This is a list of former German Empire colonies and protectorates (German: Schutzgebiete) outside of the Empire's European borders, the German colonial empire.

These were colonies unsuccessfully settled by Brandenburg-Prussia (part of the Holy Roman Empire realm), since 1701 Kingdom of Prussia, before the foundation of the German Empire in 1871.

These territories were held briefly under lease or occupation during the early European colonizations of the New World.

These were colonies of the Habsburg Monarchy (part of the Holy Roman Empire realm), since 1804 Austrian Empire, since 1867 Austria-Hungary.

These are colonies settled by and controlled by the German Empire from 1884-1919.

The following were German African protectorates.

These were German colonies in the Pacific.

These are German concessions in China leased to it by the Qing Dynasty.

Richard John Evans (born 29 September 1947) is a British academic and historian, prominently known for his history of Germany.

Evans was born in London, of Welsh parentage, and is now Regius Professor of Modern History (Cambridge) at the University of Cambridge and President of Wolfson College. Evans applied for the distinguished Cambridge position, whereas his predecessors were chosen — marking a procedural change at Cambridge. Evans has also taught at the University of Stirling, University of East Anglia and Birkbeck College, London. Having been a Visiting Professor in History at Gresham College during 2008/09, he is now the Gresham Professor of Rhetoric.

He was educated at Forest School, Jesus College, Oxford (MA), and St Antony's College, Oxford (DPhil) and the University of East Anglia (LittD). In a 2004 interview, Evans stated that frequent visits to Wales during his childhood inspired both an interest in history and a sense of "otherness".

As an undergraduate, Evans was much influenced by the History Workshop school, which was in its founding phase at Oxford while he was studying there, and by the English Marxist historians. He was also influenced by E.H. Carr's What Is History?