110 Years: BüllsPort commemorates ‘Its’ World War Victim

What connects the grave of Police Sergeant Rudolf Rogge at BüllsPort and the memorial of the Rehoboth Basters near Sam Khubis? – Both commemorate events in 1915. The First World War also claimed victims in the then colony of German South West Africa…

On 22 April 1915, Police Sergeant Rudolf Rogge died. So says the white gravestone located near the campsite in the private nature reserve of BüllsPort Lodge & Farm.

The historically knowledgeable ethnologist Dr. Kuno Budack knows better. In his book “Krieg und Frieden in Basterland” (War and Peace in Basterland) he not only corrected the date of his death but also recounted how it came about.

Starting on 19 April, Baster ‘comandos’ rode through Basterland, killing German farmers and police officers. Rudolf Rogge was the first victim.

South Africans on the advance

But why? The backdrop was the First World War. The Union of South Africa sided with Great Britain and had an interest in the neighboring colony of German South West Africa.

With a total of 60,000 soldiers, they advanced from Lüderitz and Walvis Bay. The German colonial troops, with their approximately 4,000 men, could offer little resistance to the advance.

The Basters, bound by their ‘Protection and Friendship Treaty’, were obligated to assist the Germans in conflicts with third parties. However, they secured assurances that the so-called Baster Company would not be deployed at the front, but only behind the lines.

After the South Africans landed in Walvis Bay, the Basters made contact with them. Their aim was to secure their special rights for the period following the anticipated South African victory.

Their conflict with the Germans escalated when they were ordered to guard South African soldiers captured in a skirmish. The South Africans threatened their guards with retaliation. On the night of 17 to 18 April, the Baster soldiers abandoned their posts and the camp.

Battle at Sam Khubis

Sam Khubis memorial, pictured here on 8 May 2015, at the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Basters’ battle against the German colonial troops on 8 May 1915. Photo: Sven-Eric Stender

They also raided German farms and police stations. In response, the German colonial troops launched a punitive action. On 8 May 1915, a fierce battle took place at Sam Khubis, about 80 km southwest of Rehoboth. Hundreds of Baster fighters had entrenched themselves there.

After hours of resistance, the Basters were forced to abandon their positions. However, the Germans had no time to pursue them, as South African troops were already advancing on Windhoek.

To avoid being cut off from the core of the Schutztruppe, they had to march north as quickly as possible. Two months later, on 9 July 1915, the Schutztruppe surrendered at Khorab, north of Otavi.

The Rehoboth Basters gather every year on 8 May at Sam Khubis to commemorate the battle and the fallen. It is located about 80 km from Rehoboth on the road to Klein Aub. A large gate in black, red, and white, the national colors of the Basters, marks the entrance.

Meanwhile, only an unassuming grave commemorates Police Sergeant Rudolf Rogge. It lies in the middle of the private nature reserve of BüllsPort Lodge & Farm, near the small campsite. A chapter of the book ‘Krieg und Frieden in Basterland’ is dedicated to his tragic end.

Grave of Police Sergeant Rudolf Rogge near the campsite in the private nature reserve of BüllsPort Lodge & Farm in the Naukluft Mountains. Photo: Sven-Eric Stender