Final answer:
Germany had fewer colonies than France and Britain in the early twentieth century due to late industrialization and unification, lack of economic need, and geographic factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the early twentieth century, Germany had fewer colonies than France and Britain due to a combination of factors. One reason was that Germany had industrialized and unified later than the other countries, which limited its ability to compete for colonies. Another factor was that Germany had little business or industry in the early twentieth century and therefore had no pressing need for colonies.