An Italian postcard map of central and southern Africa with insets for New Guinea and Kiautschau, China, with the colonies of Italy, Britain, France, Portugal, Spain, Germany, and Belgium.

Il tramonto dell'impero coloniale tedesco

The sunset of the German colonial empire



Reverse:

Censura sottoprefettura Terni del 25-5-17 Censorship of the Terni sub-prefecture 25/05/17



Logo: IPA CT Gromo

130



Added stamped text:

Sammlung J. Thomas, Sachrang/Obb.

Collection of J. Thomas, Sachrang / Bavaria.

Other views: Larger, Larger, Back

In 1914, approximately 3,000 German troops were stationed in German Southwest Africa. Over 50,000 troops were in neighboring South Africa.

A hero and ultimately general in the Boer Wars against Great Britain, Louis Botha was a representative in the peace negotiations that led to an independent Transvaal, of which he became Prime Minister in 1907. When Trasvaal became part of the new British dominion of the Union of South Africa in 1910, Botha became its first Prime Minister. Four years later, despite the opposition of many Boers who supported Germany in the World War, Botha supported Great Britain, and acted on its request for South Africa to seize Germany's colony.

South Africans also pursued the forces of German Lieutenant Colonel Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck in German and British East Africa. From the beginning of 1916, the British campaign had been led by General Jan Smuts, who had fought in the Boer War.

In early 1916, South African troops battled the Senussi in Egypt from January to March 1916. They also fought in the Battle of the Somme, including at Delville Wood where the nation's memorial stands. In 1917, South Africans fought in the Battle of Arras and in 1918 in Palestine.

Nearly one third of the 116,000 South Africans in the African campaigns were laborers of the South African Native Labour Corps. Nearly 25,000 members of the SANLC served in France. Nearly 90,000 Black and other non-white South Africans served in the war.

On February 21, 1917, 633 laborers were lost when their transport ship, the SS Mendi, was hit by another ship off the Isle of Wight.

Union of South Africa is a country in Africa.

Statistics for South Africa (1)

Type	Statistic
Population	5,973,394