The Herero Uprising in German South West Africa

Brutal suppression of the revolt culminates in the first genocide of the 20th century

Starting its colonial ambitions only in 1884/85, Germany soon made up for lost time, and by 1888, had accumulated the third-largest overseas empire in terms of land mass. Reacting to the land hunger of their colonial overlords at the turn of the 20th century, the Herero people in German South West Africa (present-day Namibia) feared for their existence and rose up against the German colonists on 12 January 1904. Herero warriors caused severe destruction and killed many German settlers.

Germany soon won a key victory against the Herero forces thanks to reinforcements from the homeland, and the Herero fled into the Omaheke desert. Pursuing them into the desert and driving them away from the watering holes, the Germans prevented their return to more hospitable climes by force of arms. As one German officer reported, the Herero people “dwindled to scanty remnants”. The results of the actions of the Germans against the Herero and the Nama, who joined the rebellion in October 1904, are considered to be the first genocide of the 20th century.