsreisenden und Gelehrten aus den deutschen Schutzgebieten''. Vol. 1, 1888, p. 6–22 * ''Letzter Bericht von Lieutenant Tappenbeck''. In: ''Mitteilungen von Forschungsreisenden und Gelehrten aus den deutschen Schutzgebieten''. Vol. 2, 1889, p. 114–119 * ''Reise von Lieutenant Tappenbeck von der Jaunde-Station über den Sannaga nach Ngila´s Residenz''. In: ''Mitteilungen von Forschungsreisenden und Gelehrten aus den deutschen Schutzgebieten''. Vol. 3, 1890, p. 109–113 * ''Nachruf für Lieutenant Tappenbeck''. In: ''Mitteilungen von Forschungsreisenden und Gelehrten aus den deutschen Schutzgebieten''. Vol. 2, 1889, p. 67–69 * ''Deutsches Koloniallexikon''. Vol. 3, Leipzig 1920, p. 459 {{DEFAULTSORT:Tappenbeck, Hans Explorers of Africa German colonial people in Kamerun 1861 births 1889 deaths Prussian Army personnel