List of colonial heads of New Guinea

This is a list of viceroys of the Territory of New Guinea, from its creation as German New Guinea in 1884, until its union with the Territory of Papua in 1945 to form the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. Until 1899, German control of the region was handled indirectly, through the German New Guinea Company.

Commissioners of German New Guinea (1885–1887)

• Gustav von Oertzen, 1885–January 1887

Landeshauptleute of the German New Guinea Company (1886–1889)

• Georg Freiherr von Schleinitz, 10 June 1886–1 March 1888
• Reinhold Kraetke, 1 March 1888–31 October 1889

Commissioners of German New Guinea (1889–1892)

• Fritz Rose, 1 November 1889–31 August 1892, acting to 30 September 1890

Landeshauptleute of the German New Guinea Company (1892–1899)

• Georg Schmiele, 1 September 1892–3 March 1895
• Hugo Rüdiger, 3 March 1895–17 August 1896
• Curt von Hagen, 22 September 1896–13 August 1897
• Albert Hahl, 15 August 1897–11 September 1897, acting, first time
• Hugo Skopnik, 11 September 1897–31 March 1899

Governors of German New Guinea (1899–1914)

In 1899, Imperial Germany assumed direct control of the colony, appointing a governor.

• Rudolf von Bennigsen, 1 April 1899–10 July 1901
• Albert Hahl, 10 July 1901–13 April 1914, acting to 10 November 1902, second time
• Eduard Haber, 13 April 1914–17 October 1914, acting

Administrators of the Territory of New Guinea (1914–1942)

In 1914, Australia captured and occupied the territory. In 1919, the Treaty of Versailles turned the territory into a League of Nations Mandate under Australian control.

• Colonel William Holmes, November 1914–8 January 1915
• Colonel Samuel Augustus Pethbridge, 8 January 1915–21 October 1917
• Seaforth Simpson Mackenzie, 21 October 1917–21 April 1918, acting
• George Jameson Johnston, 21 April 1918–1 May 1920
• Thomas Griffiths, 1 May 1920–21 March 1921, first time
• Evan Alexander Wisdom, 21 March 1921–13 June 1933
• Thomas Griffiths, 13 June 1933–12 September 1934, acting, second time
• Walter McNicoll, 12 September 1934–December 1942

Japanese Commanders of Occupied New Guinea (1942–1945)

For much of World War II, the territory was occupied by Japanese forces.

• Tomitarō Horii, 21 January 1942–1942
• Hyakutake Seikichi, 1942
• Adachi Hatazō, 9 November 1942–13 September 1945
• Hitoshi Imamura, 9 November 1942–6 September 1945

After the war, the territory was united with the Territory of Papua to form the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. For a list of viceroys after union, see List of colonial heads of Papua New Guinea.

See also

• List of colonial heads of Papua

References

• http://www.rulers.org/rulp1.html
• http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Papua_New_Guinea.htm