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eventREF E-0097592Revised

Event record

The force of the Union of South Africa enters Windhoek, capital of South West Africa.

The force of the Union of South Africa enters Windhoek, capital of South West Africa.

Source:www.english.illinois

Updated
30 Sep 2019
The force of the Union of South Africa enters Windhoek, capital of South West Africa.

Source:www.english.illinois

After the outbreak of World War I, there was immediate fighting in different parts of the world. On 11 May 1915, South African troops entered Windhoek, the capital of South West Africa. The German colonies were defended by the ‘Schutztruppen’, battalions that were made up of German officers and African soldiers. The German forces were under the command of Paul Von Lettour Vorbeck which included 7 500 African men. Prime Minister Botha of South Africa raised a larger army and managed to defeat the German forces throughout the colony now known as Namibia. This lead to the area being under the administrative control of South Africa for 75 years.

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How we know this

  1. 01C. Koller ,(2008),Immigrants & Minorities  The Recruitment of Colonial Troops in Africa and Asia and their Deployment in Europe during the First World War, Vol 26,pp.111-114

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2014, May 9). The force of the Union of South Africa enters Windhoek, capital of South West Africa. . South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097592

South African History Online (2014) 'The force of the Union of South Africa enters Windhoek, capital of South West Africa. ', South African History Online, 9 May. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097592 (Accessed: 17 August 2026).

South African History Online, The force of the Union of South Africa enters Windhoek, capital of South West Africa. [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097592, (accessed 17 August 2026).

"The force of the Union of South Africa enters Windhoek, capital of South West Africa. ." South African History Online, 9 May 2014, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097592. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "The force of the Union of South Africa enters Windhoek, capital of South West Africa. ." South African History Online. May 9, 2014. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097592.

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