Germans cross the border of the Union of South Africa
- Category:
- Military operations
- Front:
- Africa
- Date:
- 21 August 1914
- Author:
- Natalia
Around 21 August 1914 a detachment of troops from German South West Africa, today’s Namibia, crossed the border of the Union of South Africa. The Germans occupied a hill near the post of Nakob, on the desert borderland along the Orange River, and began digging trenches there.
A disputed date
The incident was minor, but it had great political significance, which is why its details were already being argued over in 1914. The Johannesburg press wrote about German trenches on 21 August. The Minister of Defence, Jan Smuts, maintained that the Germans had entered the Union’s territory as early as 19 August. The leader of the opposition, General Barry Hertzog, for his part accused him of exploiting the unclear course of the border to prove German aggression.
A war not everyone wanted
The Union of South Africa was a British Dominion, created in 1910, a mere eight years after the end of the Boer War. At the beginning of August London asked the government in Pretoria to seize the German ports and wireless stations in South West Africa. Prime Minister Louis Botha and Smuts agreed. Many Boers, however, were opposed to fighting alongside the British, against whom they themselves had recently fought, and some of them were sympathetic to Germany.
The news of Germans on the South African side of the border helped the government convince public opinion that the Union was defending its own territory, and not merely carrying out London’s orders. In September parliament backed the expedition against the German colony.
What came next
The preparations for the invasion led in October 1914 to a rebellion by some Boer officers and soldiers, which Botha’s government suppressed. The campaign in South West Africa ended in July 1915 with the capitulation of the German forces in the colony.
Remember the articles you have read? Only in this browser; nothing is sent anywhere.How it works
Read ·
Spotted a mistake?Report an error
Meanwhile
(04)Elsewhere in the same days.
- 21 August 1914 · Western FrontBattle of Charleroi beginsOn 21 August 1914 the French 5th Army and the German 2nd Army clashed on the Sambre. The Germans seized the river crossings before the French could occupy them.
- 21 August 1914 · Western FrontGermans attack the fortress of NamurOn 21 August 1914 German siege artillery began shelling the forts of Namur. The fortress, held by the Belgian 4th Division, fell after five days.
- 22 August 1914 · Western FrontAustria-Hungary declares war on BelgiumContemporary chronicles date Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Belgium to 22 August 1914, but the Belgians received the note only on 28 August.
- 22 August 1914 · Western FrontBattle of the Ardennes beginsOn 22 August 1914 French armies advancing through the Ardennes ran into strong German forces. It was the bloodiest day in the history of the French army.
Related events
(04)The same battle, people or subject.
- 19 September 1914 · AfricaSouth African troops occupy LüderitzbuchtOn 19 September 1914 troops of the Union of South Africa landed unopposed at Lüderitzbucht. The invasion of German South West Africa had begun.
- 14 January 1915 · AfricaCapture of SwakopmundIn mid-January 1915 Union of South Africa forces took Swakopmund, the main port of German South West Africa, without a fight.
- 15 September 1914 · AfricaBoer rebellion beginsOn 15 September 1914 General Beyers left the army of the Union of South Africa in protest against the war, and General De la Rey was killed by a police bullet.
- 22 February 1915 · AfricaNorthern Force advances on WindhoekIn late February 1915 Botha's troops moved out of Swakopmund up the Swakop valley. The march across the Namib on the colonial capital, Windhoek, began.