The Hottentots of Namibia proved steadfast and successful adversaries to the Germans, More sophisticated in their understanding of the Europeans than most African peoples, they used traditional fieldcraft skills to outmanoeuver and outwit their foes. With captured rifles, ammunition and horses, the, bands of Hendrik, Cornelius and Morenga waged an effective guerrilla war between 1904 and 1907. Cornelius began in April 1905 with a series of lightning raids against German outposts, then outran pursuing columns and joined Moren in the Karras hills. In March 1906, however, he surrendered, leaving 'the robber cheftain' Joseph Morenga alone in the field. Morenga was a skilled strategist who used scouts to inform him of German plans, so that he could, avoid their converging, columns. When he fought, it was from ambush. In one of a series of successful traps, he pinned four companies of the field force against the Orange River at Hartebeestmudd (October 1905). Stationing his men on islands in the river and in the dunes beyond the north bank, Morenga laid down a crossfire that inflicted 43 German casualties at no cost to his own band. Elsewhere he captured convoys, overran posts and stole horses until eventually forced to retire to Bechuanaland, where he was killed by Cape Police in 1908. With less than 400 riders he had tied up 13 mounted companies - at least 2,000 men with ten field and eight machine guns for a period of two years, at times outnumbered 20 to 1.

More German Camel Corps

German Camel Corps
The Hottentots
Germany's 'Place in the Sun'
German SouthWest Africa Map (slow: 119K)

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