BIOGRAPHIES OF NAMIBIAN
PERSONALITIES
in alphabetical order
KLAUS DIERKS
Copyright © 2003-2004 Dr. Klaus Dierks
V
000066
Vaatz, Marga
[Kock, Marga - maiden name]
* 21.07.1913
---
Marga Vaatz was born 21.07.1913 as daughter of the trader Johannes Kock. She received her
schooling in Windhoek and Swakopmund and studied in Cape Town. She lived in Germany from
19??-19?? and was active in the Südwester Landsmannschaft in Germany. She married Edgar
Vaatz in 1939. She farmed during WW Two. She was a Co-founder of the SWA Party. She
pioneered game farming, established the first hunting and guest farm in 1960. She
established the industry of Hardanger embroideries in Namibia. She was the author of two
books on life in Namibia. She was married to Edgar Vaatz in 1939.
---
Gender: f
Field of activity: WRI BUS POL
Married to: Edgar Vaatz, married 1939
Namibia National Archives Database
001197
Vageler, Paul W.E.
* 30.10.1882
---
Paul W.E. Vageler was born on 30.10.1882. He was an agricultural scientist. In 1910 he
became Privatdozent at the University Königsberg in East Prussia, Germany (now Russian
Federation). 1909 and 1911 he undertook expeditions in German East Africa as well as an
expedition to Namibia and Angola (?).
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: SCI
Profession: Scientist
RAW DATA: Dt.Koloniallexikon;
001198
Van As, Hendrik Muller
* 22.08.1917 at Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
First entry to Namibia: 20.05.1945
---
Hendrik Muller van As was born on 22.08.1917 at Pietermaritzburg in South Africa. He was
educated at the University College of the Orange Free State. He came to Namibia 1945. He
served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from 1961. He was married to Maria Jacoba
van As, née Labuschagne in 1945.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL
Profession: Politician
Married to: Maria Jacoba Van As, née Labuschagne, married 1945-
Father: Hendrik Muller Van As
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
001199
Van Aswegen, J.P.A.
* 22.03.1893 at District Ventersdorp, South Africa
---
J.P.A. van Aswegen was born on 22.03.1893 at District Ventersdorp in South Africa. He
served as Director of Posts and Telecommunications, SWA Administration. He was married to
J.J. van Aswegen, née Greeff.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM
Married to: J.J. Van Aswegen, née Greeff
Mother:
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
000740
Vanchend, Jan
[Van Gent, Jan - possible proper spelling]
*
---
Vanchend was apparently a trader. He appears in Hendrik Witbooi's "Debt Book" as
a creditor, 1891.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
RAW DATA: Not traced in Table, Esterhuyse, Lenssen. - Could it be Schluckwerder?;
001200
Van der Merwe, Barnie
*
---
Barnie van der Merwe was an artist.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ART
Profession: Artist
Collections/Papers:
1). NAN: A.336 (Private documents and collection of material)
001201
Van der Merwe, Hendrik Jacobus Stephanus
* 21.02.1908 at Transvaal, South Africa
---
Hendrik Jacobus Stephanus van der Merwe was born on 21.02.1908 at Transvaal in South
Africa. He was educated in Namibia and Cape Town. He underwent military service during
World War Two. He was a motor dealer. He was married to Irene May van der Merwe, née
Culloch in 1931.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Businessman
Married to: Irene May Van der Merwe, née Culloch, married 1931-
Father: Hendrik Jacobus Stephanus Van der Merwe
Children:
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001202
Van der Merwe, Hendrik Willem
* 05.06.1905 at Wegdraai, South Africa
First entry to Namibia: 1923
---
Hendrik Willem van der Merwe was born on 05.06.1905 at Wegdraai in South Africa. He was
educated at Wegdraai and Upington in South Africa. He came to Namibia in 1923. He was a
businessman, owner of Grünau General Dealer, the Grünau Garage and the Grünau
Hotel. He was a farmer and karakul breeder. He was married to Christina Elizabeth
Susanna Willemina van der Merwe, née van Schalkwyk in 1932.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Businessman
Married to: Christina Elizabeth Susanna Willemina Van der Merwe, née van Schalkwyk,
married 1932-
Father: Christoffel Johannes Van der Merwe
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
000879
Van der Merwe, Paul Stefanus, Dr.
* 30.09.1922 at Lubango, Angola
First entry to Namibia: 1928
---
Paul Stefanus van der Merwe was born on 30.09.1922 at Lubango in Angola. He was the
descendant of the Dorslandtrekkers. He came with his family to Namibia with the Angola
Boer resettlement in the late 1920s. he studied at the University of South Africa (UNISA)
and the University of Pretoria. He graduated in political science at the University of
Pretoria and worked in the South African Departments of Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs,
before he returned to Namibia and later settled in Otjiwarongo. He was the editor of
"Die Suidwester" between 1951 and 1958. He served i.a. as Senator for SWA and
Mayor of Otjiwarongo. He waqs a historian and wrote i.a. on the Dorslandtrekkers and
Otjiwarongo's local history. He served as President of the SWA Scientific Society, from
1955 to 1957. He was married to Ellen van der Merwe, née Jacobs in 1950.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM POL
Profession: Journalist Politician Administrator
Functions: Senator
Mayor - Otjiwarongo
President - SWA Scientific Society - 1955-1957
Editor - Die Suidwester - 1951-1958
Member - Federal Council of the National Party of S.A.
Member for Middelland, SWA - Parliament of South Africa
Married to: Ellen van der Merwe, née Jacobs, married 1950-
Father: P.J. van der Merwe
RAW DATA: Mitt.NWG 43,4-6; WWSA 1959 + 1974;
000778
Van der Ploeg, Archie
* 26.04.1939 at Bloemfontein, South Africa
+ 11.20.2000 in Namibia
First entry to Namibia: 1980
---
Archie van der Ploeg was born on 26.04.1939 at Bloemfontein in South Africa, where he
started his career as a self-taught artist and musician. He moved to Swakopmund in 1980
with his wife, and settled permanently in Namibia. He painted landscapes, often of the
Namib Desert.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ART
Profession: Artist
RAW DATA: Lilienthal: Art in Namibia, p.49;
001203
Van der Poel, Jacobus Daniel
* 24.09.1935 at Vereeniging, South Africa
---
Jacobus Daniel van der Poel was born on 24.09.1935 at Vereeniging in South Africa. He was
a businessman and Director of Premier Metal Co. of SWA (1973-). He was married to Janie
van der Poel, née Kotzé in 1968.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Businessman
Married to: Janie van der Poel, née Kotzé, married 1968-
Father: Albert Van der Poel
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
001204
Van der Smit, George Diederik
* 24.08.1915 at Mobolo, Angola
First entry to Namibia: 1928
---
George Diederik van der Smit waqs born on 24.08.1915 at Mobolo in Angola. He was a
descendant of Angola Boers. He came to Namibia 1928. He was a businessman in Outjo,
Director of Sentrale Handelshuis (Edms) Bpk. and Okaukuejo Winkels. He was married to
Elizabeth Catharina van der Smit, née Steenkamp in 1951.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Businessman
Married to: Elizabeth Catharina Van der Smit, née Steenkamp, married 1951-
Father: Pieter Van der Smit
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001205
Van der Walt, Barend Johannes
* 28.06.1914 at Steynsburg, South Africa
First entry to Namibia: 01.11.1971
---
Barend Johannes van der Walt was born on 28.06.1914 at Steynsburg in South Africa. He
studied at the University of South Africa (UNISA). He joined the National Party in 1941.
He swerved as Assistant Party Secretary from 1948 to 1953. He was alected to the South
African Parliament in 1953 (until 1968). He was Ambassador to Canada, 1968, and to
Portugal, 1970. On 01.11.1971, he was appointed as Administrator for South West Africa
(until 01.09.1977). He was a Member of the Broederbond. He was married to Hercolina Maria
Salomina van der Walt, née Reyneke in 1961.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM
Functions: Administrator - South West Africa - 1971-1977
Married to: Hercolina Maria Salomina Van der Walt, née Reyneke, married 1961-
Mother:
Father: Tjaart Van der Walt
RAW DATA: Dickie/Rake 1973;
001206
Van der Wath, Johannes Gert Hendrik
* 04.11.1903 at Ladybrand, South Africa
First entry to Namibia: 1928
---
Johannes Gert Hendrik van der Wath was born on 04.11.1903 at Ladybrand in South Africa. He
was educated in Ficksburg in South Africa, then at the Glen Agricultural College. He
received teacher training at Bloemfontein. He was a teacher in the Orange Free State. In
1928, he was sent as a headmaster to Stampriet in Namibia, where he served for 16 years.
He retired in 1944 to become farmer in Stampriet. In 1946, he became a founding member and
first President of the Suidwes-Afrikaanse Landbou-Unie. In 1948, he was elected as Member
of the Legislative Assembly for Otjiwarongo, and in 1950 for Otjikondo. He was a Member of
the SWA Executive Committee from 1950. He served i.a. in the Long-Term Agriculture
Commission, as Chairperson of the the Education Commission 1950, and others. He was the
Administrator of SWA from 01.11.1968 to 01.11.1971. He was married to Gesina Johanna
(Jessie) van der Wath, née Strydom in 1931.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: EDU POL ADM
Functions: President - SWALU - 1946-
Member of Legislative Assembly - South West Africa - 1948-
Administrator - South West Africa - 1968-1971
Deputy Minister of South West African Affairs - South Africa
Married to: Gesina Johanna (Jessie) Van der Wath, née Strydom, married 1931-
Father: Cornelius Van der Wath
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959; SWA Annual 1954;
000741
Van der Westhuisen, Hendrik
[v/ Westhuis, Hendrik - alternative spelling]
*
---
Hendrik van der Westhuizen was apparently a trader. He appears in Hendrik Witbooi's
"Debt Book" as a creditor, 1891.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
RAW DATA: Not traced in Table, Esterhuyse, Lenssen. - Could it be Schluckwerder?;
000976
Van der Westhuizen, Hendrik
*
+ 10.1904 at Kosis
---
Hendrik van der Westhuizen was a boer who bought the farm Kosis from Hendrik Witbooi on
19.06.1901. At the beginning of the German-Nama War in October 1904, v.d. Westhuizen and
most male member of his family were killed in October 1904 at Kosis by Witbooi soldiers.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: AGR
Profession: Farmer
Namibia National Archives Database
001207
Van der Westhuizen, P.J.W.S.
