Battle of Sandfontein

Battle of Sandfontein
Part of South West Africa Campaign
German sergeant shortly before the Battle of Sandfontein.
Date 26 September 1914 Location Sandfontein, Namibia Result German victory
Belligerents
Germany German Southwest Africa	British Empire  Union of South Africa
Commanders and leaders
Joachim von Heydebreck	R.C. Grant  (WIA) E.J. Welby
Strength
1,700 10 artillery pieces 4 machine guns	120 2 cavalry squadrons 2 artillery pieces 2 machine guns
Casualties and losses
14  † 46  (WIA)	16  † 51  (WIA) remainder  (POW)

 Germany

British Empire

The Battle of Sandfontein was a combat engagement, fought between the Union of South Africa and German Southwest Africa on 26 September 1914. The battle took place in Sandfontein, modern day Namibia. The battle was fought during the first stage of the South West Africa Campaign of World War I, ending in a German victory.

The outbreak of World War I led to the transfer of the British Imperial garrison from South Africa to France. Expecting the war to finish quickly, a large number of South Africans also departed for Europe, aiming to take part in the combat. The Union Defence Force took the responsibility of independently protecting South Africa from a possible German offensive. In the meantime, prime minister Louis Botha found himself in the middle of a confrontation between British loyalists supporting full involvement in the war and Afrikaner nationalists advocating neutrality.

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