Podcast Summary: The Rest Is History, Episode 539 - "Horror in the Congo: The Crimes of Empire (Part 2)"

Release Date: February 13, 2025

Hosts: Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook

Introduction

In Episode 539 of The Rest Is History, titled "Horror in the Congo: The Crimes of Empire (Part 2)," hosts Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook delve deeper into the grim realities of the Congo Free State under King Leopold II's rule. Building upon the literary foundations laid by Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, the episode intertwines historical facts with literary reflections to shed light on one of the most brutal chapters of colonial exploitation.

King Leopold II and the Establishment of the Congo Free State

The episode opens with a rich passage from Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, setting a somber tone that mirrors the historical atrocities discussed ([00:00]-[05:11]). Conrad's depiction of the Congo, written shortly after his own harrowing journey, foreshadows the systemic brutality that would characterize Leopold II's regime.

Tom Holland provides a detailed account of Leopold II, portraying him as a "lonely, awkward, selfish, ruthless man" who established the Congo Free State as his personal colonial empire. Proclaimed on May 29, 1885, the Congo Free State encompassed a vast area in Central Africa, with estimates of its population ranging between 8 and 12 million people. Leopold's agent, Henry Morton Stanley, secured treaties with 450 settlements, effectively transferring land, economic rights, and labor to the International Association of the Congo—a facade for Leopold's personal control.

Holland emphasizes Leopold's deceitful proclamations of a philanthropic mission, contrasting them starkly with his true intent to amass personal wealth. On the very first day of the Congo Free State's existence, Leopold decreed that "all vacant land now belongs to the state" ([05:24]-[07:48]). This ambiguous definition of "vacant land" effectively rendered the entire Congo as Leopold's personal property, disregarding indigenous land rights and concepts of ownership.

Economic Exploitation: Rubber and Ivory

The core of Leopold's exploitation centered around two primary resources: rubber and ivory. Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss how the burgeoning global demand for rubber, spurred by inventions like the pneumatic tire, provided Leopold with a lucrative opportunity. The Congo's abundant rubber vines offered an easily accessible source of raw material, contrasting with the more labor-intensive plantation rubber in Asia and South America.

Tom Holland explains the arduous and inhumane process of rubber extraction:

"Gatherers would slash the rubber vines, collect the sap, spread it on their bodies to dry, and then painfully rip it off before carrying it to European agencies" ([35:51]-[36:16]).

Similarly, ivory extraction involved brutal methods, including the use of the chicot—a whip made from hippopotamus hide. These tools of coercion were emblematic of the systemic violence perpetrated by Leopold's forces.

Force Publique and Systemic Atrocities

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the Force Publique, Leopold's private army responsible for enforcing his exploitative policies. By the mid-1890s, the Force Publique had grown to approximately 19,000 men, making it the largest army in Central Africa. Tom Holland describes the Force Publique as a "private army with a small group of white officers and black African soldiers," highlighting the racial and hierarchical dynamics within the force.

The hosts recount numerous atrocities committed by the Force Publique, including the widespread use of the chicot, mass beatings, and the systematic taking of hostages to enforce rubber quotas. One harrowing account involves the beating and eventual killing of Elanga, an African woman who was forcibly taken along with her husband and sister ([30:26]-[32:09]).

Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is frequently referenced to draw parallels between the fictional Marlow and the real-life horrors inflicted in the Congo. Conrad's literary depiction serves as a grim reminder of the dehumanizing effects of colonial exploitation.

Economic Impact and Railway Construction

Leopold's economic ambitions led to the construction of a vast railway system intended to facilitate resource extraction and strengthen his control. By 1890, the railway project was underway, requiring the labor of tens of thousands of porters. Tom Holland elaborates on the brutal working conditions:

"Workers were conscripted, paid with minimal compensation in brass or cloth, and subjected to relentless hard labor, leading to high mortality rates from disease and overwork" ([16:14]-[19:35]).

The railway's construction was marked by constant rebellions and mutinies, reflecting the deep-seated resistance among the ethnically fragmented Congolese population. The comparison to the Vietnam War illustrates the cyclical nature of violence and retribution inherent in such oppressive systems.

