South West Africa campaign

A long time ago, a big war began. South African soldiers moved into a new land. This land was called German South West Africa.

Some people in South Africa did not want to fight. They joined a group to fight against their own leaders. This was a sad time for the land.

Soon, the South African leaders sent more troops. They moved along a train track to reach the capital city.

The soldiers fought many battles to take control. One group of soldiers even used planes in the war.

In the end, the German forces had to stop fighting. This changed who ruled the land for many years.

In 1914, a big war began in Europe. This was the First World War. South Africa decided to fight for the British. They wanted to take control of German South West Africa.

Some people in South Africa did not agree. A group called the Boers started a revolt. They wanted to fight against the South African leaders. The government worked hard to stop them. By early 1915, the revolt was over.

South African troops then moved to fight the Germans. Prime Minister Louis Botha led the troops himself. He moved his men along a railway line.

They captured many towns and reached the capital, Windhuk.

In the south, Jan Smuts led another group of soldiers. They moved north and met the other forces. The German forces were forced to surrender in July 1915.

After the war, South Africa ruled the land. They managed the area for many years.

The South West Africa campaign was a conflict during the First World War. It began when the Union of South Africa moved to take control of German South West Africa. South Africa was acting for the British government at this time. Prime Minister Louis Botha made a very rare choice during this period. He decided to lead his own troops into battle as the commander-in-chief. This was a big job that even frustrated his own government leaders.

Before the main fighting, there was a lot of trouble at home. Many Boer people in South Africa felt sympathy for the Germans. This was because Germany had helped them in a previous war many years before. A leader named Manie Maritz led a group of about 12,000 rebels. This group was part of what became known as the Boer revolt. The South African government had to use martial law to stop them. By February 1915, the government had successfully ended the rebellion.

Fighting between the South African and German forces happened in stages. At first, a South African attempt to invade from the south failed. This happened at the Battle of Sandfontein in September 1914. Later, German forces tried to stop the invasion by crossing the Orange River. They fought at the Battle of Kakamas in February 1915. However, the South Africans stopped them from taking control of the river crossings. This allowed the South African forces to prepare for a larger invasion.

In early 1915, the South African invasion moved forward with more strength. Louis Botha led the northern troops along the Swakop valley railway line. He captured several towns like Otjimbingwe and reached the capital, Windhuk, in May. At the same time, Jan Smuts led forces in the south. Smuts captured the town of Keetmanshoop and moved toward Gibeon. The German forces were pushed back toward the capital. Finally, the German Governor Sietz surrendered at Khorab on July 9, 1915.

This campaign changed how the land was ruled for a long time. After the war, South Africa took over the administration of the colony. In 1919, it became a territory managed by the League of Nations. South Africa treated the area like a fifth province for many years. Later, the United Nations took over the role of managing the land. In 1971, a high court said that South Africa's rule was not legal. This history shows how big wars can change borders and laws.

The South West Africa campaign was a military conflict during the First World War. It involved the conquest and occupation of German South West Africa by the Union of South Africa. South Africa acted on behalf of the British imperial government. The campaign was led by Prime Minister Louis Botha. Botha made the unusual decision to serve as commander-in-chief. He personally led his troops into battle during the invasion. This choice caused frustration among his own cabinet members.

Before the main invasion, South Africa faced internal conflict known as the Boer revolt. This rebellion was also called the Maritz rebellion. It was led by Lieutenant-Colonel Manie Maritz. Many Boer people felt sympathy for Germany. This was because Germany had offered unofficial support to Boer republics during the Second Boer War. Maritz gathered about 12,000 rebels from the Transvaal and Orange Free State. The South African government declared martial law on October 14, 1914, to stop the uprising. Forces led by Botha and Jan Smuts suppressed the revolt by February 1915. The rebel leaders were imprisoned for six to seven years. Botha later released them after two years to help with reconciliation.

The actual fighting between South African and German forces began with several early engagements. On September 26, 1914, German colonial forces won the Battle of Sandfontein. This battle took place near the border of the Cape Colony. The German victory defeated the Union Defence Force, or UDF. However, the surviving UDF troops were allowed to return to South Africa. In February 1915, the Germans tried to disrupt South African plans. They invaded South Africa to fight at the Battle of Kakamas. This battle focused on controlling two fords over the Orange River. The South Africans successfully prevented the Germans from crossing the river.

By February 1915, the South African forces were ready for a major invasion. Louis Botha took direct command of the northern forces. Jan Smuts commanded the southern forces. Botha arrived at the coastal town of Swakopmund on February 11. He built up his strength at Walfish Bay, which was a South African enclave. In March, Botha advanced through the Swakop valley. He used the existing railway line to move his troops. His forces captured Otjimbingwe, Karibib, Friedrichsfelde, Wilhelmsthal, and Okahandja. On May 5, 1915, the South African troops reached the capital, Windhuk.

To finish the campaign, Botha divided his army into four specific contingents. He declared martial law on May 12. One group, led by Coen Brits, moved north toward Etosha Pan. This movement cut off German forces from the coastal regions of Kunene and Kaokoveld. Other columns led by Lukin, Manie Botha, and Myburgh moved toward the northeast. They followed the railway line toward Tsumeb. German forces attempted a stand at the Battle of Otavi on July 1, 1915. However, they were defeated and eventually surrendered at Khorab on July 9, 1915.

Simultaneously, Jan Smuts led a separate campaign in the south. His forces landed at the naval base of Lüderitzbucht. Smuts captured Keetmanshoop on May 20. He met two other columns that had arrived from Port Nolloth and Kimberley. Smuts then pushed north along the railway toward Berseba. His troops captured Gibeon on May 26 after two days of fighting. The German southern forces were forced to retreat toward the capital. This pressure led to the final surrender of Governor Sietz at Korab. During the surrender, the German commander, Victor Franke, claimed they had only 2,200 troops. Botha believed the Germans actually had 15,000 men.

The campaign also affected neighboring regions like Angola. German and Portuguese troops fought along the border of German South West Africa and Portuguese Angola. The Germans won several clashes and occupied the Humbe region. This German offensive caused the native Ovambo people to revolt against Portuguese rule. The Ovambo Uprising was not fully stopped until after World War One ended. After the war, South Africa administered the territory as a League of Nations mandate starting in 1919. South Africa treated the area like a fifth province. In 1971, the International Court of Justice declared the South African administration illegal. This followed the transition from the League of Nations to the United Nations in 1946.