* 31.07.1939 at Marico District, South Africa
---
P.J.W.S. van der Westhuizen was born on 31.07.1939 at Marico District in South Africa. He
studied at the Potchefstroom University. In 1966 he was appointed as N.G. Kerk missionary
among the San in Namibia. He graduated at the Univ.ersity. of Cape Town (MA) with a thesis
on the !Kung language. He was a Bible translator for the !Kung language. He was a Member
of the Broederbond. He was married to Adriana van der Westhuizen.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: REL
Profession: Missionary
Married to: Adriana Van der Westhuizen
Children: Gerhard Van der Westhuizen
RAW DATA: Namibiana 10;
001208
Van Heerden, Matthys Johannes
* 26.01.1926 at Upington, South Africa
First entry to Namibia: 1939
---
Matthys Johannes van Heerden was born on 26.01.1926 at Upington in South Africa. He was
educated at Upington in South Africa. He came to Namibia 1939. He was an attorney and
notary, sworn appraiser and auctioneer. He was a Director of Outjo Vendusie Afslaers. He
also was a Deputy Sheriff. He was married to Ignasina Johanna Maria van Heerden, née van
Zyl in 1948.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: LAW
Profession: Lawyer
Married to: Ignasina Johanna Maria Van Heerden, née van Zyl, married 1948-
Father: Schalk Willem Van Heerden
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001209
Van Niekerk, Albert Jacobus
* 03.02.1900 at Victoria West, South Africa
First entry to Namibia: 1917
---
Albert Jacobus van Niekerk was born on 03.02.1900 at Victoria West in South Africa. He was
a farmer in Grootfontein District, and politician. He came to Namibia in 1917. He was a
Member of the South African Parliament for Etosha between 1950 and 1958. He was a
Government representative on the Board of Management and Diamond Producers Association. He
was the Vice-President of the Otjiwarongo Annual Show. He also was the Vice-President of
the Windhoek Agricultural Show. He served as Secretary of the Minimum Area of Farms
Commission, 1946/47. He was the Chairperson of the Commission for the Determination of the
Price of Crownlands 1951/52. He was the provincial leader of the Voortrekker Youth
Organization. He was a Trustee of the Reddingsdaadfonds. He was a Patron of the
Jukskeibond, SWA. He was a Member of the Broederbond. He was married to Johanna Erna van
Niekerk, née Staebe in 1935.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL
Profession: Politician
Married to: Johanna Erna Van Niekerk, née Staebe, married 1935-
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959; SWA Annual 1954;
001210
Van Niekerk, Izak Andries Cornelius
* 02.10.1913 at Williston, South Africa
---
Izak Andries Cornelius van Niekerk was born on 02.10.1913 at Williston in South Africa. He
was educated at the Pretoria High School and University of Pretoria. He came to Namibia
1936. He was the General Manager of SWA Barclays National Bank Ltd. He was married to Anna
Helena van Niekerk, née Theron in 1942.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Banker
Married to: Anna Helena Van Niekerk, née Theron, married 1942-
Father: J.L. Van Niekerk
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
001211
Van Niekerk, Michiel Andries
* 02.04.1914 at Paarl, South Africa
---
Michiel Andries van Niekerk was born on 02.04.1914 at Paarl in South Africa. He was
educated at the Ermelo High School in South Africa. He was a cattle farmer and served on
several local committees. He was married to Frieda Sarah van Niekerk, née Köster,
married 1942
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: AGR
Profession: Farmer
Married to: Frieda Sarah Van Niekerk, née Köster, married 1942-
Father: Michiel Andreas Van Niekerk
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
000313
Van Reenen, John Heyning
[Vanrenen, John Heyning]
*
---
John Heyning van Reenen was a ship's captain who prospected for copper from Baker's Cove,
south of Lüderitz. He obtained a concession to prospect near Bethany in 1855, but when
the Bethany (!Aman) Chief, David Christian (||Naixab), would not permit him to prospect
near Aus, he terminated his prospecting activities during April the same year.
---
Gender: m
Profession: Ship Captain
RAW DATA : Lau 1989 I:316; Tabler 1973:27; von Schumann 1988:1622; Esterhuyse 1968:10;
Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
001898
Van Reenen, Willem
*
---
Willem van Reenen was the leader of a Cape Dutch expedition to Namibia in 1791.
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: Esterhuyse 1968:6; DSAB IV;
001897
Van Rhyn, Johannes Roux, Dr.
[Roux van Rhyn, Johannes
* 07.07.1890
+ 30.12.1971
---
Johannes Roux van Rhyn was the Administrator of South West Africa from 06.12.1951 to
30.10.1953.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM
Collections/Papers:
1). NAN: A.312
001212
Van Rooyen, Garth Theodore
* 16.12.1919 at Butterworth, South Africa
First entry to Namibia: 1938
---
Garth Theodore van Rooyen was born on 16.12.1919 at Butterworth in South Africa. He was
educated at the Umtata High School in the Transkei. He came to Namibia in 1938. He
underwent military service during World War Two between 1939 and 1945. He was a pilot in
the South African Air Force. He was the Managing Director of South West Air Transport
(Pty) Ltd. and Airport Manager at Windhoek.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Businessman
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001213
Van Schalkwyk, Gerrit Dirkse, Dr.
* 17.08.1905 at Victoria West, South Africa
---
Gerrit Dirkse van Schalkwyk was born on 17.08.1905 at Victoria West in South Africa. He
was educated at the Paarl Boys High School and the University of Cape Town. He was a
medical practitioner. He served as a Windhoek City Councillor. He was married to Erika van
Schalkwyk, née Kriel in 1936.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MED
Profession: Medical practitioner
Married to: Erika Van Schalkwyk, née Kriel, married 1936-
Father: Gerrit Dirkse Van Schalkwyk
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001899
Van Staden, Gerhardus Stefanus
* 01.08.1940 at Waterval Boven, South Africa
First entry to Namibia: 1993
---
Gerhardus Stefanus van Staden was born on 01.08.1940 at Waterval Boven in South Africa. He
was the Managing Director, of the First National Bank of Namibia Ltd., since 1993,
previously he was with the Standard Bank in South Africa. He was married to Florence Anne
van Staden, née Goodrich in 1964.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Married to: Florence Anne Van Staden, née Goodrich, married 1964-
Mother: Elizabeth Van Staden, née Goss
Father: Hendrik Van Staden
RAW DATA: WWSA 1994/95;
001900
Van Staden, Stefanus
* 11.04.1943 at Cradock, South Africa
First entry to Namibia: 1981
---
Stefanus van Staden was born on 11.04.1943 at Cradock in South Africa. He came to Namibia
in 1981. He was a Senior Lecturer at the College for Out of School Training from 1981 to
1986. He was a Vice-Principal from 1987 to 1988 and Principal since 1989 at the same
institution. He was married to Susan van Staden, née Jordaan, married in 1978 and
to Annie Elizabeth van Staden, née du Preez.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: EDU
Married to: <1>Susan Van Staden, née Jordaan, married -1978
<2>Annie Elizabeth Van Staden, née du Preez
Mother: Lenie Van Staden, née Didericks
Father: Stefanus Van Staden
RAW DATA: WWSA 1994/95;
001214
Van Tonder, Johannes Gideon Francis
* 18.12.1911 at Aroab
---
Johannes Gideon Francis van Tonder was born on 18.12.1911 at Aroab. He was educated at the
De Villiers Graaf High School in South Africa. He was a farmer and businessman, Director
of Deltas Motors (Edms) Bpk., Okahandja, Damara Meat Packers Ltd. and the Apex Slagterye
Bpk. He was a elder in the Dutch Reformed Church. He was married to Johanna C.H. van
Tonder, née Jordaan in 1943.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: AGR BUS
Profession: Farmer Businessman
Married to: Johanna C.H. Van Tonder, née Jordaan, married 1943-
Father: J.G.F. Van Tonder
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001215
Van Wijk, Gerard Carl
* 09.11.1932 at Swakopmund
---
Gerard Carl van Wijk was born on 09.11.1932 at Swakopmund. He was educated at Pretoria. He
studied at the University of Pretoria (B.A.). He worked at the Department of Commerce and
Industries in Pretoria from 1946 to 1960. From 1961 to 1965 he served as the Commercial
Secretary of the South African Embassy in Switzerland and from 1965 to 1968 in the South
African Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva. He was a member of several
South African delegations to international trade negotiations. He was Manager of the
Karakul Board and of the International Karakul Secretariat since 1978. He was married to
Beatrix van Wijk, née De Villiers in 1958.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS DIP
Profession: Businessman Diplomat
Married to: Beatrix Van Wijk, née De Villiers, married 1958-
Father: Stanley Lewis Van Wijk
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
000610
Van Wyk, Arie
*
---
Arie van Wyk was a Baster who had moved from Grootfontein (South) to Rehoboth, and whose
cattle was stolen at Lidfontein by Paul Visser in January 1883. The return of van Wyk's
cattle by the Witboois became a cause around which Hendrik Witbooi's mission crystallised.
---
Gender: m
Namibia National Archives Database
002307
Van Wyk, Cornelius, Baster Captain
*
+ 25.04.1924 at Rehoboth
---
Cornelius van Wyk was the second Captain of the Baster community from 1914 until 1924. He
followed indirectly Hermanus van Wyk who had died in 1905. After the death of Hermanus van
Wyk, the position of Baster Captain was abolished by the German
authorities and a Basterrat (Council of Basters) was appointed instead. In April
1915 the Basters rose against the Germans as a result of a secret meeting between the
South African Prime Minister Louis Botha and Baster Captain Cornelius van Wyk on 01.04.
The Basters were specifically dissatisfied that the "Baster Corps" was used by
the Germans to guard SA prisoners of war in Otjiwarongo. In Schlip, Pieter Mouton
collected all available able-bodied Basters to proceed to Sam-Khubis. The Germans, on
their way to Sam-Khubis, attacked the Basters at Heuras, Uitdraai and Kabirab. Among the
Basters fighting the Germans were Samuel and Johannes Beukes. On 09.07.1915 South Africa
declared the Rehoboth Gebied (District) to be the legitimate "homeland"
of the Basters. The Basters claimed that Louis Botha had promised them their complete
independence during his meeting with Cornelius van Wyk on 01.04.1915. On
05.02.1919, under the captainship of Albert Mouton, the Baster of
Rehoboth requested the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa to place them under
direct British protection, like Basutoland. This request was not granted. Samuel Beukes
was the first indigene to petition the League of Nations for independence for the Rehoboth
Basters. The South Africans nicknamed Beukes "Koos Petisie". When the United
Nations replaced the League of Nations in 1945, Beukes continued his petitions. He set a
precedent for the later petitions of Hosea Kutako. On 28.09.1923 an agreement was reached
between the SWA Administrator and a section of the Baster community to develop a new
constitution. This led to Proclamation No. 28 of 1923, which provided for a form of
limited self-government for the Baster. In turn this led to a conflict between the two
Baster factions, the "Raad" and the "Nuwe Raad". An
invitation from Administrator Gysbert Reitz Hofmeyr was met with contempt by the Nuwe
Raad. The Nuwe Raad sent a petition to the SA Prime Minister demanding
complete independence for the Rehoboth Gebied, but to no avail. Van Wyk died in
Rehoboth on 25.04.1924. His successor was Albert Mouton (until the South African crushing
of the Baster Uprising in 1925).
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL
Mother: Sophia Maasdorp
Father: Cornelius Van Wyk
RAW DATA: Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
001216
Van Wyk, Dekker Adam
* 08.04.1933 at Kenhardt, South Africa
---
Dekker Adam van Wyk was born on 08.04.1933 at Kenhardt in South Africa. He was educated at
Keimoes and the Potchefstroom University. He was a pharmacist at the Tsumeb Pharmacy. He
was the Chairperson of the Afrikaanse Sakekamer. He served as a Municipal Councillor in
Tsumeb and Mayor of Tsumeb from 1971 to 72. He was a board member of the Voortrekker
Kommando, elder of the Dutch Reformed Church and Member of the Broederbond. He was married
to Maria van Wyk, née Van der Vyver in 1957.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MED
Functions: Mayor - Tsumeb - 1971-1972
Married to: Maria Van Wyk, née Van der Vyver, married 1957
Father: Willem Schalk Van Wyk
RAW DATA: WWSAA 1974;
000611
Van Wyk, Dirk
*
---
Dirk van Wyk was a Rehoboth Baster. According to Bruchhausen (Witbooi 1929), he was
Hermanus van Wyk's brother. This is possible but could not be verified. It seems that he
did not live on farm Kobus "near Hoornkrans", as claimed by Bruchhausen, but at
Kransneus south of Windhoek. There can be no doubt that he was a Baster leader of some
eminence.
---
Gender: m
Namibia National Archives Database
001217
Van Wyk, Henning Jacobus
* 23.05.1926 at De Aar, South Africa
First entry to Namibia: 1957
---
Henning Jacobus van Wyk was born on 23.05.1926 at De Aar in South Africa. He was educated
at Kenhardt, Langenhoven and the University of Pretoria. He came to Namibia in 1957. He
was a businessman, Director of Nictus Eksekuteurskamer (Edms) Bpk., Landswyd Beleggings
Bpk., Nictus Eiendomme (Edms) Bpk., Nictus Boukontrakteurs (Edms) Bpk., Werda
Dorpsontwikkelaars (Edms) Bpk., Selfhelp-Mark Bpk. and TS Nywerhede (Edms) Bpk. He was the
Secretary and Director of the Damaraland Eksekuteurskamer. He was married to Rina van Wyk,
née de Jager in 1957.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Businessman
Married to: Rina Van Wyk, née de Jager, married 1957-
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
000612
Van Wyk, Hermanus, Baster Captain
* .1835 at Fraserburg District, South Africa
+ .1905 at Rehoboth
---
Hermanus van Wyk was born in 1835 at Fraserburg District in South Africa. He was the
leader of the Baster community during their trek from Little Namaqualand to Namibia. In
November 1868 the Baster (!Gora) people, accompanied by Rhenish
Missionary Johann Christian Friedrich Heidmann, crossed the Oranje River from Pella and De
Tuin and moved into the territory. Claas Swart settled in Grootfontein (in the south).