Internal Struggles and Leopold's Personal Life

Beyond the Congo, the episode delves into King Leopold II's personal turmoil. At the age of 60, Leopold's life was marred by familial strife, including a tumultuous marriage, troubled daughters, and a deteriorating mental state. Tom Holland paints a portrait of Leopold as a "massive hypochondriac" obsessed with cleanliness and control, further humanizing his flaws:

"He wears a waterproof bag over his beard to stop it from getting wet, which seems very peculiar" ([47:37]-[47:39]).

Leopold's personal dissatisfaction and isolation arguably fueled his relentless pursuit of wealth and control over the Congo.

Emergence of Criticism and Early Opposition

Despite the pervasive control, early voices of criticism began to surface. George Washington Williams, an African American missionary, became one of the first to publicly denounce the atrocities in the Congo. His open letter, accusing Leopold of engaging in the slave trade and committing crimes against humanity, marked a pivotal moment in the international criticism of Leopold's regime ([51:04]-[52:43]).

Leopold's response was a calculated PR move, dismissing Williams as an attention seeker and launching a press counterattack to preserve his carefully curated humanitarian image. The episode details how further revelations, such as the systematic collection of severed hands, galvanized public outcry and intensified scrutiny ([42:46]-[44:45]).

Human Exhibitions and International Perception

In 1897, the Brussels World's Fair featured an exhibit dedicated to the Congo Free State, where 267 Congolese individuals were displayed in "villages," mirroring earlier human zoos like the 1889 Paris Fair. This exhibition, intended to showcase Leopold's civilizing mission, was met with enthusiastic public reception, further entrenching the deceptive narrative of benevolent colonialism.

Tom Holland highlights the stark contrast between the public façade of humanity and the brutal reality experienced by the Congolese:

"A million people went to see this exhibition in Brussels and we have no indication that any of them thought anything but that it was absolutely brilliant" ([54:02]-[54:45]).

The Turning Point and Edmund Dean Morrell

As the Congo Free State marked its 10th anniversary in 1895, internal cracks began to appear. A young shipping clerk named Edmund Dean Morrell uncovered suspicious accounting practices, discovering that ships returning to the Congo were laden not with trade goods, but exclusively with rifles and ammunition. This revelation exposed the violent underpinning of Leopold's economic machinations. Tom Holland foreshadows Morrell's pivotal role in the ensuing campaign against Leopold, setting the stage for the next episode ([56:17]-[57:05]).

Conclusion

Episode 539 of The Rest Is History offers a harrowing exploration of King Leopold II's Congo Free State, intertwining literary insights with meticulously researched historical accounts. Through vivid storytelling and critical analysis, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook illuminate the depths of colonial brutality and the complexities of moral resistance. The episode serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of imperialism and sets the stage for further revelations in the ongoing narrative.

Notable Quotes:

• Joseph Conrad (Heart of Darkness):

  "So that, Dominic, is the reality of what Marlowe called the high and just proceedings of King Leopold's Congo." ([30:26])

• Tom Holland:

  "Leopold is making tens of millions, maybe more, immense sums of money." ([47:58])

• Bayesian Insight:

  "Leopold sets up a fake commission for the protection of the natives with missionaries on its board." ([54:02])

Key Takeaways:

• King Leopold II exploited the Congo Free State for personal gain, using deceptive philanthropic narratives to mask systemic brutality.
• The Force Publique enforced ruthless labor practices, leading to widespread death and suffering among the Congolese population.
• Early opposition, notably by activists like George Washington Williams, began to unearth and challenge Leopold's atrocities.
• International perceptions were manipulated through exhibitions and controlled narratives, obscuring the grim realities on the ground.
• Individual acts of courage and revelation, exemplified by figures like Edmund Dean Morrell, played crucial roles in exposing and combating the crimes of empire.

For a more in-depth exploration and continuation of this narrative, listeners are encouraged to join The Rest Is History Club www.therestishistory.com, offering ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to an exclusive community.