South West Africa campaign

The 1914–1915 Allied campaign that ended German rule in German South West Africa, led chiefly by South African forces.

Union Defence Force: South Africa’s national military force, established in 1912 and responsible for the campaign’s principal operations. Its units supplied the main Allied force that invaded German South West Africa.
German South West Africa: A German colony in southwestern Africa from 1884 until South African occupation during the First World War. Its territory and colonial government were the campaign’s direct objective.
Manie Maritz: A South African military officer who joined the 1914 Afrikaner rebellion against the Union government. His revolt disrupted the invasion and sought German support.
South West Africa under South African administration: The period of South African administration over former German South West Africa, beginning with its wartime occupation. The campaign’s victory established South African control that continued after the war.
Maritz rebellion: A 1914 Afrikaner uprising against South Africa’s decision to enter the First World War against Germany. The rebellion delayed the invasion while South African forces suppressed resistance at home.
South African entry into World War I: The Union of South Africa’s 1914 decision to join the British Empire’s war against Germany. The decision committed South Africa to attacking Germany’s neighboring colony.
Victor Franke: The German colonial officer who commanded German forces in South West Africa during the campaign. Franke directed the colony’s defense and signed its final surrender.
Mandate for South West Africa: The League of Nations mandate that assigned South Africa responsibility for administering former German South West Africa after the First World War. It gave the wartime occupation an international legal framework.
Battle of Sandfontein: A September 1914 German victory over a South African force near the border of German South West Africa. The defeat exposed the risks of an early advance before the main invasion was ready.
South African Party: A political party led by Louis Botha that governed the Union of South Africa during the campaign. Its government authorized the invasion despite opposition among Afrikaners.

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