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*{{flagicon image|German-sw-africa.jpg}} [[German Southwest Africa]] |
*{{flagicon image|German-sw-africa.jpg}} [[German Southwest Africa]] |
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|commander2={{flagicon|South Africa|1910}} General [[Louis Botha]] |
|commander2={{flagicon|South Africa|1910}} General [[Louis Botha]] |
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|commander1={{flagicon|German Empire}} Major Ritter |
|commander1={{flagicon|German Empire}} Major [[Hermann Ritter]] |
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|strength2=~3,500 men |
|strength2=~3,500 men |
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|strength1=~1,000 men |
|strength1=~1,000 men |
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|casualties2=4 dead<br>7 wounded<ref>Wittal, 147</ref> |
|casualties2=4 dead<br>7 wounded<ref>Wittal, 147</ref> |
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|casualties1=3 dead<br>8 wounded<br>20 captured<ref>Strachan, 267</ref> |
|casualties1=3 dead<br>8 wounded<br>20 captured<ref>Strachan, 267</ref>}} |
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{{Campaignbox South-West Africa Campaign}} |
{{Campaignbox South-West Africa Campaign}} |
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{{FixBunching|end}} |
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The '''Battle of Otavi''' fought between the militaries of [[South Africa]] and [[Germany]] on 1 July, 1915 was the final battle of the [[South-West Africa Campaign]] of [[World War One]]. The battle, fought between Otavi mountain and Otavifontein, was a delaying action led by the German Major Ritter. Ritter's forces intended to buy the main German force at Tsombe several days so as they could harden their positions there. In the end, Botha's forces were able to rout Ritter's troops, leading to an overall breakdown in the German lines that brought the campaign to an end. |
The '''Battle of Otavi''' fought between the militaries of [[South Africa]] and [[Germany]] on 1 July, 1915 was the final battle of the [[South-West Africa Campaign]] of [[World War One]]. The battle, fought between Otavi mountain and Otavifontein, was a delaying action led by the German Major Hermann Ritter. Ritter's forces intended to buy the main German force at Tsombe several days so as they could harden their positions there. In the end, Botha's forces were able to rout Ritter's troops, leading to an overall breakdown in the German lines that brought the campaign to an end. |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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By mid 1915 the South African advance in German Southwest Africa had gained considerable ground and efforts at negotiating a [[ceasefire]] had failed. Rather than seek a decisive battle, the German commander [[Victor Franke]] had decided to resort to keeping his army as intact as possible so as to maintain a German claim to the territory after the wars end. Rather than resort to guerrilla warfare or attempt to break out of German Southwest Africa, Franke decided to retreat along the railway and build up defenses around Tsombe. With the South African army under Louis Botha rapidly approaching, Franke decided to leave a delaying force under his second in command Major Ritter at Otavifontien. The delaying force was tasked with holding up Botha for as long as possible so that the main force at Tsombe could concentrate its forces and solidify its defenses there.<ref>Strachan, 266</ref> |
By mid 1915 the South African advance in German Southwest Africa had gained considerable ground and efforts at negotiating a [[ceasefire]] had failed. Rather than seek a decisive battle, the German commander [[Victor Franke]] had decided to resort to keeping his army as intact as possible so as to maintain a German claim to the territory after the wars end. Rather than resort to guerrilla warfare or attempt to break out of German Southwest Africa, Franke decided to retreat along the railway and build up defenses around Tsombe. With the South African army under Louis Botha rapidly approaching, Franke decided to leave a delaying force under his second in command Major Hermann Ritter at Otavifontien. The delaying force was tasked with holding up Botha for as long as possible so that the main force at Tsombe could concentrate its forces and solidify its defenses there.<ref>Strachan, 266</ref> |
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Botha began his advance on June 18th, learning from intercepted communications that the Germans were retreating up the railway but would not retreat farther than Namutoni. Botha split his 13,000 troops into four columns with one one each flank and two under his personal command driving up along the railway. With a swift advance, the South Africans began to surrond the German positions and Botha's central columns managed to reach Otavi by July 1st. The Germans thought that Botha's advance would be hampered by a lack of water and rough terrain, and were ill prepared for the looming South African attack. At his disposal Botha had 3,500 cavalry compaired to Ritter's 1,000 infantry and ten machine guns. Although heavily outnumbered, Ritter's forces did have the advantage of the high ground, as the territory they defended was quite mountainous. Despite this advantage, Ritter feared that his force would become surrounded and spread his forces out to lenghten his line of defense. |
