German campaign in Angola

German Campaign in Angola
Part of South-West Africa Campaign
Date October 1914 - 9 July 1915
Location Southern Angola
Belligerents
German Empire  Portugal
  • Portuguese West Africa (Angola)
Commanders and leaders
Victor Franke

Joachim von Heydebreck  †

 Moçamedes Roçadas Alves

Before official declaration of war between Germany and Portugal (March 1915), German and Portuguese troops clashed several times on the border between German South West Africa and Portuguese Angola. The Germans won these clashes and were ready to take over southern Angola when the successful British campaign out of South Africa defeated them before Portuguese control collapsed completely.

From 1911 until July 1914 German and British Empires secretly negotiated about possible dismemberment of Portuguese Angola;[1] in such a case most of the land would fall into the hands of Germans. Angola-Bund founded in 1912 was the German organization promoting the takeover.

Even before World War I started (September 1914) Portuguese government sent reinforcement to the southern border of Angola. After the war broke out the border between German South West Africa and Angola was rermained open. The Germans hoped they will be able to supply food and possibly even arms through it. However the Portuguese colonial government was rather hostile and tried to stop all the trade. A few German nationals in Angola were interned.

References

  1. ^ The Anglo-German Negotiations over the Portuguese Colonies in Africa, 1911-14, J. D. Vincent-Smith, The Historical Journal, Vol. 17, No. 3 (Sep., 1974), pp. 620-629. JStor link

External links