Published at 6:19 pm on Sunday 30 August 2009. Categories: Military Tags: Military, Namibia.
Comments
Very interesting, I have never before seen this particular plate before. If I recall correctly that colony’s force surrendered shortly after hostilities began, unlike that of Deutsch-Ostafrika under von Lettow-Vorbeck.
— Scott W.31 Aug 2009 4:55 am
The German forces in GSWA took the initiative in 1914 by attacking and defeating a small British/SA force in September of that year. An anti-British die-hard Boer rebellion had broken out in South Africa at the start of hostilities, and General Louis Botha, the South African PM, made the suppression of this his primary objective. By the beginning of 1915 the rebels were in disarray and the campaign against the German colony began in earnest. It lasted about 6 months from March 1915 to the surrender in July 1915. The German forces were seriously outnumbered by the South Africans and the outcome was never in any real doubt. All they could hope to achieve was to keep a large SA force away from more important areas of conflict in Europe and the Middle East for as long as possible. Nevertheless, as expected, they did give the South Africans a run for their money. It was an interesting sideshow to the greater conflict overseas.
— David Allen31 Aug 2009 1:49 pm
A “grester conflict” indeed, ultimately won by the wrong side.
— Baron v Senden2 Sep 2009 7:43 pm
Interesting, – I own a uniform jacket from my great grandfather who served with Lettow- Vorbeck in Deutsch-Ostafrika – the color is much more Khaki , less olive sand color as depicted.
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Very interesting, I have never before seen this particular plate before. If I recall correctly that colony’s force surrendered shortly after hostilities began, unlike that of Deutsch-Ostafrika under von Lettow-Vorbeck.
The German forces in GSWA took the initiative in 1914 by attacking and defeating a small British/SA force in September of that year. An anti-British die-hard Boer rebellion had broken out in South Africa at the start of hostilities, and General Louis Botha, the South African PM, made the suppression of this his primary objective. By the beginning of 1915 the rebels were in disarray and the campaign against the German colony began in earnest. It lasted about 6 months from March 1915 to the surrender in July 1915. The German forces were seriously outnumbered by the South Africans and the outcome was never in any real doubt. All they could hope to achieve was to keep a large SA force away from more important areas of conflict in Europe and the Middle East for as long as possible. Nevertheless, as expected, they did give the South Africans a run for their money. It was an interesting sideshow to the greater conflict overseas.
A “grester conflict” indeed, ultimately won by the wrong side.
Interesting, – I own a uniform jacket from my great grandfather who served with Lettow- Vorbeck in Deutsch-Ostafrika – the color is much more Khaki , less olive sand color as depicted.