German South West Africa
This article is about the specific polity German South West Africa and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.
If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here:All Statistics
Was a colony of the German Empire from 1883 until 1915 and a predecessor to modern-day Namibia. It was occupied by the Western Allies during World War I.
Establishment
May 1883: On behalf of the Bremen tobacconist Adolf Lüderitz, the 22-year-old merchant's assistant Heinrich Vogelsang acquired the bay of Angra Pequena, today's Lüderitzbucht, and five miles of hinterland from the Nama people in Bethany on May 1, 1883.
Chronology
Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation
Was a global conflict between two coalitions, the Allies (primarily France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, Japan, and the United States) and the Central Powers (led by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire). It was mainly caused by the competition of the western countries over domain in Europe and in the rest of the world with their colonial empires. The war ended with the defeat of the Central Powers. The war also caused the Russian Revolution and the ensuing Russian Civil War.
1.1.World War I African Theatre
Was the African Theatre of World War I.
1.1.1.South West Africa campaign
Was the conquest and occupation of German South West Africa by forces from the Union of South Africa during World War I.
February 1915: Battle of Kakamas: To disrupt South African plans to invade South West Africa, the Germans launched a pre-emptive invasion of their own.
February 1915: The South Africans successfully defended the fords at Kakamas against the Germans. This prevented the Germans from crossing the river and gaining control of the territory.
April 1915: South African conquest of Keetmannshoop.
April 1915: South African conquest of Warmbad.
April 1915: South African conquest of Gibeon.
May 1915: South African Prime Minister Louis Botha, who did also command the northern forces of South Africa at the time, advanced from Swakopmund along the Swakop valley with its railway line. His forces took Otjimbingwe, Karibib, Friedrichsfelde, Wilhelmsthal and Okahandja and entered the capital of Southwest Africa, Windhuk, on 5 May 1915.
June 1915: South African conquest of Omaruru.
July 1915: Battle of Otavi.
July 1915: The German forces in South West Africa surrendered at Khorab on 9 July 1915.
April 1884: On April 24, 1884, Bismarck telegraphed the German consul in Cape Town that "Lüderitzland" was under the protection of the German Reich.
October 1884: !Aman is annexed to German South West Africa.
October 1885: Herero is annexed to German South West Africa.
January 1886: The Germans sign a treaty with Namibian treaties and buy the stretch of coast between the Orange River and the 26th parallel and an area 20 miles inland from any point of the coast. An administrative center was established in Otjimbingwe shortly after.
January 1886: Aich-Ai is annexed to German South West Africa.
July 1887: In 1887, the Republic of Lijdensrust was merged into German South-West Africa.
July 1890: In the northeast was the Caprivi Strip, which was promised new trade routes and connected to the Zambezi River. This territorial gain was based on the Helgoland-Zanzibar Treaty concluded with Great Britain on July 1, 1890.
August 1890: !Gami-‡nun is annexed to German South West Africa.
January 1891: Ovamboland is acquired by Germany.
January 1891: By 1890, German South West Africa had expanded to include Damaraland.
March 1894: Gei-Khauan is annexed to German South West Africa.
November 1894: Damara is annexed to German South West Africa.
January 1895: British officials arrived in the Ngamiland region in 1894.
January 1896: Uukwanyama became a German protectorate integrated in German South West Africa (modern-day Namibia).
January 1896: Uukwaluudhi became a German protectorate integrated in German South West Africa (modern-day Namibia).
January 1896: Uukwangali became a German protectorate integrated in German South West Africa (modern-day Namibia).
January 1896: Gciriku became a German protectorate integrated in German South West Africa (modern-day Namibia).
January 1896: Ondonga became a German protectorate integrated in German South West Africa (modern-day Namibia).
January 1896: Awa-Khoi became a German protectorate integrated in German South West Africa (modern-day Namibia).
January 1896: Ongandjera became a German protectorate integrated in German South West Africa (modern-day Namibia).
January 1896: Hei-Khauan became a German protectorate integrated in German South West Africa (modern-day Namibia).
January 1896: Kou Goa became a German protectorate integrated in German South West Africa (modern-day Namibia).
January 1896: Uukwambi became a German protectorate integrated in German South West Africa (modern-day Namibia).
January 1896: Mbukushu became a German protectorate integrated in German South West Africa (modern-day Namibia).
January 1896: Baster became a German protectorate integrated in German South West Africa (modern-day Namibia).
January 1898: In 1897, German military officer Major Viktor Franke established a military post at Namutoni in German South West Africa (now Namibia).
January 1914: The borders are finalized according to the Berlin Conference agreement (1884).
Disestablishment
February 1915: Battle of Kakamas: To disrupt South African plans to invade South West Africa, the Germans launched a pre-emptive invasion of their own.
February 1915: The South Africans successfully defended the fords at Kakamas against the Germans. This prevented the Germans from crossing the river and gaining control of the territory.
April 1915: South African conquest of Keetmannshoop.
April 1915: South African conquest of Warmbad.
April 1915: South African conquest of Gibeon.
May 1915: South African Prime Minister Louis Botha, who did also command the northern forces of South Africa at the time, advanced from Swakopmund along the Swakop valley with its railway line. His forces took Otjimbingwe, Karibib, Friedrichsfelde, Wilhelmsthal and Okahandja and entered the capital of Southwest Africa, Windhuk, on 5 May 1915.
June 1915: South African conquest of Omaruru.
July 1915: Battle of Otavi.
July 1915: The German forces in South West Africa surrendered at Khorab on 9 July 1915.
Selected Sources
Rothert, E. (1916): Karten und Skizzen zum Weltkrieg, Düsseldorf (Germany)
