Everything about South-west Africa Campaign totally explained
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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 may 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 mobilised along the border between the two countries under the command of General Henry Lukin and Lt Col Manie Maritz early in September 1914. Shortly afterwards, another force occupied the port of
Lüderitz.
Boer Revolt
However, there was considerable sympathy among the Boer population of South Africa for the German cause; it was, after all, only twelve years since the
Second Boer War during which Germany had supported them. Maritz, who was head of commando forces on the border of German South-West Africa, issued a proclamation 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 White inhabitant 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
October 14, 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
October 24 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 recognised the value of reconciliation.
Combat with German forces
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
May 12, 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
Otavi on
July 1 and surrendered at
Khorab on
9 July, 1915.
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