Timeline of Fights between Witboois and the Germans
In 1888 the Schutztruppe developed. A Schutztruppe would consist of two officers, five non commissioned officers, and twenty native or black soldiers. The Schutztruppe started quickly, and protected land, as well as German farmers and settlers. The natives outside of that had been then divided into a few sections. There were between 90,000 and 100,000 Ovambis, and the Herero, which were tall and healthy people had nine tribes of 60,000 to 80,000 people. In the south was also a tribe, known as the Hottentots, or Mamas which were between 15,000 and 20,000 people. All those tribes were partially nomadic, and partially cattle raisers. The Germans started playing off one tribe against another, through which they then started to expand their territory. At a point, they wanted to have a peace treaty with the Witbooi, another tribe, but they would not sign the peace treaty, and continued to be against the Germans.
A new Schutztruppe was created in 1890, and the captain of it was Captain Curt von Francois, who had nine fields of companies. They had camels, and three light batteries of artillery Then the Witbooi war began, and Captain Francois only had few men. Captain Francois needed to then be reinforced to Germany for once, before the campaign could begin.
On the 16 of March, of the year 1893, two officers, (one was Francois brother Hugo) and 214 men came to Walvis Bay, since Captain Francois had been planning an attack against Hendrik Witbooi´s stronghold, the Horn Kranz. Captain Francois started making his way to the Witbooi´s, and only left a very small troop to protect Windhoek. He started his journey on the eighth of April, and Captain Francois was accompanied by two officers, 23 NCOs, as well as 170 enlisted men, that had also been separated into two groups. This would all be commanded by Liutenant Hugo von Francis, as well as Schwabe.
On the 12 of April, Captain Francois and his men arrived near Hendrik´s city. After some discussions they decided that the first of the companies would attack from the East, and the second from the North, which then also happened, and Captain Francois gave them the order to do so. When they attacked, it was morning. The attack could have gone better, since the Witboois soon recovered, and started resistance. The Hendrik had women, children, 25o armed men having 100 rifles and 120 horses, and this all led to a three hour long defense. After the battle, Hendrik gave the orders for all his people to leave the city. They left back a disastrous place with 15o dead Witbooi women and children. The Germans had triumphed, as soon as they arrived back in Windhoek.
The Witboois, however, had constructed a plan, by which they would and eventually did take most horses, which had or belonged to German. As maybe already guessed, it was hard to catch up with the Witboois without any transportation methods.
In June, of the year 1893, 100 men came from Germany, in hope of success. However, Captain Francois, though there were many new men with him, could barely get control over the situation. The Witboois, attacked one more, but this time a train carrying goods, and destroyed twenty wagons. Only six months after this happened, the situation became even worse for the Germans: Hendrik now had 600 men, 400 rifles, and 300 horses, while the new major, Francois, only gained two new officers, 10 NCOs, and 105 men. This all occurred in August. Even with this little power, Major Francois, never gave up, and still believed that he could defeat the Witbooi.
The battle of Onab Valley occurred on the first and second of February, or the year 1894, and both sides put everything they could into the fight. The government then lost confidence in Major Francois, after this loss, and with that they replaced him with Major Theodor Leutwein, who came to South Western Africa in 1894. Immediately he met other tribes, and convinced them to come to the German's side, which they did, by which this major could for once get the Germans to have control over the area again.
In May, Major Leutwein, and Hendrik agreed to not fight or have attacks until July. Major Leutwein, wanted to after this time get the Witboois to surrender, and if not, he would simply get more Germans to arrive, to have a bigger force. Of course, the Witboois would not surrender, and 250 Germans came to South Western Africa in July.
The opponents of the Germans went to the Naukloof Mountain and made positions there. Major Leutwein and his forces came there as well, and blocked passes, and stopped escaping people. The Battle of Naukloof took place on the 27 of August, because both wanted waterholes and points in the high ground. The opponents of the the Germans surrendered on the ninth of September. The Germans had won these long lasting periods of fights against the Witboois.