Other Baster communities settled in Keetmanshoop, in Mier and Haas in South Africa, and in
Chamis. In 1870 the main group of the Basters settled under Hermanus van Wyk in Rehoboth
following an agreement between Nama and Ovaherero chiefs, thereby forming a buffer zone
between Nama/Orlam communities and the Ovaherero. Thus, Hermanus van Wyk was the first
Baster Captain. The original Rehoboth Baster families were the following: Benz, Beukes,
Bok, Claasen (Klazen), Cloete, Coetsee, Diergaar(d)t, Engelbrecht, Gertze, Isaak, de
Klerk, Koopman, Morkel, Mouton, Orlam, Schalkwyk, Slenger, Steenkamp, Vrey, Vries, Wimmer,
Witbooi and van Wyk. On 05.10.1876 negotiations between the Special Envoy of the Cape
Government, Palgrave, and Hermanus van Wyk from Rehoboth and Abraham Swartbooi from Ameib
took place at Rehoboth. On 18.06.1878 Jakobus Isaak of Berseba and Moses Witbooi of Gibeon
contacted Hermanus van Wyk of Rehoboth to establish a united front due to their distrust
of Palgrave. On 15.02.1882, during the Ovaherero Nama War of the 1880s, the Ovaherero
Chief Maharero (Kamaharero) made peace with Hermanus van Wyk of Rehoboth, with Rhenish
Missionary Heidmann as mediator. After the advent of the German colonial power, a private
treaty was concluded between Hermanus van Wyk of Rehoboth and the German geologist C.
Hoepfner (11.10.1884). The treaty included all mining rights. The mining rights in the
Rehoboth area were, however, not exploited for many years. On 15.09.1885 a protection
treaty was concluded between Hermanus van Wyk of Rehoboth and Germany. After the outbreak
of the German Ovaherero War of 1904, Samuel Maharero tried to involve the Basters, under
Hermanus van Wyk and Hendrik Witbooi, in the struggle. The two letters Samuel sent to
Witbooi never reached him, and Van Wyk was not willing to support Samuel. Van Wyk handed
over the letters for Witbooi to the Germans. In the second of these letters Samuel wrote:
"All our obedience and patience with the Germans is of little avail, for each day
they shoot someone dead for no reason at all. Hence I appeal to you, my Brother, not to
hold aloof from the uprising, but to make your voice heard so that all Africa may take up
arms against the Germans. Let us die fighting rather than die as a result of maltreatment,
imprisonment or some other form of calamity." These letters were written after the
outbreak of the war. The Baster Captain Hermanus van Wyk of Rehoboth died in 1905. The
position of Baster Captain was abolished by the German authorities and a Basterrat
(Council of Basters) was appointed instead. The position of Baster Captain
was only re-established during World War One. Cornelius van Wyk
became the new Baster Captain from 1914 until 1924.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL
Mother: Sophia Maasdorp
Father: Cornelius Van Wyk
RAW DATA: Pearson 1986; Report of the Rehoboth Commission 1927; DSAB IV; Drechsler
1966:76, 139, 166, 361; Lau 1995:249; Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
001901
Van Wyk, Johannes
*
---
Johannes van Wyk was an evangelist of the Rhenish Mission in Khoesarebis in 1903.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: REL
RAW DATA: JBRMG 1903:18;
001218
Van Zanten, Jacobus Henri
* 25.11.1909 at Hilversum, Netherlands
First entry to Namibia: 1953
---
Jacobus Henri van Zanten was born on 25.11.1909 at Hilversum in the Netherlands. He was
educated at the universities of Delft and Weimar. He underwent war service in the
Netherlands Indian Army in World War Two. He emigrated to South Africa in 1936 and to
Namibia in 1953. He was an architect in Walvis Bay. He was married to Ethne Van Zanten,
née Lennox St Leger Stretch in 1946.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ARC
Profession: Architect
Married to: Ethne Van Zanten, née Lennox St Leger Stretch, married 1946-
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001219
Van Zijl, Ebenezer
[Van Zijl, Eben - short name]
* 09.03.1931 at Keetmanshoop
---
ebenezer van Zijl was born on 09.03.1931 at Keetmanshoop. He was educated at the Central
High School at Bloemfontein, and Stellenbosch University. He was a lawyer in Windhoek from
1956 to 1966. In 1963 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly. He served in various
capacities in the SWA Administration. He was the Deputy Chairperson of the National Party
in 1975, participated in the Turnhalle Conference and the Multi-Party Conference. 1979 he
became a Member of the "Interim's" National Assembly. He was Minister for
Agriculture in one of the SWA " Interim's governments" in the 1980s. He was a
Member of the Broederbond. He was married to Elizabeth van Zijl, née van Rensburg in
1955.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: LAW POL
Profession: Lawyer Politician
Married to: Elizabeth Van Zijl, née van Rensburg, married 1955-
Father: Ebenezer Van Zijl
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959; WWSA 1974;
001220
Van Zyl, Frans Louis
* 30.08.1927 at Keetmanshoop
---
Louis van Zyl was born on 30.08.1927 at Keetmanshoop. He was educated at the Sentrale
Hoërskool Bloemfontein and the Pretoria University. He was a journalist for "Die
Burger", from, 1952 to 1956, "Die Huisgenoot" from 1956 to 1964, "Die
Suidwester" since 1964. He was the Manager of Suidwes-Drukkery. He was a Member of
the SWA Legislative Assembly since 1971. He was a Member of the Broederbond. He was
married to Sophia Elizabeth van Zyl, née Delport in 1956.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: JOU POL
Profession: Journalist Politician
Married to: Sophia Elizabeth Van Zyl, née Delport, married 1956-
Father: Ebenezer Van Zyl
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
000314
Van Zyl, Hendrik
*
---
Hendrik van Zyl was a farmer at Uitkomst near present-day Grootfontein (North) from at
least 1816 until 1843 who was always prepared to assist missionaries, no matter to which
society they belonged. Virtually all missionaries touched at his farm on their journey to
and from Hereroland and Damaraland.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: AGR
Profession: Farmer
Namibia National Archives Database
001902
Van Zyl, Hendrik Matthys
* .1828
+ .1880
---
Hendrik Matthys van Zyl was a hunter in Hereroland and Ovamboland. He died in 1880.
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: DSAB IV;
001221
Van Zyl, Johannes Hendrik
* 06.12.1916 at Pretoria, South Africa
First entry to Namibia: 1958
---
Johannes Hendrik van Zyl was born on 06.12.1916 at Pretoria in South Africa. He was
educated at Pretoria. He came to Namibia in 1958. He was the Manager of the Netherlands
Bank of SA Ltd., Windhoek. He was a Honorary Consul for the Netherlands. He was married to
Lydia van Zyl, née Steinführer in 1952.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Banker
Married to: Lydia Van Zyl, née Steinführer, married 1952-
Father: Johannes Hendrik Van Zyl
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001222
Van Zyl, Johannes Jacob
* 17.08.1940 at Swakopmund
---
Johannes Jacob van Zyl was born on 17.08.1940 at Swakopmund. He was educated at the
Windhoek High School. He was a businessman, Director of LTA (SWA) Ltd., C.H. Nominees
(SWA) (Pty) Ltd. and Ausspann Properties (Pty) Ltd. He was married to Jill Glen van Zyl,
née Smith in 1963.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Businessman
Married to: Jill Glen Van Zyl, née Smith, married 1963-
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
001223
Van Zyl, John Pilford
* 29.04.1929 at Okahandja
---
John Pilford van Zyl was born on 29.04.1929 at Okahandja. He was educated at the
Helpmekaar High School and the Witwatersrand University at Johannesburg South Africa. He
returned to Namibia in 1949. He was a businessman in the food products trade, Director of
J.J. van Zyl (Pty) Ltd., Union Wholesalers (Pty) Ltd., and C.J. Bartenstein (Pty) Ltd. He
was married to Athena van Zyl, née Dempers in 1953.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Businessman
M/arried to: Athena Van Zyl, née Dempers, married 1953-
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001224
Van Zyl, Jurgens Johannes
[Van Zyl, Jurie - colloquial name]
* 11.10.1923 at Niewoudtsville, South Africa
---
Jurgens Johannes (Jurie) van Zyl was born on 11.10.1923 at Niewoudtsville in South Africa.
He was educated at Swakopmund and Lichtenburg High Schools. He was a businessman and
estate agent. He was the Director of Jurie J. van Zyl (Pty) Ltd., Swatrust Finance (Pty)
Ltd., Indo Atlantic Group, Global Links (Pty) Ltd. and other companies. He was married to
Maria Susannah van Zyl, née Botha in 1953 and to
Christa G. van Zyl, née Haupt in 1987.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Businessman
Married to: <1>Maria Susannah Van Zyl, née Botha, married 1953-
<2>Christa G. Van Zyl, née Haupt, married 1987-
Father: John P. van Zyl
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974, 1994/95;
000743
Van Zyl, Willem
[Vanzeil, Will - alternative spelling]
*
---
Willem van Zyl was apparently a trader. He appears in Hendrik Witbooi's "Debt
Book" as a creditor, 1891.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
RAW DATA: Not traced in Table, Esterhuyse, Lenssen. - Could it be Schluckwerder?;
002186
Vatje, Ovaherero Chief
*
+
---
Setting out from the Kaokoveld, Ovaherero leader Mutjise, son of Mbunga,
son of Tjituka, son of Kasupi, son of Vatje, son of
Kengeza of the oruzo orwohorongo (community or clan, also religious group from the
father’s side, while eanda is a socio-economic group to which the mother
belongs), moved to Okahandja (probably after 1785). He was followed by Ovaherero Chief Kasupi.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL
Profession: Traditional leader
Functions: Chief - Ovaherero - before 1750
RAW DATA: Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
000028
Vedder, Heinrich, Dr.
* 03.07.1876 at Westerenger, Westfalen, Germany
+ 26.04.1972 at Okahandja
First entry to Namibia: 27.12.1903
---
Heinrich Vedder was born on 03.07.1876 at Westerenger, Westfalen, in Germany. Originally
he was trained as a silk weaver. He was a missionary of the Rhenish Missionary Society. He
received his missionary training in Barmen between 1894 and 1903. He came to Namibia on
27.12.1903, and worked first in Scheppmannsdorf, Karibib and Otjimbingwe. On 17.01.1905 Vedder founded the Rhenish Mission in German South West Africa. From
1905, he was missionary for the black workers and prisoners-of-war in Swakopmund and also
serving the German Lutheran congregation. On 14.06.1905 the Rhenish Missionary
Wilhelm Eich in a report to Vedder mentioned the death of 59 men, 59 women and 73 children
in the Lüderitz (Shark Island) concentration camp. Poised on the vast South Atlantic, the
island was barren and wind-swept. Placed on the far, most exposed tip, facing the open
ocean, the concentration camp was surrounded by barbed wire and was guarded around the
clock by German troops. The Shark Island camp had no buildings, only standard issue
military tents and improvised shelters made from blankets and what little building
materials was made available to the prisoners. In December 1905, with Vedder at Swakopmund
by his side to translate "sentence for sentence" from German into Otjiherero,
the German Governor Von Lindequist chastised the assembled Ovaherero prisoners-of-war for
unjustly causing the war. He announced that they are now living the punishment they
deserved: "That your people are now destroyed, that so many have been miserably
killed, that some of your chiefs have gone over the border, that you find yourselves
imprisoned, that is your own fault. ..." He then remarked that he could not
ameliorate their suffering until all Ovaherero had come in from the field. "You have
the opportunity to send them the message to surrender themselves. Fair treatment is
guaranteed to them ... but I can say to you that every one who conducts himself well will
also be treated well ... ". What Von Lindequist meant by "good conduct" was
co-operation in a system of forced labour which the Germans established as the heart of
the camp system. One eye witness (Hugo Fraser) described the situation at the beach camp:
" When I got to Swakopmund I saw very many Herero prisoners of
war had been captured in the rebellion which was still going on in the country. There must
have been about 600 men, women and children prisoners. They were in an enclosure on the
beach, fenced in with barbed wire. The women were made to do hard labour just like the
men. The sand is very deep and heavy there. The women had to load and unload carts and
trolleys, and also to draw Scotch-cart loads of goods to Nonidas where there was a depot.
