South-West Africa Campaign

Date: Date
September 1914-July 1915
Location
South Africa, Namibia
Result
British and South African victory
Date: September 1914-July 1915
Location: South Africa, Namibia
Result: British and South African victory
Belligerents:
: United Kingdom
Union of South Africa
Portugal
Angola
Commanders and leaders:
: Jan Smuts
Louis Botha
Alves Rox§adas
Strength:
: 67,000 of the SADF (South African Defence Force)
1600 of the Portuguese Forces in Southern Angola
Casualties and losses:
: 113

Union of South Africa

Portugal

Angola

German South-West Africa

The South-West Africa Campaign was the conquest and occupation of German South West Africa, now called Namibia, by forces from the Union of South Africa acting on behalf of the British Imperial Government at the beginning of the First World War.

Background

The outbreak of hostilities in Europe in August 1914 had been anticipated and government officials of South Africa were aware of the significance of their common border with the German colony. Prime Minister Louis Botha informed London that South Africa could defend itself and that the Imperial Garrison might depart for France; when the British government asked Botha whether his forces would invade German South-West Africa, the reply was that they could and would.

South African troops were mobilized along the border between the two countries under the command of General Henry Lukin and Lt Col Manie Maritz early in September 1914. Shortly afterward another force occupied the port of Lx¼deritz.

Boer Revolt

There was considerable sympathy among the Boer population of South Africa for the German cause: but twelve years had passed since the end of the Second Boer War, in which Germany had offered the two tiny Boer republics moral support against the armed might of the world-straddling British Empire. Lieutenant-Colonel Manie Maritz, heading commando forces on the border of German South-West Africa, declared that

the former South African Republic and Orange Free State as well as the Cape Province and Natal are proclaimed free from British control and independent, and every [all] White inhabitant[s] of the mentioned areas, of whatever nationality, are hereby called upon to take their weapons in their hands and realize the long-cherished ideal of a Free and Independent South Africa.

the former South African Republic and Orange Free State as well as the Cape Province and Natal are proclaimed free from British control and independent, and every [all] White inhabitant[s] of the mentioned areas, of whatever nationality, are hereby called upon to take their weapons in their hands and realize the long-cherished ideal of a Free and Independent South Africa.

Maritz and several other high ranking officers rapidly gathered forces with a total of about 12,000 rebels in the Transvaal and Orange Free State, ready to fight for the cause in what became known as the Boer Revolt (also sometimes referred to as the Maritz Rebellion).

The government declared martial law on 14 October 1914, and forces loyal to the government under the command of Generals Louis Botha and Jan Smuts proceeded to destroy the rebellion. Maritz was defeated on 24 October and took refuge with the Germans; the rebellion was effectively suppressed by early February 1915. The leading Boer rebels received terms of imprisonment of six and seven years and heavy fines; however, two years later they were released from prison, as Botha recognized the value of reconciliation.

Combat with German forces

Picture - South African gun in desert sand

A first attempt to invade German South-West Africa from the south failed at Sandfontein, close to the border with the Cape Colony, where on 25 September 1914 the German fusiliers inflicted a serious defeat on the British troops, although the survivors were left free to return to British territory.

In March 1915, the South Africans were ready and 67,000 troops, moving in four columns began the complete occupation of the German territory. Botha himself commanded the force that occupied Walvis Bay and Swakopmund in the north of the territory. During the campaign the occupying forces encountered land mines and poisoned wells, as well as some stiff resistance. The capital, Windhoek, was occupied on 12 May, by which time the South Africans had taken over most of the country. An attempt was made to persuade the Germans to surrender at this stage, but it was unsuccessful and the campaign continued with the German forces gradually being squeezed into the northwest corner of the territory. They were defeated at the Battle of Otavi on 1 July and surrendered at Khorab on 9 July 1915.

Battle of Kakamas, Between South African and German forces, took place over the fords at Kakamas, on 4 February 1915. It was a skirmish for control of two river fords over the Orange River between contingents of the a German invasion force and South African armed forces. The South Africans succeed in preventing the Germans gaining control of the fords and crossing the river.
German campaign in Angola at the same time.
World War I

More aircraft.

Source: WikiPedia