Botha began his advance on June 18th, learning from intercepted communications that the Germans were retreating up the railway but would not retreat farther than Namutoni. Botha split his 13,000 troops into four columns with one one each flank and two under his personal command driving up along the railway. With a swift advance, the South Africans began to surrond the German positions and Botha's central columns managed to reach Otavi by July 1st. The Germans thought that Botha's advance would be hampered by a lack of water and rough terrain, and were ill prepared for the looming South African attack. At his disposal Botha had 3,500 cavalry compaired to Ritter's 1,000 infantry and ten machine guns. Although heavily outnumbered, Ritter's forces did have the advantage of the high ground, as the territory they defended was quite mountainous. Despite this advantage, Ritter feared that his force would become surrounded and spread his forces out to lenghten his line of defense. |
Revision as of 01:10, 11 December 2009
Battle of Otavi | |||||||
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Part of World War I | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
| South Africa | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Major Hermann Ritter | General Louis Botha | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
~1,000 men | ~3,500 men | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
3 dead 8 wounded 20 captured[1] |
4 dead 7 wounded[2] |
The Battle of Otavi fought between the militaries of South Africa and Germany on 1 July, 1915 was the final battle of the South-West Africa Campaign of World War One. The battle, fought between Otavi mountain and Otavifontein, was a delaying action led by the German Major Hermann Ritter. Ritter's forces intended to buy the main German force at Tsombe several days so as they could harden their positions there. In the end, Botha's forces were able to rout Ritter's troops, leading to an overall breakdown in the German lines that brought the campaign to an end.
Background
By mid 1915 the South African advance in German Southwest Africa had gained considerable ground and efforts at negotiating a ceasefire had failed. Rather than seek a decisive battle, the German commander Victor Franke had decided to resort to keeping his army as intact as possible so as to maintain a German claim to the territory after the wars end. Rather than resort to guerrilla warfare or attempt to break out of German Southwest Africa, Franke decided to retreat along the railway and build up defenses around Tsombe. With the South African army under Louis Botha rapidly approaching, Franke decided to leave a delaying force under his second in command Major Hermann Ritter at Otavifontien. The delaying force was tasked with holding up Botha for as long as possible so that the main force at Tsombe could concentrate its forces and solidify its defenses there.[3]
Botha began his advance on June 18th, learning from intercepted communications that the Germans were retreating up the railway but would not retreat farther than Namutoni. Botha split his 13,000 troops into four columns with one one each flank and two under his personal command driving up along the railway. With a swift advance, the South Africans began to surrond the German positions and Botha's central columns managed to reach Otavi by July 1st. The Germans thought that Botha's advance would be hampered by a lack of water and rough terrain, and were ill prepared for the looming South African attack. At his disposal Botha had 3,500 cavalry compaired to Ritter's 1,000 infantry and ten machine guns. Although heavily outnumbered, Ritter's forces did have the advantage of the high ground, as the territory they defended was quite mountainous. Despite this advantage, Ritter feared that his force would become surrounded and spread his forces out to lenghten his line of defense.
Battle
Because Ritter's line of defense was so long, his flanks were unable to support each other. That combined with his lack of forces to adeqautely man such a wide perimeter caused his left flank to faulter when Botha advanced upon it. Fearful his lines would break, Ritter pulled back to the hills of Otavifontien and to Otavi mountain. Despite the fact that these new positions held the high ground, the Germans had not prepared any fortifications there. With no artillery and no solid defensive positions, the German force easily broke into a general retreat when pressed by Botha. By 1pm the battle had ended with, Ritter pulling back to postions near Gaub and leaving Botha with a clear path to the main German body at Tsombe.[4]
Aftermath
Botha's victory was swift with the South African advance being delayed only a day and suffering only four dead and seven wounded. The Germans inturn had fled without putting up any committed defense, and Ritters force was left largely intact with only three dead, eight wounded, and twenty captured.
Citations
References
- Strachan, Hew (2001). The First World War: To Arms. New York: Oxford University Press.
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(help) - Wittal, W. (1917). With Botha and Smuts in Africa. London: Cassell and Company ltd.
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