All Battles

Battle of Otavi

1915 • Otjozondjupa

Historical Overview

The Battle of Otavi fought between the militaries of the Union of South Africa and German Southwest Africa on 1 July 1915 was the final battle of the South West Africa Campaign of World War I. 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.

Quick Facts

Outcome:Allied victory.

South Africa

  • Commander: Louis Botha
  • Strength: ca. 40.000
  • Casualties: gering

German Empire

  • Commander: Victor Franke
  • Strength: ca. 3.500
  • Casualties: unbekannt

Strategic Context

Deciding the fate of German Southwest Africa.

Read more on Wikipedia

Related Literature

Cover of Berlin: The Downfall 1945

Berlin: The Downfall 1945

Antony Beevor

Non-fictionWW2
English
Buy now:
Amazon 🇺🇸Amazon 🇬🇧
Cover of Gulag: A History

Gulag: A History

Non-fiction20th Century
English
Buy now:
Amazon 🇺🇸Amazon 🇬🇧
Cover of Red Famine: Stalin's War on Ukraine

Red Famine: Stalin's War on Ukraine

Non-fiction20th Century
English
Buy now:
Amazon 🇺🇸Amazon 🇬🇧
Cover of Stalingrad

Stalingrad

Antony Beevor

WW2Report
English
Buy now:
Amazon 🇺🇸Amazon 🇬🇧
Cover of The Gulag Archipelago

The Gulag Archipelago

Non-fiction20th Century
English
Buy now:
Amazon 🇺🇸Amazon 🇬🇧
Cover of Der Gulag

Der Gulag

Non-fiction20th Century
German
Cover of Die Schlacht um Berlin und das Ende des Dritten Reichs 1945

Die Schlacht um Berlin und das Ende des Dritten Reichs 1945

Non-fictionWW2
German
Cover of Hunde, wollt ihr ewig leben: ein Stalingrad-Roman

Hunde, wollt ihr ewig leben: ein Stalingrad-Roman

WW2WW2 Eastern Front
German
Cover of Roter Hunger: Stalins Krieg gegen die Ukraine

Roter Hunger: Stalins Krieg gegen die Ukraine

Non-fiction20th Century
German
Cover of So weit die Füße tragen

So weit die Füße tragen

20th CenturySoviet Union
German
Cover of Söldner ohne Sold: Die deutschen Freikorps 1918–1923

Söldner ohne Sold: Die deutschen Freikorps 1918–1923

Report20th Century
German
Cover of Vom Massensturm zur Stoßtrupptaktik: Die deutsche Landkriegtaktik im Spiegel von Dienstvorschriften und Publizistik 1906 bis 1918

Vom Massensturm zur Stoßtrupptaktik: Die deutsche Landkriegtaktik im Spiegel von Dienstvorschriften und Publizistik 1906 bis 1918

Non-fiction20th Century
German
Cover of Wir Wehr-Wölfe: Erinnerungen eines Freikorps-Führers

Wir Wehr-Wölfe: Erinnerungen eines Freikorps-Führers

Report20th Century
German
Cover of Zweiter Weltkrieg Erlebnisbericht Apokalypse Stalingrad: Untergang der 6. Armee 1942-1943

Zweiter Weltkrieg Erlebnisbericht Apokalypse Stalingrad: Untergang der 6. Armee 1942-1943

Walter Mönch

Non-fictionWW2
German
Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich

Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich

William Shirer

20th CenturyGerman History

Historical Locations

Interactive map requires third-party cookie consent.