German South West Africa: During the early days of the German colony the small town of
Omaruru grew
and played an important roll as the commercial centre for
the outlaying farms, and by 1903 was also home to the 90 men of the
Schutztruppe 2nd Field
Company under the command of Captain (later Major) Victor Franke. The German
military presence in the territory now comprised of 769
active Shutztruppe of which 500 were classified as Field
Force soldiers while the remainder performed policing
duties.
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Captain V Franke |
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The Bondelswarts Uprising:
On 25 October 1903 at Warmbad in the far South Eastern area of
South West Africa, the Bondelswarts revolted. The guerrilla tactics
of the Bondelswarts so frustrated the attempts of the Southern Field
Force to quell the uprising that in early December, the Governor, Theodore Leutwein went south to
personally take command of the campaign. The situation did not
improve and by 25 December he sent orders for the 2nd Field Company to
march south as reinforcements.
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Governor T Leutwein |
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The Herero Uprising:
On 11 January 1904
from his base near Okahandja.
Samuel Maherero in the
knowledge that Franke and his force were well on their way to the
south issued a written order for the Herero Nation to revolt. The revolt was swift,
spreading outwards from Okahandja
which was occupied and sacked, and was aimed mainly at
German males and the destruction of farms and looting
trading stations etc.
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Samuel Maharero |
The 2nd Field Company's
Quick Reaction:
Franke and his Schutztruppe had
travelling south reaching Gibeon on 15 January. On being advised
of the uprising he about turned the company and made the return
journey of some 380km to Windhoek within four and half days without
overtiring the horses. On arrival at the city which had a garrison
of 232 men and had not suffered attack allowed Franke and his
men to advance on to Okahandja which had been under siege since 12
January. Heavy rains and the flooding of the
rivers delayed 2nd Field Company for about four days and they
finally reached Okahandja on 27 January, the Kaiser's Birthday where
they broke the Herero siege of the town. Having achieved their objective they
immediately road to Omaruru
The Siege of Omaruru:
From the first news of the uprising of 11th January a state of
emergency was declared for all German towns and settlements. The Omaruru
Commando comprised of 39 civilian reservists of whom some were retired Schutztruppe
and were under the leadership of the military doctor P.H. Kuhn. On 17
January the Hereros attacked Omaruru and laid siege to it. The Commando managed to hold off the Herero
force until Franke with men arrived on 29 January. The fighting was fierce and
it was not unitilthe 4th of February that the siege was broken and the Herero
retreated. The ferocity
with which the battle had been fought signalled to the
German government that the Herero were fighting as both a nation
and a unified force,
and that as an enemy they should not be underestimated.
Recognition of Franke and His Men. Captain Franke's 2nd Field Company had left Gibeon on
15 January and covered over 900km in 20 days and then been involved
in a close quarter combat from which they emerged victorious. A
noteworthy achievement. In April 1906 a fund raising dinner was held
in Omaruru for the purpose of erecting a suitable monument to honour
the feat of Victor Franke and the men of 2nd Field Company.
On 4 February 1908, the fourth anniversary of the
Battle of Omaruru, the round tower, known in Germany as a Bismarck
Tower, was inaugurated. Victor Franke and some of the men who had
fought at in the battle attended as honoured guests.
There is a bronze plaque
to the right of the entrance
door that reads:
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Franke Tower 1908
Franke Tower today |
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Erongo Region
21º26'S
15º56E
Population
7,500
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