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The military role of the Rehoboth Basters during the South African invasion of German south west Africa, 1914-1915
Abstract
During the course of the South African invasion (1914/15) and their
forced involvement in the German war effort caused great consternation
among the Rehoboth Basters. They feared that should they actively
support the Germans, they could lose their land and their right to selfdetermination. Accordingly, Captain Cornelius van Wyk visited General
Louis Botha in Swakopmund in April 1915. Botha advised them to avoid
becoming involved in the war effort as far as possible. The Basters,
however, in spite of Botha's advice, rebelled against the Germans. The
timely arrival of the South African forces in the Rehoboth Gebiet and the
resultant withdrawal of the Germans to the north prevented the Germans
from delivering the final blow to the Basters. With the Peace of Khorab (9
July 1915) the German administration in South West Africa was formally
ended.
Gedurende die Suid-Afrikaanse inval (1914/15) het die noodgedwonge betrokkenheid van die Rehoboth-Basters by die Duitse oorlogspoging groot ontsteltenis in Bastergeledere veroorsaak. Die Basters was bevrees dat indien hulle die Duitsers aktief sou steun, hulle moontlik hulle grondgebied en reg tot selfbestuur kon verloor. Gevolglik het kaptein Cornelius van Wyk generaal Louis Botha in April 1915 te Swakopmund besoek. Laasgenoemde het hulle aangeraai om sover moontlik nie by die oorlog betrokke te raak nie. Die Basters het egter ondanks die advies van Botha teen die Duitsers in opstand gekom. Die tydige aankoms van die Suid-Afrikaanse magte in die Rehoboth-Gebiet het die gevolglike onttrekking van die Duitsers na die noorde, het verhoed dat die Duitsers die Basters die finale nekslag toedien. Met die Vrede van Khorab (9 Julie 1915) is die Duitse administrasie in Suidwes-Afrika formeel beeindig.
forced involvement in the German war effort caused great consternation
among the Rehoboth Basters. They feared that should they actively
support the Germans, they could lose their land and their right to selfdetermination. Accordingly, Captain Cornelius van Wyk visited General
Louis Botha in Swakopmund in April 1915. Botha advised them to avoid
becoming involved in the war effort as far as possible. The Basters,
however, in spite of Botha's advice, rebelled against the Germans. The
timely arrival of the South African forces in the Rehoboth Gebiet and the
resultant withdrawal of the Germans to the north prevented the Germans
from delivering the final blow to the Basters. With the Peace of Khorab (9
July 1915) the German administration in South West Africa was formally
ended.
Gedurende die Suid-Afrikaanse inval (1914/15) het die noodgedwonge betrokkenheid van die Rehoboth-Basters by die Duitse oorlogspoging groot ontsteltenis in Bastergeledere veroorsaak. Die Basters was bevrees dat indien hulle die Duitsers aktief sou steun, hulle moontlik hulle grondgebied en reg tot selfbestuur kon verloor. Gevolglik het kaptein Cornelius van Wyk generaal Louis Botha in April 1915 te Swakopmund besoek. Laasgenoemde het hulle aangeraai om sover moontlik nie by die oorlog betrokke te raak nie. Die Basters het egter ondanks die advies van Botha teen die Duitsers in opstand gekom. Die tydige aankoms van die Suid-Afrikaanse magte in die Rehoboth-Gebiet het die gevolglike onttrekking van die Duitsers na die noorde, het verhoed dat die Duitsers die Basters die finale nekslag toedien. Met die Vrede van Khorab (9 Julie 1915) is die Duitse administrasie in Suidwes-Afrika formeel beeindig.