The women were put in spans of eight to each Scotch-cart and were made to pull like
draught animals. Many were half-starved and weak, and died of sheer exhaustion. Those who
did not work well were brutally flogged with sjamboks. I even saw women knocked down with
pick handles. The German soldiers did this. I personally saw six women murdered by German
soldiers. They were ripped open with bayonets. I saw the bodies. I was there for six
months, and the Hereros died daily in large numbers as a result of exhaustion,
ill-treatment and exposure." This report was confirmed by Vedder who wrote to
the Rhenish Missionary Society that the Ovaherero "were placed behind a double row of
barbed wire ... and housed in pathetic structures constructed out of simple sacking and
planks, in such a manner that in one structure 30 - 50 people were forced to stay without
distinction to age or sex. From early morning until late at night, on weekends as well as
on Sundays and holidays, they had to work under the clubs of raw overseers until they
broke down. Added to this food was extremely scarce. Rice without any necessary additions
was not enough to support their bodies, already weakened by life in the field [as
refugees] and used to the hot sun of the interior, from the cold and restless exertion of
all their powers in the prison conditions in Swakopmund. Like cattle hundreds were driven
to death and like cattle they were buried. This opinion might seem hard or exaggerated.
... but the chronicle may not withhold such a remorseless rawness, lusty
sensuality, brutal overlordship broadly perpetrated here by troops and civilians. A full
description is hardly possible." Vedder was later serving the Damara
congregation in Omaruru. Heinrich Vedder and Bernhard Trey from the
Rhenish Missionary Society undertook between July and September 1914, shortly before the
outbreak of World War One, an expedition into the Kaokoveld, in order to establish mission
stations. Kaoko Otavi was identified as an appropriate location. Trey tried to convince
Chief Kasupi from the Otjiyandjasemo area to support them, but Kasupi refused to see him.
When Trey linked up with Vedder again he related a most peculiar rumour which he had heard
from Ovaherero in Angola, and which baffled the missionaries for months. He heard that the
British had invaded the Portuguese territory and that the exiled Ovaherero Chief Samuel
Maharero had invaded SWA and captured several German ships at Swakopmund. Later they
learned the truth that World War One had begun. The "bush telegraph" of the
Kaokoveld had misled the missionaries - but there had been a grain of truth in the
rumours. From 1911 to 1919 Vedder was educating teachers and evangelists in
Gaub. He was deported to Germany 1919 by the South African authorities. He was allowed to
return in 1922 and since then worked in Okahandja. On 26.08.1923, Samuel
Maharero’s burial in Okahandja – alongside his forefathers – was a gesture
of defiance and a symbol of regained pride. The leader of the funeral services was Hosea
Kutako. Courtney-Clarke, Secretary for SWA, Mr Cope, Native Affairs officer and Mr Warner
from Okahandja represented the SWA Administration. Following a church service, led by
Vedder, the funeral was held out in the church yard, in accordance with Ovaherero
tradition. In consequence these events lead to a crisis with the Rhenish Mission which
still maintained its view of "Christian Western civilisation" and a pietistic
interpretation of Christianity. From 1923 to 1943 Vedder served as the Head
of the Augustineum. On 31.10.1945 the South African newspaper Die
Burger reported that the Rhenish Missionary Society planned to transfer all their
assets to the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Sendingskerk (NGS). This transfer was
strongly supported by the leader of the Rhenish Church since 1937, Vedder.
On 03.07.1947 he retired as head of the Rhenish Missionary Society.
He was followed by Hans Karl Diehl. Interested in linguistics, ethnography
and history, he made a substantial contribution to linguistic research in Otjiherero and
Khoekhoegowab, and to Namibian ethnography and historiography by collecting oral
traditions. His monumental "Das alte Südwestafrika", compiled from oral sources
and research into archival, mostly missionary records became the most influential single
work on precolonial Namibian history. Unfortunately, not being intended as an academic
history, the information Vedder used was not referenced, and many of his sources remained
obscure. The other major flaw in his work is that he was writing with a preconceived idea
of the civilising mission of the "white" man, coming to Namibia as a peacemaker
to genocidal warring tribes. This overall concept was colouring his view of events, and
has made it so immensely popular and influential among the "white" settler
community and Apartheid ideologues. Vedder's activity as an educationalist, training black
teachers and writing school textbooks in Otjiherero and Khoekhoegowab, has also left his
mark on subsequent attempts at oral history: supposed oral history accounts are
occasionally found to be almost verbatim renderings of Vedder's textbooks. The ideological
bias of his works should however not distract from their enormous value as source
material. He was also a prolific writer of moralistic short stories, mostly published in
the annual "Afrikanischer Heimatkalender", which he edited for the German
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia since its inception in 1930 to the 1960s. Despite
being a missionary, and unlike most other missionaries, he was also influential in the
"white" Lutheran and Reformed churches, and was supportive of the Nazi influence
among Germans in Namibia. He was a founder member of the SWA Scientific Society (honorary
member 1938). He was a Member of the Historical Monuments Commission. Vedder was showered
with praise and official honours, particularly in his later years when he lived in
retirement at Okahandja. In 1951, he was made Senator "to represent the natives of
SWA" in the South African Senate, where he praised Apartheid and claimed it had been
invented by the Germans and practised in Namibia since 50 years. He had neither sympathy
nor understanding for the rising Namibian nationalist and anti-apartheid movement since
1945, and was scathing in his criticism of Rev. Michael Scott and his efforts to make the
Namibian voice heard. He was married to Lydia Vedder, née Schlickum in 1905. Vedder died
on 26.04.1972 at Okahandja.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: REL WRI HIS ETH
Profession: Missionary
Functions: Präses - Rheinische Mission in Südwestafrika - 1937-
Senator - Union of South Africa - 1951-1958
Married to: Lydia Vedder, née Schlickum, married 1905-
Father: Franz Wilhelm Vedder
Collections/Papers:
1). ELCRN (Correspondence, library)
2). NAN: Quellen (compilation from missionary correspondence and orature)
3). NAN
4). VEM
5). Namibia Scientific Society
6). NLN (Fragments of library (in Africana Collection))
7). Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks)
RAW DATA: Namibiana 10; WWSA 1959; SWA Annual 1954; Drechsler 1966:29, 283, 318, 321,
327-328; DSAB IV;
001225
Venning, J.
*
---
J. Venning was the Director of Posts and Telegraphs of the SWA Administration. He was
Chairperson of the Committee for the Promotion of the Walvis Bay-Rhodesia Railway
(Trans-Kalahari-Railway Line).
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM
Collections/Papers:
1). NAN: A.012 (Correspondence and paper re feasibility of Walvis Bay-Rhodesia railway)
001226
Vesper, Michael, Dr.
* .1952
---
Michael Vesper is a German social scientist. He visited Namibia repeatedly in the 1970s
for research on his Ph.-D. thesis, and in the 1980s. He is a politician of the Green
Party. He was involved in Third World solidarity organisations.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL
Collections/Papers:
1). NAN (Material on Namibia solidarity in West Germany)
000041
Victory, Messah
*
---
Messah Victory was arrested in September 1967. He was held in the Pretoria Central Prison
until February 1969. He was charged under the Terrorism Act with conspiring to overthrow
the SWA Administration. She was sentenced in the Windhoek Supreme Court to life
imprisonment on Robben Island in August 1969.
---
Gender: m
Namibia National Archives Database
000315
Viehe, Friedrich Wilhelm Gottlieb
* 27.03.1839 at Mennighöffen, Westphalia, Germany
+ 15.01.1901 at Okahandja
First entry to Namibia: 1867
---
Friedrich Wilhelm Gottlieb Viehe was born on 27.03.1839 at Mennighöffen, Westphalia in
Germany. He was a missionary of the Rheinische Missionsgesellschaft who came to the
country in 1867. Initially, he worked among the Ovaherero at Otjimbingwe (between 01.06.1867 and 1870), but in 1870 he moved to Omaruru, where he
worked until 1887 where he established a school for the children of
European settlers. He was supported by Finnish missionary Antti Piirainen (as from 1872),
who set up a store, and by Rhenish missionary Caspar Heinrich Niederwelland (as from
1880). In 1872 he built the "Old Mission
House" in Omaruru. It is in this house in that Viehe translated the New Testament
into the Otjiherero language and erected the first meteorological station in Namibia
(1885). Between 1895 and 1898 the house served as post office under missionary Eduard
Dannert. On 14.04.1890, he moved to Okahandja, where he was head of
Augustineum. The college had 14 students at this time. In April
1896 a confrontation relating to the treatment of Namibian indigenes ensued between
Theodor Leutwein and Viehe. Leutwein expressed that "if a Negro has done wrong,
forceful action is of more use than too much mildness." In July 1899 missionaries
Diehl and Viehe sharply attacked Ovaherero Chief Samuel Maharero for "selling"
the Okakango locale, north of Okahandja, to settle his debts. At the end of 1900 Viehe
predicted that "local politics is heading towards getting all better land into the
hands of Whites". Viehe, Preses in Hereroland, died in Okahandja on 15.01.1901. He
was married twice: to Minette Vogt from Gütersloh on 17.06.1869 (two children), and to
Clara Rothe from Calbe on 03.11.1896.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: REL
Profession: Missionary
Married to: <1>Minette Viehe, née Vogt (1840-1894), married 1869-1894
<2>Clara Rothe, née Rothe, married 1896-
Children: Heinrich Viehe (-1883)
Gottlieb Viehe
Dorothea Viehe
RAW DATA: Chronik Omaruru; Kritzinger 1972; BRMG 1901; Otto-Reiner 1991; P.Reiner
1992:440; Vergissmeinnicht 1893:48-49; von Schumann 1986:2; Mossolow s.d.:4; Drechsler
1966:51, 54, 59, 89, 105, 332-333, 341, 343; Chronology of Namibian History, 2003
(Dierks);
000316
Viehe, Minette
[Vogt, Minette - birth name]
* 24.02.1840 at Gütersloh, Germany
+ 13.02.1894 at Okahandja
---
Minette Viehe, née Vogt, was the first wife of the Rhenish Missionary Friedrich Wilhelm
Gottlieb Viehe.
---
Gender: f
Married to: Friedrich Wilhelm Gottlieb Viehe (18339-1901), married 1869-1894
Namibia National Archives Database
001904
Viereck, Albert
* .1907
+ 08.11.1982 in Namibia
---
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: AGR
Profession: Farmer
Namibia National Archives Database
001915
Vilander, Dirk
[Philander, Dirk - alternative spelling]
[Vyrlander, Dirk - alternative spelling]
* in South Africa
---
Dirk Vilander was the leader of a Baster group which joined the move of Jager Afrikaner to
Blydeverwacht at the beginning of the 19th century. He was later Captain of the Baster
Community at Rietfontein.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: TRA
Namibia National Archives Database
001227
Viljoen, Daniel Thomas du Plessis
* 16.03.1892 at Hanover, South Africa
+ 11.12.1972
---
Daniel Thomas du Plessis Viljoen was born on 16.03.1892 at Hanover in South Africa. He was
educated at the Paarl Boys High School and the University of Cape Town. He was a teacher,
farmer and South African politician. He was a Member of the Senate of South Africa and
member of various boards. He was the Administrator of South West Africa between 01.12.1953
and 30.10.1963. He was a Director of Thorer Fur Processing Co. He died on 11.12.1972. He
was married to Hilda May Viljoen, née Mortimer in 1923.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM POL
Married to: Hilda May Viljoen, née Mortimer, married 1923-
Father: J.H.I. Viljoen
Collections/Papers:
1). NAN: A.312
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001905
Viljoen, Gerrit
*
---
Gerrit Viljoen was Administrator-General for South West Africa.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM POL
Namibia National Archives Database
001906
Villinger, O.C., Dr.
