580 Infantry
200 Cavalry 650 Infantry Date 14 October 1914 Location Naulila, Angola | Around 150 Around 30 Result German Victory | |
Similar Battle of Sandfontein, Battle of Ngomano, Battle of Jassin, Battle of Salaita Hill, Battle of Bukoba | ||
Battle of naulila top 6 facts
Naulila was the scene of fighting between Portuguese Angola and German South West Africa during the early stages of World War I. On 19 October 1914, a German military column crossed the border and entered Angola without authorization from the Portuguese authorities. The column was intercepted by Portuguese forces and conducted to Fort Naulila. At Naulila, a dispute occurred between the Portuguese and the Germans which resulted in the death of three German officers.
On 31 October, the Germans under the command of Oswald Ostermann retaliated, and raided the Portuguese fort at Cuangar, destroying the fort and killing all stationed border guards with machine-guns. This was later referred to as the "Cuangar Massacre". On 18/19 December, Victor Franke led a successful retaliatory attack, defeating the Portuguese at Naulila.