Namutoni Battle - Etosha, Namibia - Battlefields on Waymarking.com

In this place took place a battle during the Herero Uprising. The opponents were a small German force acting as the garrison of the fort and the warriors of Ondonga kingdoms.

On the 28th January 1904 the German fort was attacked by the warriors. Its reduced garrison held the position during the consecutive waves of attack during the whole morning. In the afternoon the attackers reduced the pressure and in the evening the Germans widthdrew without casualties, leaving the fort abandoned. Which was razed the next morning.

From Wikipedia:
(visit link)

"The Battle of Namutoni fought between the militaries of the Ondonga kingdoms and German South West Africa on 28 January 1904 was part of an uprising against German Colonial expansion catalysed by the Herero Uprising to the south that started a few weeks earlier. It was fought at the site of Fort Namutoni in northern Namibia.

The fort was held by four regular soldiers of the German Schutztruppe and three colonial reservists: Fritz Grossman NCO, Jakob Basendowski (NCO), Health Sergeant Bruno Lassmann and soldiers 1st Class Richard Lemke, Albert Lier, Franz Becker and Karl Hartmann. The fort was stocked with 1,500 rounds of ammunition. Chief Nehale Mpingana of the Ondonga people led the attack on the fort. Mpingana was noted for his strongly anti-colonial stance having successfully attacked the Dorsland Trek-Boers in 1886.

Continuous attacks on the fort by 500 Ondonga warriors lasted all day until slowing down in frequency as the day went on and eventually stopped in the afternoon. With only 150 rounds of ammunition remaining the defending Germans decided to retreat to the farm Sandhup 40 kilometres to the south on horseback during the night having incurred no casualties. The following morning the fort was sacked and destroyed by Ondonga forces claiming a number of cattle from the fort.

Following the battle the fort was rebuilt and greatly expanded by the Germans."


There is a plaque evocative of the battle by the fort's gate.

Name of Battle: Namutoni Battle Name of War: Herero Uprising Entrance Fee: 0.00 (listed in local currency) Date(s) of Battle (Beginning): 01/28/1904 Date of Battle (End): 01/28/1904 Parking: Not Listed

Visit Instructions:
Post a photo of you in front of a sign or marker posted at the site of the battle (or some other way to indicate you have personally visited the site.

In addition it is encouraged to take a few photos of the surrounding area and interesting features at the site.

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