*
---
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: Yearbook KBSSA 17:25-30;
001228
Vincent, John Dacre
* 01.01.1894 at London, England
First entry to Namibia: 1952
---
John Dacre Vincent was born on 01.01.1894 at London in England. He was educated at
Marlborough College, Wilts., and St. John's College, Oxford. He was an Anglican priest:
Deacon in 1920, Asst. Curate, Gillingham, Dorset from 1920 to 1925. He came to South
Africa 1925. He was the Asst. Curate in Bloemfontein between 1925 and 1928. He was the
Vicar of Longbridge Deverill, Wilts., between 1929 and 1937 and the Archdeacon,
Bloemfontein from 1937 to 52. He became a Senior Chaplain to the South African Forces from
1941 to 1946. He was consecrated the 5th Bishop of Damaraland in 1952. Since then he
supported the first cautious steps of the liberation struggle (by supporting, for
instance, the protests of the Anglican priest, Theophilus
Hamutumbangela, against the suppressive measures of the South African
authorities against contract workers from Ovamboland in 1954). He was married to Daphne
Vincent, née Clark in 1927.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: REL
Profession: Clergy
Married to: Daphne Vincent, née Clark, married 1927-
Father: G.H. Vincent
Children: Paul Langridge Vincent (1931-)
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001229
Vincent, Paul Langridge
* 13.03.1931 in England
First entry to Namibia: 1953
---
Paul Langridge Vincent was born on 13.03.1931 in England. He was the son of the 5th Bishop
of Damaraland, J.D. Vincent. He was educated at St. Andrews in Bloemfontein. He came to
Namibia 1953 to work as a journalist for the "Windhoek Advertiser". On
05.12.1958 he started the "Namib Times" newspaper at Walvis Bay.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: JOU
Profession: Journalist
Mother: Daphne Vincent, née Clark
Father: John Dacre Vincent (1894-)
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974; Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
001907
Visser, Jan
* in South Africa
---
Jan Visser conducted religious services among the Witbooi Nama while they were still
living south of the Oranje River. He was the father of Paul Visser
---
Gender: m
Namibia National Archives Database
000613
Visser, Paul
*
---
Paul Visser was a highly-placed official under Hendrik Witbooi. Apparently Paul Visser's
son was based at Lidfontein near Hoachanas, who joined Hendrik Witbooi between August and
November 1888.
---
Gender: m
Father: Paul Visser
Namibia National Archives Database
000614
Visser, Paul
[Veschter, Paul - alternative spelling]
*
+ 12.07.1888
---
Paul Visser was a Witbooi leader. According to some oral traditions, Visser's father Jan
served as pastor to the Witbooi Nama when they lived in southern Namaland. Paul was their
school teacher. According to a letter from the resident Magistrate of Walvis Bay written
in 1888 and cited in the Rehoboth Commission Report of 1927, Visser was "one of the
rebel Griquas" driven out of the Oranje River islands in the Korana War of 1878.
Married to Moses Witbooi's sister Lena, he and his own following only settled in Gibeon
after 1868. The first missionary reports mention already a rivalry between him and Moses
Witbooi, who placed him in charge of |Girixas, a considerable distance away from Gibeon.
Aided by several Nama leaders, he openly challenged Moses' chieftaincy in October 1887,
and died in battle against Hendrik Witbooi on 12.07.1888. Visser usually appears as a
chief villain and robber in the sources, but his strong opposition to Moses Witbooi's
selling of land to white South African immigrants testifies that he had a clear
understanding of the forces of colonialism at work.
---
Gender: m
Married to: Lena Visser, née Witbooi
Father: Jan Visser
Children: Jan Visser
RAW DATA: Quellen 2, evidence of Hendrik Witbooi jr.; Quellen 16:22.2.18709, 14.11.1870,
14.9.1871; ELCRN V.7;
001908
Vlees, Josef
*
---
Josef Vlees was a teacher of the AMEC in Gibeon in 1953.
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: Schlosser 1958:117;
001230
Vlok, J.J.E.
* .1895 at Sutherland, South Africa
First entry to Namibia: 1916
---
J.J.E. Vlok was born in 1895 at Sutherland in South Africa. He joined the Standard Bank of
South Africa in 1912. He came to Namibia in 1916 as a clerk. He opened branches of the
bank in Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Outjo, Keetmanshoop, Mariental and Gobabis. He became a
sub-manager of the Windhoek Branch in 1930. In 1932, he left for Heidelberg in Transvaal
in South Africa. Then he became a credit manager of the Central News Agency in
Johannesburg. He returned to Namibia in 1941 to assume management of the Northern Labour
Organization, and subsequently of SWANLA in 1943. He was the Mayor of Grootfontein since
1950.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Banker
Functions: Mayor - Grootfontein - 1950-
RAW DATA: SWA Annual 1954;
001909
Vogelsang, Heinrich
* .1862 at Bremen in Germany
+ .1914
First entry to Namibia: 1883
---
Heinrich Vogelsang was born in 1862 at Bremen in Germany. He was the son of a Bremen
tobacco- and cigar industrialist. He had worked in South Africa and in various West
African establishments of the firm Vietor. He went to Namibia in 1883 as agent of Adolf
Lüderitz, and concluded the first land sales for Lüderitz with Joseph Frederiks of
Bethany. These "sale agreements" were characterised by
some fraudulent manoeuvres which exploited the seller’s ignorance (in terms of the
English mile versus the German geographical mile). The sale of land treaty included all
mining rights.
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: Rohlfs 1884; Drechsler 1966:32, 329-330; C.A Lüderitz: Die Erschliessung...
(Oldenburg 1945); Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
001910
Voigt, Bernhard
*
---
Bernhard Voigt was a school inspector and writer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: EDU WRI
Profession: Teacher Writer
Collections/Papers:
1). HWWA Personenarchiv
001911
Voigts, Albert
* .1869 at Braunschweig, Germany
+ .1938
---
Albert Voigts was born at Braunschweig in Germany in 1869. He was a farmer and trader in
Namibia. He was the Chairperson of the Deutscher Bund für Südwestafrika. He died in
1938.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: AGR
Profession: Farmer Trader
RAW DATA: DSAB IV;
001231
Voigts, C.W. Harald
* 26.11.1908 at Windhoek
---
C.W. Harald Voigts was born on 26.11.1908 at Windhoek. He was educated in Germany. He was
Director of Wecke & Voigts (Pty) Ltd., owner of farms Voigtskirch, Deutsch-Krone and
Otjituezo. He was married to Irmgard Voigts, née Rapmund in 1937.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Businessman
Married to: Irmgard Voigts, née Rapmund, married 1937-
Father: Gustav Voigts
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959, WWSA 1974;
001912
Voigts, Gustav
* at Braunschweig, Germany
---
Gustav Voigts was a farmer and trader. He wrote the preface to "Die Dagboek van
Hendrik Witbooi", Cape Town, 1929.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: AGR
Profession: Farmer Trader
Collections/Papers:
1). HWWA Personenarchiv
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:295, 337, 339, 344, 348; DSAB IV; Grimm: Südwesterbuch;
001232
Voigts, Hans Dieter
* 26.03.1938 at Windhoek
---
Hans Dieter Voigts was born on 26.03.1938 at Windhoek as son of H.K. Gerhardt Voigts. He
was educated at the Deutsche Höhere Privatschule (DHPS) in Windhoek and at Rondebosch
Boys High School. He is a Managing Director of Wecke & Voigts (Pty) Ltd., Director of
Gustav Voigts Investments (Pty) Ltd., Sands Hotel (Pty) Ltd., the First National Bank of
Namibia Ltd., Wecke & Voigts Investments (Pty) Ltd., Windhoek Uitspan Sentrum (Edms)
Bpk., Namibian Sea Products Ltd. and Swakop Textiles (Pty) Ltd. He was married to Heidi
Voigts, née Ebert in 1968. Since 1995 he is married to Helga Voigts, née Kotzé.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Businessman
Married to: Heidi Voigts, née Ebert, married 1968-
Mother: Alice Voigts, née Sentefol
Father: Gustav Voigts
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974, 1994/95;
001233
Voigts, H.K. Gerhardt
* 22.08.1905 at Windhoek
---
H.K. Gerhardt Voigts was born on 22.08.1905 at Windhoek. He was a Director of Wecke &
Voigts Windhoek (Pty) Ltd., Wecke & Voigts Grootfontein (Pty) Ltd., Keller Neuhaus
Trust Co. (Pty) Ltd. and the Deutscher Verlag (Pty) Ltd. He was the Vice-Chairperson of
the Simmentaler Cattle Breeders Soc. of South Afirca. He was the owner of farm Voigtland.
He was married to Alice Voigts, née Sentefol in 1930.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Businessman
Married to: Alice Voigts, née Sentefol, married 1930-
Father: Gustav Voigts
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959, 1974;
000438
Voigts, Joachim
* 20.03.1907 at Windhoek
+ .1994 in Namibia
---
Joachim Voigts was born on 20.03.1907 at Windhoek. He received his schooling in Germany.
He studied art at the Kunstgewerbeschule Braunschweig, then at the Landeskunstschule
Hamburg. He returned to Namibia in 1931 and finally (after another study year in Germany)
in 1937. He farmed on Okaparakaha and was interned during World War Two in Andalusia and
other camps between 1940 and 1947 in South Africa. After his return he lived on his farm,
since 1978 in Windhoek. Joachim Voigts was a prolific artist, especially in graphic art,
and illustrated many books and magazines in realistic style. He died in 1994. He was
married to Erdmut Voigts, née Böker in 1940.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ART
Profession: Artist
Married to: Erdmut Voigts, née Böker, married 1940-
Father: Gustav Voigts ( -1934)
RAW DATA: AHK 1982, pp.63-71; Lilienthal: Art in Namibia, p.50-52;
001913
Volk, Otto Heinrich
* .1903 at Richen/Baden, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1938
---
Otto Heinrich Volk was born on 1903 at Richen/Baden in Germany. He studied botany in Wien,
München and Heidelberg (Habilitation in Würzburg 1936). He undertook his first research
trip to Namibia in 1938, followed by several later trips. He was Professor of Botany in
Kabul/Afghanistan between 1950 and 1953. He was a Professor for Pharmacognosy in Würzburg
from 1954 to 1972. He did substantial research on phytosociology, ecology and ethnobotany
in Namibia. These fieldwork research resulted in prolific publications, including the
standard work on Namibia pasturage, "Grundlagen der Weidewirtschaft in Südwestafrika
(1954, with Heinrich Walter)".
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: SCI
Profession: Botanist
Namibia National Archives Database
001234
Volkmann, Richard
* 23.06.1870 at Pforta, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1894
---
Richard Volkmann was born on 23.06.1870 at Pforta in Germany. He joined the German
military in 1889. In 1890 he became Lieutenant. He joined the Schutztruppe in 1894 and
took part in the Naukluft fights against Hendrik Witbooi. By the end of 1894, he became
District officer of Omaruru. In 1898 he was commander of a detachment in Keetmanshoop.
From 1899 to 1904 he served as District Officer of Grootfontein. In June 1903 Volkmann undertook a punitive expedition into the Kavango together with the
direct military involvement of the two Roman-Catholic missionaries Hermandung and
Nachtwey. The village of Uukwangali King Himarua was attacked. From there the Germans
moved to Andara where Father Nachtwey agreed with Mbukushu King Diyeve II to the
establishment of a mission station, which was planned for the following year. He
took part in the War against the Ovaherero 1904 (battles of Uitkomst, Okangundi,
Waterberg, and the following pursuit into the Omaheke). He also participated in the
German-Nama War of 1905/1906. On 11.02.1906 the battle of Namtob
was fought by Ovaherero Chief Andreas with Bethany Chief Cornelius Frederiks against the
Germans under the command of Richard Volkmann. Andreas escaped into the Namib Desert where
he probably died of thirst. On 03.03.1906 Cornelius Frederiks finally yielded to German
supremacy (Richard Volkmann) at Heikoms. Frederiks died on Shark Island near Lüderitz in
1907. His decapitated body was used by the German "geneticist" Eugen Fischer to
prove his racial theories of the superiority of the German race. In 1906
Volkmann was the commander of the Bayweg detachment in the south. He retired in 1906.
