Baster commemorate the battle of Sam Khubis 110 years ago today

The Rehoboth Basters are commemorating one of the most important events in their history today. On 8 May 1915, 110 years ago today, their ancestors fought against the German Schutztruppe at Sam Khubis about 80 km southwest of Rehoboth. According to their tradition, their people were only saved from destruction by God's act of providence.

August 1914: The First World War also cast its shadow over the colony of German South West Africa. As part of a secret agreement with Great Britain, South African troops landed in Lüderitz and Walvis Bay.

From there, they marched into the German colony. The clearly outnumbered and outgunned Schutztruppe gradually withdrew into the interior and northwards.

Unhappy allies

This did not go unnoticed by the Rehoboth Basters. They feared being caught between the fronts of a war that is none of their business. However, they were bound to the Germans by two treaties.

The 'Treaty of Protection and Friendship' of 15 September 1885 guaranteed them extensive self-administration. In return, it obliged them to provide assistance in the event of conflicts between the German colonial administration and third parties.

The Basters had honoured this obligation to that date. In 1904, for example, they handed the Germans letters from Herero Chief Samuel Maharero to their Kaptein and to the Nama Kaptein Hendrik Witbooi, in which they and the Witbooi were asked to join his war against the Germans.

The 'Treaty concerning the conscription of the Rehobother Bastards' of 26 July 1895 formed the basis for the so-called 'Bastard Company', which was deployed against the Mbanderu Herero in 1896, the Swartbooi Nama in 1897, the Bondelswart Nama in 1903 and the Ova Herero in 1904.

However, when officers of the German Schutztruppe wanted to set up a mounted unit of Rehobother Baster after the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, they were met with protest. They did not want to fight against whites, said the Basters. Especially as they could not understand what the conflict in Europe had to do with them.

The German governor Theodor Seitz then assured them that they will not be "used to fight against whites", but only "to maintain peace and security in the country".

Breaking the alliance

But the more the Germans withdrew, the more uneasy the Basters became. On 1 April 1915, Kaptein Cornelius van Wyk met with the South African General Louis Botha in Walvis Bay. He assured him that the Basters are not fighting against the South Africans.

It is uncertain whether the two discussed a Baster uprising behind the back of the Germans and whether Botha promised the Baster Kaptein extensive autonomy for the time after the war.

One argument against such an agreement is that Botha had a total of 60,000 soldiers at his disposal. He therefore did not dependent on the support of the Basters to bring the approximately 3,700 soldiers of the Schutztruppe to their knees.

After 46 Baster soldiers were deployed to guard South African prisoners of war in Uitdraai about 25 kilometres south-east of Rehoboth at the beginning of 1915, the Baster's dissatisfaction increased. Although they did not have to fight against whites, they had to guard whites.

They also learned of the Germans' plans to move the camp and the guard unit to Otjiwarongo. However, they rejected a deployment far outside their territory.

When the captured South Africans threatened to retaliate after the war, 45 Baster soldiers deserted on 18 April. The Germans then hastily began to disarm their unreliable helpers. A Baster was shot dead in the process.

The news spreaded like wildfire. From 19 April, Baster commandos raided police stations and farms and shot several German policemen and farmers.

Punitive campaign

The Schutztruppe then declared war on the Rehoboth Basters and pursued them with several units. The main force of 700 to 800 Basters was entrenched in the valley basin near Sam Khubis about 80 kilometres southwest of Rehoboth and awaited the Germans for battle.

The fighting began on the morning of 8 May. Despite fierce resistance, the Germans stormed their opponent's positions.

But they had no time to pursue. Because the South African troops were advancing from Walvis Bay towards Windhoek, all the German units to the south were in danger of being cut off from the core of the troops. So the units marched as quickly as possible to Rehoboth for the railway transport to the north.

The outcome of the battle: Dozens of dead and even more wounded on the part of the Basters, five dead and ten wounded on the part of the Germans. Just two months later, on 9 July 1915, the Schutztruppe surrendered to the South Africans at Khorab, north of Otavi.

For the Basters, the surprise departure of the Germans appeared to be God's providence. After abandoning their positions, they had gathered together and called upon God to save them from their enemies.

In return, they vowed that they and their descendants would always commemorate the day of their rescue, 8 May, to dedicate it to devotion and gratitude to God.

Annual commemoration

The Basters kept their word: every year on 7 and 8 May, they commemorate the fateful event. On 7 May, they gather in Rehoboth for a morning service followed by a procession through the town.

The men, some of whom are on horseback, wear the customary clothing of the time, while the women wear dark dresses with white aprons and a white bonnet tied under their chins – modelled on those worn by African settler women.

After the procession through the village, the participants travel to Sam Khubis. This is located on a farm on the C 24, approximately 80 km southwest of Rehoboth. The gate of the driveway is painted in the national colours of the Basters: black, red and white.

Some of the riders arrive on horseback. There is a cemetery and a memorial on the former battlefield; a stone plaque bears the Baster pledge.

The valley offers enough space for hundreds of participants to pitch their tents, sit by the fire and spend the night. At around 4.00 am on 8 May, a mock attack commemorates the moment when the first shots were fired. After speeches and another church service, the commemoration ends at midday.

Sven-Eric Stender