German campaign in Angola

German Campaign in Angola
Part of South West Africa Campaign of World War I
Portuguese troops embarking for Angola
Date October 1914 – 9 July 1915 Location Southern Portuguese Angola Result Portuguese victory Portuguese sovereignty in southern Angola restored
Belligerents
German Empire German South West Africa	Portugal Portuguese Angola
Commanders and leaders
Victor Franke Joachim von Heydebreck  †	Alves Roçadas Pereira d'Eça
Casualties and losses
At least 16 killed, 30 wounded	At least 77 killed, 76 wounded 79 captured
1 Portuguese civilian killed

Portuguese victory

German Empire

Portugal

Before the official declaration of war between Germany and Portugal (March 1916), German and Portuguese troops clashed several times on the border between German South West Africa and Portuguese Angola. The Germans won most of these clashes and were able to occupy the Humbe region of southern Angola until Portuguese control was restored a few days before the British campaign out of South Africa defeated the Germans.

From 1911 until July 1914, the German and British Empires secretly negotiated about possible dismemberment of Portuguese Angola;. In such a case most of the land would fall into the hands of the Germans. Angola-Bund, founded in 1912, was the German organization promoting the takeover.

Even before World War I started (September 1914), the Portuguese government had sent reinforcements to the southern border of Angola. After the war broke out, the border between German South West Africa and Angola remained open. The Germans hoped they would be able to supply food and possibly even arms through it. However, the Portuguese colonial government was rather hostile and attempted to thwart all possible trade. A few German nationals in Angola were interned.

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Wikipedia