CURRENTLY ON AIR ⇒
  • Hadeeth
    Tuesday, 7:15 am - 7:30 am
    [ - ]

feedback@radioislam.org.za

logo


((( Listen Live )))))
Radio Islam Logo


This Week in History 09 July 1915

Germans surrender Southwest Africa to Union of South Africa

On July 9, 1915, with the Central Powers pressing their advantage on the Western Front during World War I, the Allies score a distant victory, when military forces of the Union of South Africa accept a German surrender in the territory of Southwest Africa.

The Union of South Africa, a united self-governing dominion of the British Empire, was officially established by an act of the British Parliament in 1910. When World War I broke out in Europe in the summer of 1914, South African Prime Minister Louis Botha immediately pledged full support for Britain. Botha and Minister of Defence Jan Smuts, both generals and former Boer commanders, were looking to extend the Union s borders further on the continent.

Invading German Southwest Africa would not only aid the British—it would also help to accomplish that goal. The plan angered a portion of South Africa s ruling Afrikaner (or Boer) population, who were still resentful of their defeat, at the hands of the British, in the Boer War of 1899-1902 and were angered by their government s support of Britain against Germany, which had been pro-Boer in the Boer War.

Several major military leaders resigned over their opposition to the invasion of the German territory and open rebellion broke out in October 1914; it was quashed in December. The conquest of Southwest Africa, carried out by a South African Defence Force of nearly 50,000 men, was completed in only six months, culminating in the German surrender on July 9, 1915. Sixteen days later, South Africa annexed the territory.

At the Versailles peace conference in 1919, Smuts and Botha argued successfully for a formal Union mandate over Southwest Africa, one of the many commissions granted at the conference to member states of the new League of Nations allowing them to establish their own governments in former German territories. In the years to come, South Africa did not easily relinquish its hold on the territory, not even in the wake of the Second World War, when the United Nations took over the mandates in Africa and gave all other territories their independence. Only in 1990 did South Africa finally welcome a new, independent Namibia as its neighbour.

ADVERTISE HERE

Prime Spot!!!

Contact:
advertisingadmin@radioislam.co.za 

Related Articles

Importance and History – Part 1

Importance and History – Part 1

Lifelong Friendships and Changing Life Stages INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FRIENDSHIP – 30 JULY Importance of Friendship and Background of the Day In a time when the noise of division grows louder — fuelled by wars, conflicts, inequality, and fear — friendship feels almost...

read more
A Truly Honoured Lady – Part 5

A Truly Honoured Lady – Part 5

International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent – 25 July Sahabiyyat of African Descent Umme Ayman رضي الله عنها Quick Recap – Hijrah and the Battlefield She embraced Islam in the early stages and pledged allegiance to Rasulullah ﷺ. She has the great fortune...

read more
Hijrah and the Battlefield – Part 4

Hijrah and the Battlefield – Part 4

International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent – 25 July Sahabiyyat of African Descent Umme Ayman رضي الله عنها Quick Recap - Marriage Rasulullah ﷺ freed Sayyidah Umm Ayman رضي الله عنها when he married Sayyidah Khadijah رضي الله عنها. She first married...

read more
Marriage – Part 3

Marriage – Part 3

International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent – 25 July Sahabiyyat of African Descent Umme Ayman رضي الله عنها Quick Recap He full name was Barakah bint Tha’labah رضي الله عنها, commonly known as Umm Ayman. She hailed from Abyssinia and lived as a slave in...

read more
Umme Ayman RA – Part 2

Umme Ayman RA – Part 2

International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent Sahabiyyat RA of African Descent Quick Recap This UN-recognized day celebrates the achievements and resilience of women and girls of African descent worldwide, highlighting their struggles against racism,...

read more
Women of African Descent – the Sahabiyyah RA – Part 1

Women of African Descent – the Sahabiyyah RA – Part 1

Sahabiyyah RA of African Descent International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent – 25 July Honouring History, Celebrating Legacy, and Amplifying Voices Background & History of the Day                                                                     ...

read more

Subscribe to our Newsletter

0 Comments