Battle of Hamakari(Waterberg) 1904

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 22 Apr 2006 15:10

Has anyone any details on this battle,the largest of the German colonial era,in DSWA?

From what I can gather the German encircling force consisted of around 1,000 men against 5,000 Hereros warriors.German losses are given as 26 killed,60 wounded.

Scarlett · Post by **Scarlett** » 29 Apr 2006 13:59

German troops 1,488 including native auxiliaries

Herero warriors about 6,000 with modern rifles,
accompanied by many others with other weapons.

Germann losses 6 officers, 6 NCO's, 23 soldiers kia,
7 officers, 10 NCO's, 43 soldiers wounded.

Source:
Die Kämpfe der deutschen Truppen in Südwestafrika
bearbeitet von der
Kriegsgeschichtlichen Abteilung I des Großen Generalstabes
Berlin 1906

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 02 May 2006 14:24

Thanks Scarlett.

Much appreciated.

Regards,
Peter

Scarlett · Post by **Scarlett** » 03 May 2006 10:59

OOB for the battle of Waterberg as of August 10, 1904 early morning

Kommandeur: Generalleutnant von Trotha
Chef des Generalstabes: Oberstleutnant Chales de Beaulieu
Generalstab: Major Quade, Hauptmann Salzer, Hauptmann Bayer
Adjutantur: Hauptmann von Lettow-Vorbeck, Oberleutnant Busse

1. Abteilung von Estorff near Okomiparum

Major von Estorff

1. Feldregiment, I. Bataillon
1. Feldkompanie Hauptmann Graf zu Solms
2. Feldkompanie Oberleutnant Ritter
4. Feldkompanie Hauptmann Epp

3. Batterie Oberleutnant Bauszus
Maschinengewehrabteilung 1 Leutnant Graf von Saurma
Funkstation

Bastards (auxiliaries) Oberleutnant Böttlin

26 Offiziere, 247 Gewehre, 4. Geschütze, 4 Maschinengewehre

2. Abteilung von der Heyde 15 km (9 miles) north-east of Hamakiri

Major von der Heyde

1. Feldregiment, II. Bataillon
5. Feldkompanie Hauptmann Puder
6. Feldkompanie Hauptmann d.R. Freiherr von Wangenheim
7. Feldkompanie Hauptmann Brentano

Major Osterhaus
2. (Gebirgs-) Batterie Leutnant Freiherr von Hirschberg
4. Batterie Oberleutnant von Müller
Funkstation

22 Offiziere, 164 Gewehre, 8 Geschütze

3. Abteilung Müller near Ombuatjipiro

Oberstleutnant Müller

1. Feldregiment, III. Bataillon Major von Mühlenfels

9. Feldkompanie Hauptmann von Klitzing
10. Feldkompanie Hauptmann Wilhelmi
11. Feldkompanie Hauptmann Gausser

Major Freiherr von Reitzenstein
5. Batterie Hauptmann Stahl
6. Batterie Hauptmann Rembe
Maschinengewehrabteilung 2 Hauptmann Dürr
Funkstation
Witbois (auxiliaries) Leutnant Müller von Berneck

