{| style="float: right; clear: right; background-color: transparent" | |- | |- | |} the south-west africa campaign was the conquest and occupation of german south west africa (namibia) by forces from the union of south africa acting on behalf of the british imperial government at the beginning of the first world war. ==background== the outbreak of hostilities in europe in august 1914 had been anticipated and government officials of south africa were aware of the significance of their common border with the german colony. prime minister louis botha informed london that south africa could defend itself and that the imperial garrison might depart for france; when the british government asked botha whether his forces would invade german south-west africa, the reply was that they could and would. south african troops were mobilised along the border between the two countries under the command of general henry lukin and lt col manie maritz early in september 1914. shortly afterwards another force occupied the port of lÃ¼deritz. ==boer revolt==  there was considerable sympathy among the bo
African_theatre_of_World_War_I Battles_of_World_War_I_involving_Portugal Campaigns_and_theatres_of_World_War_I German_South-West_Africa GermanyaNamibia_relations GermanyaSouth_Africa_relations History_of_Namibia Jan_Smuts Military_history_of_Namibia Military_history_of_South_Africa_during_World_War_I