Since then he was the Director of the Lüderitzbucht Gesellschaft.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Dt.Koloniallexikon; Fischer 1935:233; Chronology of Namibian History, 2003
(Dierks);
000429
Vollbehr, Ernst
* .1876 at Kiel, Germany
+ 13.05.1960 at Krumpendorf, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1909
---
Ernst Vollbehr was born on 1876 at Kiel in Germany. He was a German artist who made
himself a name as a painter of tropical landscapes and of war scenes in both world wars.
In 1909/10, he visited Namibia, travelled throughout the country and produced numerous
paintings. He also reported on this trip in his autobiographical work "Bunte,
leuchtende Welt". Before his death in 1960, Vollbehr sold his collection of sketches
and paintings, including his travel diaries, to the "Deutsches Institut für
Länderkunde" in Leipzig.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ART
Profession: Artist
Collections/Papers:
1). Deutsches Institut für Länderkunde, Leipzig (Paintings, sketches)
2). Staatsbibliothek Berlin (Literary works)
RAW DATA: Joachim Zeller: Berliner Maler und Bildhauer im Dienste der Kolonialidee, in:
Kolonialmetropole Berlin (Berlin 2002), pp.159ff.;
000507
Vollmer, Dorothea
[Gast, Dorothea - married name]
* 20.10.1860 at Hoachanas
---
Dorothea Vollmer, née Gast, was the sixth child of Rhenish Missionary Franz Heinrich and
Wilhelmine Vollmer. Married the merchant Gast from St. Louis, USA.
---
Gender: f
Mother: Wilhelmine Vollmer (-1897)
Father: Franz Heinrich Vollmer (1819-1867)
RAW DATA: Lau; Vergissmeinnicht 1893:27;
000317
Vollmer, Franz Heinrich
* 22.05.1819 at Bielefeld, Germany
+ 03.02.1878 at Heiguraoas at the Zaub River
First entry to Namibia: 1848
---
Franz Heinrich Vollmer was born on 22.05.1819 at Bielefeld in Germany. Originally he was
trained as a linen weaver. He joined the Rheinische Missionsgesellschaft in 1842, and was
sent out to southern Africa in 1846. He arrived in Cape Town on 29.11.1846. He arrived in
Namaland to replace Heinrich Scheppmann, and worked at Rehoboth from 1848 to 1853, and
after that at Hoachanas, where he taught among the Red Nation. He built the Rhenish Church
in Hoachanas in 1857. He was involved in the Treaty of Hoachanas of 1858. He was very keen
to teach in the Nama language, instead of the corrupted Dutch that was commonly used by
the missionaries, and prepared Nama teaching materials for printing. He was married to
Wilhelmine Wenzel on 01.02.1850. They had eight children. He died on 03.02.1878 at
Heiguraoas at the Zaub River.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: REL
Profession: Missionary
Married to: Wilhelmine Vollmer, née Wenzel (-1879), married 1850-1867
Mother: Anne Margarete Christina Vollmer, née Graben (1796-)
Father: Hermann Heinrich Vollmer (1788-)
Children: Heinrich Vollmer (1850-)
Theodor Vollmer (1852-)
Dorothea Vollmer (married Gast)(1860-)
Gottfried Vollmer (1862-)
Wilhelmine (Jnr.) Vollmer (married Hoefen)(1864-)
Namibia National Archives Database
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks (Hoachanas Church of 1857, tower was
later added)
000505
Vollmer, Gottfried
* 26.07.1862 at Hoachanas
---
Gottfried Vollmer was born on 26.07.1862 at Hoachanas. He was the seventh child of Rhenish
Missionary Franz Heinrich and Wilhelmine Vollmer. He became a merchant in Krugersdorp,
Transvaal in South Africa.
---
Gender: m
Mother: Wilhelmine Vollmer (-1897)
Father: Franz Heinrich Vollmer (1819-1867)
Namibia National Archives Database
000318
Vollmer, Heinrich
* 18.11.1850 at Rehoboth
---
Heinrich Vollmer was born on 18.11.1850 at Rehoboth. He was the eldest child of Rhenish
Missionary Franz Heinrich and Wilhelmine Vollmer. He became a merchant in Dortmund,
Germany.
---
Gender: m
Mother: Wilhelmine Vollmer (-1897)
Father: Franz Heinrich Vollmer (1819-1867)
Namibia National Archives Database
000506
Vollmer, Theodor
* 21.08.1852 at Rehoboth
---
Theodor Vollmer was born on 21.08.1852 at Rehoboth. He was the second child of Rhenish
Missionary Franz Heinrich and Wilhelmine Vollmer. He became a trader in Wynberg in South
Africa.
---
Gender: m
Mother: Wilhelmine Vollmer (-1897)
Father: Franz Heinrich Vollmer (1819-1867)
Namibia National Archives Database
000319
Vollmer, Wilhelmine
[Wenzel, Wilhelmine - birth name]
* at Orsoy, Germany
+ 62.06.1897 at Herbede, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1850
---
Wilhelmine Vollmer, née Wenzel, was the wife of Rhenish Missionary Franz Heinrich
Vollmer.
---
Gender: f
Married to: Franz Heinrich Vollmer (1819-1867), married 1850-1867
Mother: Anna Gerdrutha Wenzel, née Hüssen
Father: Christian Friedrich Wenzel
Children: Heinrich Vollmer (1850-)
Theodor Vollmer (1852-)
Dorothea Vollmer (married Gast)(1860-)
Gottfried Vollmer (1862-)
Wilhelmine (Jnr.) Vollmer (married Hoefen)(1864-)
RAW DATA: P.Reiner 1992:441; Lau 1985:V1298; Moritz 2000:7;
000320
Vollmer, Wilhelmine (Jnr.)
[Hoefen, Wilhelmine von - married name]
* 19.06.1864 at Hoachanas
---
Wilhelmine Vollmer was born on 19.06.1864 at Hoachanas. She was the eighth child of
Rhenish Missionary Franz Heinrich and Wilhelmine Vollmer. She married Pastor von Hoefen
from Herbede in Germany.
---
Gender: f
Married to: Franz Heinrich Vollmer (1819-1867)
Father: von Hoefen
Namibia National Archives Database
000710
Von Alten, Victor
* 26.04.1877
+ 10.01.1926
---
Victor von Alten was born on 26.04.1877. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He died on
10.01.1926.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Collections/Papers:
1). NAN: A.151
000424
Von Arnim, Wolf Werner, Graf
[Arnim-Muskau, Wolf Werner von, Graf]
* 11.04.1876
+ 11.08.1904 at Waterberg
---
Wolf Werner von Arnim-Muskau was born on 11.04.1876 in Germany. He was a Schutztruppe
officer in the rank of "Leutnant". He fell in the battle of Waterberg on
11.08.1904.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Mitteilungsblatt des Traditionsverbandes ehemaliger Schutz- und Überseetruppen,
no.52, pp.15-21; Fischer 1935:179;
000423
Von Arenberg, Prosper, Prinz
*
---
Prosper von Arenberg was a settler farmer, who in 1899 murdered Willi Cain.
---
Gender: m
Namibia National Archives Database
000642
Von Bach, Bruno Hans Wilhelm Alfred Adolf Sartorius
* 04.01.1904 at Detmold, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1925
---
Bruno Hans Wilhelm Alfred Adolf Sartorius von Bach was born on 04.01.1904 at Detmold in
Germany. He was educated in Hannover and Hameln and the Kolonialschule Witzenhausen in
Germany. He came to Namibia in 1925. He was a farmer and politician in the SWA National
Party who served in the Legislative Assembly (1955-1970), the Executive Committee (until
1970), the Land Board (1950-1955), and the South African Senate since 1970. He married
Hella Schlettwein on 20.05.1929. The Von Bach Dam is named after him.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: AGR
Profession: Farmer
Functions: Senator - South African Senate - 1970-
Member - Legislative Assembly of SWA - 1955-1970
Member - Executive Committee of SWA - -1970
Married to: Bach Hella, née Schlettwein, married 1929-
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
000643
Von Backstrom, Johan George Frederick
* 17.05.1895 at Johannesburg, South Africa
---
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Married to: Von Backstrom ?, married 1920-
von Backstrom Susie Charlotte, née Dausacker, married 1949-
Father: Johan George Frederick von Backstrom
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001285
Von Beesten
*
---
Von Beesten was a German Schutztruppe officer. He was the German officer-in-command in the
massacre of Ombakaha (at the Omuramba Ganas) on 02.11.1904 where he gave order to kill
nearly 70 Ovaherero soldiers who had come to surrender to the Germans.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:188,355; Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
001290
Von Bennigsen
*
---
Von Bennigsen was a member of the Board of the Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft für
Südwestafrika.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:292;
000663
Von Bergen-Ries, Hans Jürgen
* 30.06.1914 at Aabenraa, Denmark
First entry to Namibia: 1936
---
Hans Jürgen von Bergen-Ries was born on 30.06.1914 at Aabenraa in Denmark and educated
there. He arrived in Namibia in 1936 and worked first in the hardware business, then in
the motor trade. Since 1953 he was the Managing Director of A. Rosenthal Gunsmiths.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Businessman
Father: Jurgen Nicolai von Bergen
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
002033
Von Blottnitz, Marcus
*
---
Marcus von Blottnitz is the Managing Director of Namibia Breweries Limited since August
2003.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Namibia National Archives Database
001303
Von Bodenhausen, Hans, Freiherr
* 11.10.1877 in Germany
+ 06.08.1904 at Waterberg
---
Hans Freiherr von Bodenhausen was born on 11.10.1877 in Germany. He was a Schutztruppe
officer. He died in action just before the Battle of the Waterberg on 06.08.1904 (against
the Ovaherero leader Hosea Kutako).
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:179;
001308
Von Boemcken, Julius
* 14.02.1873 in Germany
---
Julius von Boemcken was born on 14.02.1873 in Germany. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:236;
001317
Von Brederlow, Joachim
* 09.04.1876 in Germany
+ 24.11.1909
---
Joachim von Brederlow was born on 09.04.1876 in Germany. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He
died on 24.11.1909.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:154;
000457
Von Bredow, Hedwig
* 19.12.1853
+ 29.08.1932 at Tsumeb
---
---
Gender: f
Namibia National Archives Database
001324
Von Brön, Eugen Albert
* 11.06.1862 at Berlin, Germany
+ 14.01.1938 at Usakos
First entry to Namibia: 1887
---
Eugen Albert von Brön was born on 11.06.1862 at Berlin in Germany. He was a descendent of
an old merchant family of Danzig in Germany (now Poland), was a mariner and trade agent on
ships of the Woermann Line. He came to Namibia in 1887 and was involved in cattle trade
and transport. He obtained excellent knowledge of the hinterland of Swakopmund and Walvis
Bay, was highly interested in mineralogy, and served as the first "harbour
master" of Swakopmund. He married a Nama woman who had nursed him when he fell
seriously ill in a remote area. This isolated him from European social life and made him
retreat to outposts in the district such as Cape Cross, Sandwich Harbour, and Ururas at
the Kuiseb River. During the First World War he served as translator for the military
magistrate. During the 1920s and 1930s he seems to have lived mostly in Ururas. He died of
liver cancer in the Usakos Hospital on 14.01.1938.
---
Gender: m
Father: Albert A.A. von Brön (1834-1888)
Children: Hans von Brön (1899-)
Collections/Papers:
1). in family custody in Danzig, lost during World War II (Letters to the family)
RAW DATA: H. Rautenberg: Eugen Albert von Brön, Namib und Meer vol.9, pp.19-26;
000688
Von Buchka, Gerhard, Dr.