Etwa 20 Offiziere, 219 Gewehre, 8 Geschütze, 6 Maschinengewehre

4. Abteilung Deimling near Okateitei

Oberst Deimling

2. Feldregiment, I. Bataillon Major von Wahlen-Jürgaß

2. Feldkompanie Hauptmann Manger
3. Feldkompanie Hauptmann von Hornhardt

2. Feldregiment, II.Bataillon Major Meister

4. Feldkompanie Hauptmann Richard
6. Feldkompanie Hauptmann Freiherr von Humbracht

1/2 1. Batterie Hauptmann von Oertzen
7. Batterie Hauptmann Remmert

Bethanier (auxiliaries) Leutnant d.R. von Trotha

Etwa 20 Offiziere, 472 Gewehre, 6 Geschütze

5. Abteilung von Fiedler at a watering-hole near Osondjacheberg

Hauptmann von Fiedler

1. Feldregiment 2. Feldkompanie Hauptmann Klein
1. Feldregiment 8. Feldkompanie Hauptmann Freiherr von Welck

1/2 1. Batterie Leutnant von Winterfeld

Etwa 4 Offiziere, 180 Gewehre, 2 Geschütze

6. Abteilung Volkmann near Otjenga

Oberleutnant Volkmann

1. Feldregiment, 3. Feldkompanie Oberleutnant von Zülow

Halbbatterie von Madai Oberleutnant von Madai

Maschinengewehrsektion des Oberleutnant zur See Wossidlo
Marine-Expeditionskorps

Etwa 4 Offiziere, 200 Gewehre, 2 Geschütze, 2 Maschinengewehre

Source:
Die Kämpfe der deutschen Truppen in Südwestafrika
bearbeitet von der kriegsgeschichtlichen Abteilung 1
des Großen Generalstabs
Band 1: Die Kämpfe gegen die Hereros
Berlin 1906

Scarlett · Post by **Scarlett** » 06 May 2006 09:52

Map of the battle of Hamakari (Waterberg)
Source as above

Chris Dale · Post by **Chris Dale** » 06 May 2006 11:35

Thank you for posting that great information Scarlett.
Cheers
Chris

lettow4beck · Post by **lettow4beck** » 06 May 2006 19:39

I'd like to add that the battle of Hamakari was a part of the greater Battle of Waterberg. In the action at Hamakari the HQ element of the Schutztruppe was engaged by Herero in thick bush. Lettow-Vorbeck, who was an adjutant to Von Trotha at the time, mentions in his memoirs that the German position was almost overrun.

emir pasha · Post by **emir pasha** » 07 May 2006 17:49

What was the model of machine guns used in that battle ? Were they directly copied/bought original 1884 maxims or german derivatives ? May I find a picture of them ?

lettow4beck · Post by **lettow4beck** » 07 May 2006 18:59

The machineguns were Maxims manufactured in Germany under license. They were adapted to fire the same round as the Mauser rifle. They had a number of different mounts. The one shown here was fairly standard. They were the same machineguns unsed in Gemnay. Here's a picture.

Scarlett · Post by **Scarlett** » 08 May 2006 17:11

Battle of Hamakari (Waterberg)

During June and July 1904 several recce-patrols had observed the Hereros in the Waterberg-area and found out, that the Hereros didn’t leave this area. There were some smaller fights with the Hereros, but the patrols had no losses.
On August 6 Leutnant Freiherr von Bodenhausen of Abteilung von Fiedler with one NCO and 9 soldiers reconnoitered the western part of the Waterberg. On their way back they were surrounded by the Hereros and massacred. Only one soldier could escape wounded. All the bodies were heavily mutilated. This event had a strong influence on the temper of the German soldiers during the following battle.

Events of August 10, 1904

Personal reconnaissance of General von Trotha

The headquarters were located with Abteilung Müller in Ombuatjipiro.
During August 10 General von Trotha himself with members of his staff started a recce-patrol towards the area of Hamakari.
In the dense bush the patrol all of a sudden was attacked by a group of Herero warriors. One of von Trotha’s staff, Oberleutnant von Salzmann, was heavily wounded. The patrol found out, that the Hereros had strong forces in area of Hamakari.

Leutnant von Auer installs a signal-station on the Waterberg.

In the afternoon of August 9, 1904 Oberleutnant Volkmann sent Leutnant von Auer with men of the 3. Feldkompanie, Halbbatterie von Madai and the Maschinengewehrsektion, in total 30 soldiers, under the order to occupy the southern edge of the Waterberg and to establish a signal-station. During the night August 9/10 Leutnant Freiherr von Reibnitz followed with another 10 soldiers and the signal equipment. At 10 p.m. August 10 the signal-station could contact headquarters and the various Abteilungen.
From the plateau of Waterberg von Auer and von Reibnitz could see the camp-fires of the Hereros, and they could signal to headquarters, that in late afternoon there had been a meeting of many Kapitäne of the Hereros for a war council.
Not before the morning of August 11 the Hereros attacked the patrol and there was gunfighting until late afternoon. In spite of the fight the signal-station was in operation all of August 11 and could sent and relay many important messages.