The South African Prime Minister Louis Botha took the unusual move of leading his troops into battle as commander-in-chief, to the frustration of his cabinet.

[4] 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.

South African troops were mobilised along the border between the two countries under the command of General Henry Lukin and Lieutenant-Colonel Manie Maritz early in September 1914.

The news about the start of the First World War reached German South West Africa on 2 August 1914 via radio-telegraphy.

[8] Botha arrived at the German colonial town of Swakopmund on the coast, on 11 February to take direct command on the northern contingent and continued to build up his invasion force at Walfish Bay (Walvis Bay) a South African enclave about halfway along the coast of German South West Africa.

In March he advanced from Swakopmund along the Swakop valley with its railway line and captured Otjimbingwe, Karibib, Friedrichsfelde, Wilhelmsthal and Okahandja, reaching the capital Windhuk on 5 May 1915.

Brits went north to Otjiwarongo, Outjo and Etosha Pan which cut off German forces in the interior from the coastal regions of Kunene and Kaokoveld.

The other two columns advanced on Lukin's right flank, Myburgh to Otavi junction and Manie Botha to Tsumeb and the line's terminus.

Within two weeks the German forces in the south were faced with certain destruction and Governor Sietz surrendered at Korab, north of Windhoek, on 9 July 1915.