Herero War

Herero Wars

German troops in combat with the Herero in a painting by Richard Knötel.

Date	1904–1908
Location	German South West Africa
Result	German victory, systematic extermination of native peoples

Belligerents

German Empire

German South West Africa

Herero, Namaqua, and other Namibians

Commanders and leaders

Lothar von Trotha

Samuel Maharero, Hendrik Witbooi

Strength

Initial Strength:~2,000, Eventual strength: Almost 20,000,

Herero: 10,000,

Casualties and losses

KIA: 676, MIA:76, WIA: 907, died from disease: 689, civilians: 100

As many as 65-70,000 including civilians

German Empire

The Herero Wars were a series of colonial wars between the German Empire and the Herero people of German South West Africa (present-day Namibia).

The Hereros were cattle grazers, occupying most of central and northern South West Africa.

During the Scramble for Africa, South West Africa was claimed by Germany in August 1884. At that time, it was the only overseas German territory deemed suitable for white settlement. German colonists arriving in the following years occupied large areas of land, ignoring any claims by the Herero, Namaqua, and other natives. There was continual resistance by the natives.

A sort of peace was worked out in 1894. In that year, Theodor Leutwein became the colony's governor. White settlers were further encouraged and took more land from the natives. That caused a great deal of discontent.

In 1903, some of the Khoi and Herero tribes rose in revolt and about 60 German settlers were killed. Troops were sent from Germany to re-establish order but only dispersed the rebels, led by Chief Samuel Maharero. In a famous letter to Hendrik Witbooi, the Namaqua chief, Maharero sought to organize his rebellion against the Germans while building alliances with the other tribes, exclaiming Let us die fighting! The Herero led a guerrilla campaign, conducting fast hit and run operations then melting back into the terrain they knew well, preventing the Germans from gaining an advantage with their modern artillery and machine-guns. However a conclusive battle was fought on August 11, 1904 at the Battle of Waterberg in the Waterberg Mountains. Chief Maharero believed his six to one advantage over the Germans would allow him to win in a final showdown. The Germans had time to bring forward their artillery and heavy weapons. Both sides took heavy losses, but the Herero were scattered and defeated.

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