* .1851 at Neustrelitz, Germany
+ .1935
---
Gerhard von Buchka was born in 1851 in Neustrelitz in Germany. He was a German lawyer. He
was a Reichstag deputy for the "Konservative Partei" from 1893 to 1898 and a
Member of the Commission on the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch). He was a
Member of the Executive Committee of the Deutscher Flottenverein, 1897 and a Director of
the Colonial Department of the German Foreign Office (Kolonialabteilung im Auswärtigen
Amt) from 31.03.1898 until 16.05.1900. From 1902 onwards he was a Vice Chancellor of the
Rostock University. Apparently he was never in Namibia. He died in 1935.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM
Collections/Papers:
1). Deutsches Zentralarchiv Potsdam (now: Bundesarchiv. Abt. Berlin-Lichterfelde?)(Letters
from Johann Albrecht Herzog zu Mecklenburg 1898/99)
RAW DATA: Mommsen; Gann: Rulers.;
001008
Von Bülow, Bernhard, Fürst
* 03.05.1849 at Klein-Flottbek, Germany
+ 29.10.1929 at Rome, Italy
---
Bernhard von Bülow was born on 03.05.1849 at Klein-Flottbek in Germany. He entered the
German diplomatic service in 1888. He became Staatssekretär (Permanent Secretary) of the
German Foreign Office in 1897, and Reichskanzler (Chancellor) in 1900. In 1909 he resigned
from this post after he did not succeed to get a financial reform approved by Parliament,
and thereafter lived in Italy. During his term of office as Chancellor, the
German-Namibian War of 1903-1908 took place, and Von Bülow intervened personally at
several stages of the war. It was Von Bülow who asked the Kaiser to revoke General Von
Trotha's extermination order of 02.10.1904 (not for humanitarian reasons but to save the
labour force of the colony). It was also him who suggested to put the surviving Ovaherero
into concentration camps. He never visited Namibia. He died on 29.10.1929 at Rome in
Italy.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL
Profession: Diplomat Politician
RAW DATA: Brockhaus Konversationslexikon; Drechsler 1966: 133, 158, 186, 192, 194-196,
230, 242, 255, 300, 345, 347-352, 355-356, 359-361, 363, 365;
000636
Von Bülow, Franz Joseph
* 11.09.1861 at Frankfurt/Main, Germany
+ 10.1915 at Dresden, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1891
Last departure from Namibia: 1893
---
Franz Joseph von Bülow was born on 11.09.1861 at Frankfurt/Main in Germany. He was a
Premier Lieutenant in the Prussian Army, but took his leave in 1891 and went to Namibia to
serve in the Schutztruppe. He took part in a number of military engagements against
Hendrik Witbooi, but left the country after he has lost his eyesight through a
hunting accident in October 1893. His book "Drei Jahre im Lande Hendrik
Witboois" (1896) is an important historical source. He died in October 1915 at
Dresden in Germany. He was married to Konstanze von Bülow, née Goldacker in 1898-1899.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
Married to: Konstanze von Bülow, née Goldacker, married 1898-1899
RAW DATA: Deutsches Koloniallexikon; W. Tabel: Erlebnisschilderungen von Soldaten und
Siedlern aus der Kolonial- und Mandatszeit Südwestafrikas, AHK 1975, pp.81-82; Drechsler
1966:70, 80. 83, 146, 300, 333, 339, 349;
001330
Von Bülow, Siegfried
* 10.04.1871 at Schwerin, Germany
+ 27.04.1905 at Huams
First entry to Namibia: 1904
---
Siegfried von Bülow was born on 10.04.1871 at Schwerin in Germany. He was a Schutztruppe
officer. He served in Cameroon under Dominik (1899-1904), then in Namibia from 1904. He
died in action near Huams on 27.04.1905.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Dt.Koloniallexikon;
001332
Von Bunsen
* in Germany
---
Von Bunsen was the Distriktchef of Warmbad from 1897 to 1901. He started the war against
the remnants of the Orlam Afrikaners under Chief Kividoe in 1897 in the extreme south-east
of the territory. On 05.07.1897 the first battle between the Orlam
Afrikaners and the Germans ended in defeat for the latter (Lieutenant von Bunsen, District
Chief of Warmbad and Lieutenant Helm). On 02.08.1897 the
reinforced German forces overpowered the Orlam Afrikaners under their leader Kividoe in
the battle of the Gamsib Ravine at the Oranje River. Following the battle, Kividoe and all
his officers were executed after being extradited by the South African Cape
Police, to whom they had surrendered.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM
RAW DATA: Hubatsch; Leutwein 1906:142-143, 316;
000272
Von Burgsdorff, Karl Henning Konrad
[Burgsdorff, Henning von]
* 19.02.1867 at Demmin, Germany
+ 04.10.1904 at Mariental
First entry to Namibia: 16.07.1894
---
Karl Henning Konrad von Burgsdorff was born on 19.02.1867 at Demmin in Germany. He was the
son of a Prussian officer, and was educated in the Prussian Cadet Corps. In March 1886 he
became Lieutenant in the 3rd Guard Regiment of the Infantry. He was a Lieutenant of the
Schutztruppe from 1894. He married Martha (Malta) von Dallwitz on 15.06.1896 at Walvis
Bay. Burgsdorff belonged to the large contingent of officers and troops requested by
Leutwein for his battle with Witbooi in the Naukluft mountains, and arrived with the ship
"Lulu Bohlen" on 16.07.1894 at Swakopmund. He took part in the Naukluft battles
in 1894. He was stationed at Gibeon from October 1894 as head of the garrison and
"Bezirksamtmann", his relations with Hendrik Witbooi between 1894 and 1904 have
widely been described as cordial. Apparently he was killed by one of Witbooi's men (Salomo
Zaal) on 04.10.1904 at Mariental when he tried to meet Witbooi, despite the fact that
Hendrik Witbooi had informed him in writing that all treaties between the Germans and the
Witbooi Nama were cancelled, and all allegiances renounced (October 1904). His biographer
Alhard von Burgsdorff (1947) has alleged that he was led into a trap by Samuel Izaak and
Petrus Jod, but the precise circumstances of his death are not documented and, in fact,
obscure. The above details were compiled by his biographer and clearly derived from word
of mouth. The informants were Burgsdorff's wife, and a number of contemporary settlers and
farmers who had put their views, and what they in turn had heard, on record. Burgsdorff's
remains were reburied on 02.06.1906 at Hohenjesar in Germany. He was married to Martha
(Malta) Beathe Luise von Burgsdorff, née von Dallwitz (1860-)(married 1896-1904).
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL ADM
Profession: Military officer
Functions: Bezirksamtmann - Bezirk Gibeon - 1896-1904
Married to: Martha (Malta) Beathe Luise von Burgsdorff, née von Dallwitz (1860-), married
1896-1904
Mother: Hedwig Johanna Henriette von Burgsdorff (1835-1888)
Father: Karl Ehrenreich Antonin Wilhelm von Burgsdorff (18224-1880)
Collections/Papers:
1). Archiv Garath * Cited by Alhard v.Burgsdorff; apparently his private archives in 1947;
further fate not established
2). Archiv Hohenjesar * Cited by Alhard v.Burgsdorff; apparently family archives kept by
Conrad v.Burgsdorff; further fate not established
3). Archiv Treplin * Cited by Alhard v.Burgsdorff; apparently family archives; further
fate not established
RAW DATA: Hubatsch; Dt.Kolonialblatt 1904:662 (obituary); Drechsler 1966:90, 93-95,
121-122, 143-144, 202, 204-205, 300, 340-341, 345-346, 357;
001334
Von der Bussche, Baron
*
---
Von der Bussche was the representative of the South West Africa Territories Ltd. in
Warmbad.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:133;
000386
Von Caprivi de Caprera de Montecuccoli, Georg Leo, Graf (Count)
* 24.02.1831 at Berlin, Germany
+ 06.02.1899 at Skyren near Krossen, Germany
---
Georg Leo von Caprivi de Caprera de Montecuccoli was born on 24.02.1831 at Berlin in
Germany. He joined the Prussian Army in 1849. He was in active service in the
German/French War 1870/71. He became Generalmajor in 1877 and Generalleutnant in 1882. He
headed the German Navy in the rank of Vizeadmiral from 1883 to 1888. On 30.03.1890,
Emperor Wilhelm II appointed him as Chancellor (Reichskanzler) to succeed Bismarck, who
disagreed with the Emperor about foreign policy. Although the person was virtually unknown
in the country, Caprivi's name got famous in Namibia through the "Caprivi
Strip", which was named after him (allegedly by Theodor Leutwein) because under his
Chancellorship the so-called Heligoland Treaty with Britain was signed, which gave Germany
colonial authority over this stretch of land between the Okavango and Zambezi rivers.
Caprivi resigned from the Chancellorship on 26.10.1894 and was succeeded by Fürst
Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst. He died on 06.02.1899 at Skyren near Krossen in Germany.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL
Functions: Reichskanzler - Germany - 1890-1894
RAW DATA: Meyers Konversationslexikon 6.Aufl.; Drechsler 1966:70-72, 74, 77/78, 99-100,
295, 305, 312, 314, 316-317, 335-337, 339-340, 342, 347;
001355
Von Cossel, Detloff
* 09.08.1880
---
Detloff von Cossel was born on 09.08.1880. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:179
001363
Von Damm, Walter
* 10.04.1874 in Germany
---
Walter von Damm was born on 10.04.1874 in Germany. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1953:205;
000391
Von Deimling, Berthold
* 21.03.1853 at Karlsruhe, Germany
+ 03.02.1944 at Baden-Baden, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1904
---
Berthold von Deimling was born on 21.03.1853 at Karlsruhe in Germany. He was an officer.
He joined the military as "Einjährig-Freiwilliger" on 01.10.1871. Before coming
to German SWA, he was stationed in Alsace-Lorraine and involved in the "Zabern
incident". He fought in the German-Namibian War 1903-1908. He commanded the troops in
southern Namibia until April 1905, when an injury enforced sick leave in Germany, where he
was mobilitated on 09.11.1905. He returned in May 1906 to become Schutztruppe Commander
until the state of war was officially lifted on 31.03.1907. He returned to Germany as
Major-General. From 1913 to 1917 he was the Commanding General of the XVth Army Corps in
Strasbourg. After World War One, he became active in the peace movement. In 1924, he
co-founded the "Reichsbanner", a Social Democrat paramilitary organisation. He
died on 03.02.1944 at Baden-Baden in Germany.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
Collections/Papers:
1). Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv Freiburg (Includes autobiographical manuscript; war diary
from Namibia 1904-1906; correspondence; and printed material)
RAW DATA: Dt.Koloniallexikon; Hubatsch; Drechsler 1966:182, 216, 218, 226-230, 232-233,
237, 247, 251, 301, 353, 357, 359-362;
001526
Von Donnersmarck, Henckel, Graf
* in Germany
---
Henckel von Donnersmarck acquired shares in the Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft für SWA.
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:41;
001394
Von Eckenbrecher, Margarete
[Hopfer, Margarethe - birth name]
* .1875 at Bernburg/Anhalt, Germany
+ .1955 at Windhoek
First entry to Namibia: 05.1902
---
Margarete von Eckenbrecher, née Hopfer, was born in 1875 at Bernburg/Anhalt in Germany.
She was trained as a teacher, and taught for some years in Berlin in Germany before
marrying the artist, trader and farmer Themistokles v. Eckenbrecher and emigrating with
him to Namibia. They established a farm at Okombahe, which was destroyed in the
German-Ovaherero War of 1904. The family escaped unscathed and returned to Germany, later
lived some years in Usambara (German East Africa). The marriage was divorced in 1913, and
Margarete von Eckenbrecher returned to Namibia where she took up teaching at the
"Oberrealschule" in Windhoek. She taught until retirement in 1933, and lived in
Windhoek until her death in 1955. She became famous for her autobiographical account on
her two years in Okombahe, "Was Afrika mir gab und nahm", which was first
published in 1907 and saw eight reprints (revised and updated ed. in 1938). She died in
1955 at Windhoek.
