The First Campaign Victory of the Great War

The First World War moulded the global landscape and had a lasting effect on much of the World. Where the majority of international research focusses on the European theatre, Antonio Garcia explores one of the peripheral campaigns of the Great War. South Africa’s First World War campaign in German South West Africa was a daring military undertaking epitomised by manoeuvre and rapidity. The author takes a novel approach in comparing the campaign to manoeuvre warfare theory. Manoeuvre theory is based on the principles of mobility, rapidity and surprise which attempts to achieve victory with the least loss of resources and in the shortest time possible. In order to achieve a rapid victory against the German forces, the South African soldiers were pushed to the limits of exhaustion to achieve the Union of South Africa’s strategic objectives. The campaign in the deserts of German South Africa became the setting for adventure and war, where Briton, Boer and People of Colour served together as a Dominion of the British Empire. Blacks, Coloureds and Indians fought for the hopes of better political franchise, an ambition which was not to be achieved until 80 years later. The book addresses the complex political dynamics in South Africa at the time of the Great War, the deep division between Afrikaners and British South Africans and the Afrikaner Rebellion. With the backdrop of political difficulties and a lack of overwhelming support for the entry into the Great War, the Botha government needed a quick result so as to maintain the delicate balance of power. The author provides an analysis on the campaign through the lens of military theory so as to determine how the swift victory was achieved. The book answers the question of whether the campaign was won through numerical superiority or through the use of a superior operational strategy. The victory was the first campaign victory led by a British Dominion.

"Altogether Antonio Garcia provides a very useful and interesting addition to our wider understanding of the Great War and of modern Africa" Stand To!

"While this book is based on Garcia’s studies at the South African Military Academy in Saldanha – and by its very nature is academically inclined – it is by no means one of those dry facts upon facts tomes of yesteryear. This book will be found to be informative by both the modern military officer student at the Academy as well as the civilian layperson just interested in an excellent account of the German South West Africa Campaign of 1914–1915." Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies

"Overall this is an interesting book which covers a pair of campaigns which are overshadowed by events in Europe but which had a lasting impact on the Great War. They take place at a time when everyone’s attention was centred on Europe and when relatively small forces made a disproportionately large impact on events....Garcia obviously knows his subject." Wargames Illustrated

"....A measured study of a campaign that brought the British Empire its first victory over Germany in World War I." Archie Henderson, The Books Page website

"The first campaign victory provides historians of all flavours with rich, new insights." Anne Samson - Historian

"A very interesting book ... I would suggest this book to anyone who is interested in the South African military." Anton Pieter Nel - Southern African Military History Books Facebook Group