The first Chancellor Otto von Bismarck held a strong aversion towards the idea of acquiring colonial lands due to its high expenses, limited profitability, and potential diplomatic entanglements with the other colonial powers. Besides those big factors against colonialism under Bismarck, Germany also lacked the naval power projection which would be required to maintain such a vast Empire in order to ensure stability and security within those overseas territories. Bismarcks real focus was rather on maintaining diplomatic and national integrity within Europe instead of focusing outwards. However, during the early 1880s, Bismarcks approach on colonial affairs shifted noticeably. Even though he was up until this point against german colonialism, german merchants and trade guilds established there own colonial territories in South-West Africa, East-Africa, Togo aswell as Kamerun. The German Empire still under Bismarck proclaimed those regions as protectorates and ensured there security also in order to prevent other nations from taking those regions. The colonial agenda under Bismarck continued and Germany gained more and more lands outwards, such as in North Guinea with its nearby island chains in 1885. This continuing approach marked the first phases of German Imperialism. Despite the shift in Bismarcks view on colonialism, he still saw those territories as mere trading bases which would safe and ensure trade, whereas the German Colonial Society viewed them as an extension of the German domain and the requirement for the aimed Weltpolitik, which would come with Wilhelm II.

He envisioned Germany as a world power and believed that colonies were essential for achieving this status. He adopted a policy of "Weltpolitik" or world politics, which aimed to elevate Germany's influence on the global stage. Wilhelm II sought to establish a vast colonial empire that would rival those of Britain and France. He emphasised, besides the mostly prestigious justification, the importance of acquiring territories for strategic purposes, securing access to resources, and promoting German cultural and racial superiority. During his reign Germany embarked on an era of intensified colonial and naval importance. He was obsessed by the idea of an enlarged navy, even though it was a financial burden on the Empire. In spite of the ambitious colonial approach under Wilhelm II., Germany only acquired, in comparison to his predecessor, only smaller bits of land, mainly the Chinese concession of Qingdao, a smaller delegation in Tianjin, as well as islands in the pacific, acquired through the german-spanish treaty in 1899. Germany was just too late to really acquire more land in a time, where most of the lands in africa, south east asia or south america was already taken or part of the sphere of influence from other great nations.

The rough colonial approach under Wilhelm II led to many difficult challenges. Germany's late entry into colonialism raised the conflicts and tensions between Germany and other colonial nations. The pursuit of colonies also strained Germany's resources, diverting attention and funds from domestic needs and contributing to growing tensions in Europe.

In the early 20th century, 1899, the high tension in China and the anger of the population towards the foreigners, who used and saw China as a mere market to gain high profits from decided to and do something against the high influence of the foreign nations. China, which was then known as the Qing-Dynasty, was in the period of the so called century of humiliation, in which the foreign nations, mainly the western nations and Japan, used there technological advantages to enforce there interests in the huge chinese market, which could not effectivly fight back against those powers due to there prolonged isolation and backwards military. They enforced free trade, forced lease of concessions and many other acts which lead to the Qing-Dynasty to cripple under those harsh conditions. This inequality lead to the formation of the boxers who, fueled by there hatred against the foreign influence, tried to regain there sovereignty. This of course was a real thread to the great powers who decided to form the Eight-Nation Alliance and fight back against the boxer, who later got also officially backed by the Qing-Government. Besides the many nations who were involved in this war, Germany was also part of it and they crushed the rebellion of hundreds of thousands. After this war, the Boxer Protocols were enforced, further humiliating the Qing-Dynasty. The main clauses of this treaty forced china to repay war reparations around 450 million taels of fine silver (around 18.000 tinnes worth approx. 333 million USD) to the Alliance and many other clauses which ultimatly led to the downfall of the Qing-Dynasty.

When the region of Namibia were obtain by Adolf Lüderitz with the permission of Bismarck, many of the native Herero and Nama people faced legal discrimination and expropriation of land for the use of the German settlers. They had little to no rights and had no real chance of equality than to stand up against there overlord, which lead to the rebellion in 1903, in which around 120 - 150 German settlers were killed. Germany send in troops to re-establish order but had a very hard time dealing with the guerrilla warfare tactics of the Herero but in the end ultimatly failed by the mere firepower of the modern german military. The aftermath was brutal for the rebellions. General Lothar von Trostha ordered the execution of every male Herero and drive the remaing Herero women and children into the deserted, where they would end up starving. The surviving few would be either transfered to the Shark Island concentration camp or would be send to work as slaves for German companies . In the end of 1908 when order was reestablished, around 50.000 - 100.000 Hereros died in this dreadful genocide for which Germany only apologised in 2004.

In response to foreign influence, the Boxers emerged, driven by their hatred and a desire to regain Chinese sovereignty. The Eight-Nation Alliance, including Germany, was formed to crush the Boxer Rebellion, which had gained support from the Qing government. The war resulted in the enforcement of the Boxer Protocols, which further humiliated the Qing Dynasty. The protocols included clauses that forced China to pay substantial war reparations to the Alliance, ultimately contributing to the downfall of the Qing Dynasty.

The aftermath of the rebellion was brutal. General Lothar von Trotha ordered the execution of male Herero and forced the remaining women and children into the desert, where they suffered from starvation. The surviving few were either sent to the Shark Island concentration camp or forced into slave labor for German companies. By the end of 1908, during the reestablishment of order, an estimated 50,000-100,000 Herero had died in this horrifying genocide. Germany only offered an apology for these atrocities in 2004.