Namibian-German relations are marked forever by the shadow of genocide the German Schutztruppe committed in 1904–1908 in what was then the colony of German Southwest Africa. The colonial past with its violent changes and incursions is at the root of pervasive asymmetry. Such asymmetry takes many faces, and it pertains not least to the operating mode of initiatives at cooperation, however well-intentioned these may be. Asymmetry may be referred pragmatically to huge divergencies in area size—Namibia being well over twice the extent of Germany—and in population, where Germany outstrips Namibia by the factor of 27. Also, the economies are grossly unequal in size, as is the gross national product per capita for both countries. The latter translates into gross differences in economic clout and power relations. Such divergencies clearly touch the postcolonial dimension. Surely it may be said that 35 years into independence, not every woe or pitfall can be attributed to Namibia’s century under colonial domination. Still, deep structural traits persist that have to be traced back to the 30 years of German rule as well as the following period of 70 years under South African rule as a territory mandated by the League of Nation and illegally occupied from the end of World War II until finally independence was won in 1990.