Christentum versus/als Deutschtum?: Die deutsche Präsenz in Palästina, 1850-1898: Facetten eines neuartigen Orientalismus

The aim of this article is to present a less known aspect of Orientalism, the German catholic one, through the activities and presence of German catholic scientists and religious people in Palestine, from the middle of the 19th century onwards. After recalling the general aspects of German Orientalistik, the paper focuses on the German Orientalism, previously denied by Edward Said, in its Catholic appearance: institutions, establishments, personalities, perceptions and activities. By doing this, one perceives an evolution from a mere catholic preoccupation, to a German catholic one, to the benefit of the official imperial/imperialist policy conducted by the Kaiser and „friend of the Orientals“, William II. The analysis establishes also a comparison with the French case, the big rival which should be defeated At the end, the German defeat during WWI almost annihilated the ambitious objectives.