The Herero Uprising:
On 11 January 1904 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.
Translated it read:
"Okahandja 11 January 1904
To all the headmen in my country.
I am Samuel Maharero, chief of the
Hereros. I have ordered all my people to refrain from touching the
following : Missionaries, English, Basters, Bergdamaras, Namas,
Boers. We do not touch them. Do no do this. I have sworn an oath
that this decision will not become known, not even to the
missionaries. Enough."
The letter somehow found its way to the missionaries by
19 February 1904.
The 2nd Field Company's
Quick Reaction:
The revolt was swift,
spreading outwards from Okahandja. Franke with his 2nd Field Company
travelling south had reached 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 been attacked which 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.
The Siege of Omaruru:
From the first news of the uprising a state of
emergency was declared for all German towns and settlements. On 17
January the Hereros attacked the town of Omaruru and laid siege. The
local commando comprised of 39 civilian reservists of whom some were
retired schutztruppe and were under the leadership of the military
doctor Ph. Kuhn. The commando force managed to hold off the Herero
force, but the situation was dire for them.
The Siege of Omaruru
along with the ferocity
with which the battle had been fought signalled to the
German government that the Hereros were fighting as both a nation
and a unified force,
and that as an enemy they should not be underestimated.
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.