---
Gender: f
Field of activity: WRI, DU
Profession: Teacher Writer
Married to: Themistokles von Eckenbrecher, married 1902-1913
Mother: Anna Hopfer, née von Clausbruch
Children: Hans-Henning (Büdi) Eckenbrecher (1905-1927)
Themistokles (Bitz) Eckenbrecher (1903-)
RAW DATA: AHK 1975:96-99;
000719
Von Eckenbrecher, Themistokles
[Eckenbrecher, Themis von - colloquial name]
*
First entry to Namibia: 1895
Last departure from Namibia: 1904
---
The artist Themistokles von Eckenbrecher came to Namibia as a Schutztruppe soldier in
1895, where he served until 1900. He lived as a farmer and trader for some years. He
married his wife Margarethe in Berlin, 1902 and established a farm at Okombahe. Some of
his paintings with Namibian motifs were printed as postcards. His wife, Margarethe von
Eckenbrecher, née Hopfer (1875-1955)( married 1902-1913) became famous for her
autobiographical account "Was Afrika mir gab und nahm", which saw eight
reprints.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ART
Profession: Soldier Artist Farmer
Married to: Margarethe von Eckenbrecher, née Hopfer (1875-1955), married 1902-1913
Children: Hans-Henning (Büdi) Eckenbrecher (1905-1927)
Themistokles (Bitz) Eckenbrecher (1903-)
RAW DATA: AHK 1975:96-97;
000436
Von Epp, Franz, Ritter
* 16.10.1868
+ .1946
---
Franz Ritter von Epp was born on 16.10.1868. He was a German officer who fought in China
1900/01 ("Boxer rebellion") and in Namibia during the 1903-1908 War. After the
First World War he became a "Freikorps" leader against the German revolution and
an early member of the Nazi Party. From 1933 until 1945 he was
"Reichsstatthalter" in Bavaria and leader of the Colonial Office
(Kolonialpolitisches Amt) of the Nazi Party. He died in 1946.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
Collections/Papers:
1). Bundesarchiv Koblenz: Personal papers (Includes papers on his Schutztruppe time in
Namibia)
2). Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv München, Abt.II, Geheimes Staatsarchiv: Memoirs
1933-1945, papers from American internment * Probably no Namibian material
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:82-83, 175, 240; Biography in Schmokel: Dream of Empire (New Haven
1964);
000791
Von Erckert, Friedrich
* 30.12.1869 at Bromberg (Bydgoszcz), Germany (today Poland)
+ 16.03.1908 at Seatsub, Botswana
First entry to Namibia: 1899
---
Friedrich von Erckert was born on 30.12.1869 at Bromberg in Germany (today Poland). He was
a German officer. After military training in Wahlstatt and Berlin, he began his career in
the Prussian Army. He served from 1895 to 1897 in the Chilean Army. He joined the SWA
Schutztruppe in 1899 with the rank of Captain. Because of his strong personality and his
leader abilities he was appointed District Chief of Omaruru. But his obstinacy and
punctiliousness so antagonised Governor Theodor Leutwein that Von Erckert was transferred
with his unit to Germany. On his return journey in 1902 he got to know commanders of the
British and South African Boer forces and gained an insight into conditions in South
Africa. During the German Namibian War 1904 he returned to SWA with his military unit.
During 1905 and 1906 he took part in various battles and skirmishes against Nama forces in
the south of the territory, especially in the Great Karas Mountains and along the
Oranje River. He was one of the main adversaries of the Nama commander Jakob Marengo. When
Marengo escaped to the Cape Colony in 1907, Ludwig von Estorff ordered Von Erckert to deal
with the commander of the Khara-khoen (Fransmann Nama), Simon Koper. Von Erckert was the
leader of the camel expedition through the Kalahari into British Bechuanaland to attack
Simon Koper in 1908. After a strenuous expedition Koper was tracked down by the Germans at
Seatsub. Von Erckert was killed in action during an attack on Koper's camp at Seatsub on
16.03.1908. His expedition became legendary in settler historiography, and was
commemorated in several publications, the best-known being Hans Grimm's "Der Zug des
Hauptmanns von Erckert". In 1910 a memorial to Von Erckert was erected at Gochas.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
Collections/Papers:
1). NAN: A.234 (Family newsletter)
2). NAN: A.235 (Photos taken during Erckert's expedition into the Kalahari)
3). NAN: A.145 (Correspondence between E. Zelle and H. Schmiedel re Erckert)
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:237-238, 362; Fischer 1935:passim; DSAB I:853; Chronology of
Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks
001402
Von Erckert, Rudolf
* 05.06.1870
+ 01.09.1894 in the Namib Desert
---
Rudolf von Erckert was born on 05.06.1870. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He died of
exposure in the Namib Desert on 01.09.1894.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:220;
000274
Von Estorff, Ludwig
* 25.12.1859 at Hannover, Germany
+ 05.10.1943 at Uelzen, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 18.07.1894
---
Ludwig von Estorff was born on 25.12.1859 at Hannover in Germany. He was a German
Schutztruppe officer. After military training, including three years at the Military
Academy, he landed in Namibia on 18.07.1894 at Swakopmund, commanding a Schutztruppe
reinforcement contingent of 208 soldiers. He was involved in all major military campaigns
until 1907, the first being the expedition against the Kai|khauan in 1894, and then
against Hendrik Witbooi in the Naukluft Mountains in 1894. He returned to Germany to join
the General Staff in 1899, then served in German East Africa and returned to Namibia in
1902 as Deputy Commander of the Schutztruppe but resigned in 1903. After the outbreak of
the Great Resistance War in 1904, he immediately rejoined the Schutztruppe and arrived in
Swakopmund in February 1904 to fight for two years uninterruptedly against Ovaherero
forces, Hendrik Witbooi and Jakob Marengo. He was promoted to commander of the
Schutztruppe on 01.04.1907, replacing von Trotha, and held this position until 20.03.1911.
He was widely known under the nickname "Der alte Römer" ("The old
Roman"). He won the respect of many for his fearlessness and self-discipline. He was
a supporter of Governor Leutwein's policies, and opposed to Trotha's extermination
strategy. After his return to Germany, he served as a divisional commander in World War
One. Later he served in the Reichswehr, in which he headed the Reichswehrgruppenkommando 3
(1919-1920). Von Estorff left the army with the rank of lieutenant-general, having been
implicated in the Kapp Putsch. Deeply religious, he became closely associated with
Friedrich von Bodelschwingh, and was opposed to the pro-Nazi "Deutsche
Christen". He died on 05.10.1943 at Uelzen.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
Collections/Papers:
1). Family custody: Personal papers * Includes original Witbooi letters
RAW DATA: Gann: Rulers; Dt. Koloniallexikon; Lau 1995:250; DSAB IV:751; Fischer 1935:
passim; Hubatsch; AHK 1983:61; Drechsler 1966:passim;
001403
Von Estorff, Otto
* 30.09.1874
+ 09.04.1904 at Onganjira
---
Otto von Estorff was born on 30.09.1874. He was a German Schutztruppe officer. He died in
action in the battle of Onganjira on 09.04.1904 against the Ovaherero.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:70;
001720
Von Falkenhausen, Friedrich
* in Germany
+ .1904 at Otjituesu
---
Friedrich von Falkenhausen was a trader and farmer near Otjihaenena. He was killed on the
farm Otjituesu at the beginning of the 1904 German-Namibian War. His wife Helene von
Falkenhausen, née Nitze (1875-1945), distilled her experiences into two books.
---
Gender: m
Married to: Helene von Falkenhausen, née Nitze (1875-1945), married 1899-1904
RAW DATA: AHK 1975:91;
001457
Von Falkenhausen, Helene
[Nitze, Helene - birth name]
* .1875 at Weissenburg, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1894
---
Helene von Falkenhausen was born in 1875 at Weissenburg in Germany. She was the daughter
of one of the first settlers in Windhoek, Albert Nitze, who brought his family in 1894 to
Namibia. She was the first trained teacher to work in Windhoek. She married the
farmer-trader Friedrich von Falkenhausen in 1899, and farmed near the White Nossob. Her
husband was killed at the beginning of the German-Ovaherero War in 1904 at Otjituesu. She
returned to Germany by the end of 1904 and wrote her autobiographical books
"Ansiedlerschicksale" (Berlin 1905, several reprints) and
"Deutsch-Südwestafrika: Kriegs- und Friedensbilder" (Leipzig 1907), dealing
mainly with her farming experiences and the war. She was teaching at the Kolonialschule
Witzenhausen but then returned to Namibia in 1908 and bought the farm Brakwater, farmed
after World War One near the Waterberg, and later worked again as a teacher. She returned
to Germany in 1928, lived in Durban/South Africa between 1930 and 1933, then until her
death in 1945 in Germany.
---
Gender: f
Field of activity: WRI EDU
Profession: Teacher
Married to: Friedrich von Falkenhausen (-1904), married 1899-1904
Father: Albert Nitze (-1898)
Namibia National Archives Database
001461
Von Fiedler
*
---
Von Fiedler was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:135, 347;
000895
Von Flotow, Peter
* 27.11.1950
+ 12.11.2002
---
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: PRI
Profession: Typesetter
Namibia National Archives Database
000635
Von François, Alfred
*
First entry to Namibia: 14.02.1891
---
Alfred von François was the eldest of the three von François brothers, who visited
Namibia for half a year on 14.02.1891 and stayed with his brothers Curt and Hugo in the
Schutztruppe. His conversation with Hendrik Witbooi in March 1891, as published by Hugo
von François, is an important document on Witbooi's philosophy.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:74, 200, 304;
000271
Von François, Curt Carl Bruno
* 02.10.1852 in Luxembourg
+ 28.12.1931 at Zernsdorf near Berlin, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 24.06.1889
---
Curt Carl Bruno von François was born on 02.10.1852 in Luxembourg. He was trained as an
officer in the Prussian Army, also as geographer and cartographer. He was the second son
of a Prussian officer, Bruno von François and a descendant of a French Huguenot family
which fled to Prussia during the oppression of the Huguenots in France during the 17th and
18th century. He fought in the German-French war 1870/71. He joined the Belgian Kassai
expedition led by Hermann von Wissmann in 1883 as a geographer and travelled extensively
in the Congo area. He returned to Germany in 1886. He was made Captain and became a member
of the German Imperial General Staff in 1887. He was sent by the German Foreign Office to
Togo in 1887. He arrived in Walvis Bay on 24.06.1889 with 21 troops, the nucleus of the
Schutztruppe in German SWA. Here he found Heinrich Göring, the territorial commissioner,
who had been driven from Okahandja by the Ovaherero Chief Maharero. Against von Göring's
advice he immediately established himself in Otjimbingwe to deal with the opponents of
German authority in the interior. Von François occupied first Tsaobis, then Heusis and
then Windhoek, and started to construct a fort there in October 1890. This earned him the
title "Founder of Windhoek" in colonial historiography (although Windhoek as a
permanent settlement was established some 50 years earlier by Jonker Afrikaner). He
travelled extensively in Namibia and also into Botswana. When Göring left, Von François
was appointed Acting Imperial Commissioner. The administration moved from Otjimbingwe to
Windhoek on 07.12.1891. In 1893 he was promoted to Major and given the title of
"Landeshauptmann" of German South West Africa. In 1893, he started the first
German War on Namibians by his unprovoked attack on Hendrik Witbooi's headquarters at
Hoornkrans. Henrik Witbooi had refused three times to conclude a protection treaty with
the Germans and he became subsequently Von François' main enemy. Von François proved
unable to counter Witbooi's tactic skills, so that Berlin sent Theodor Leutwein to replace
him in 1894, after which he left Namibia and retired from military service in 1895. He
lived at Zernsdorf near Berlin, writing extensively for the rest of his life. He died on
28.12.1931 at Zernsdorf. He was married to Margret Francois, née Meyer in 1897.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
Married to: Margret Francois, née Meyer, married 1897-
Collections/Papers:
1). Bundesarchiv Koblenz: Kleine Erhebungen 532 (Diary)
RAW DATA: Lau 1995:250; Hintrager 1955:32; Deutsche Kolonialpolitik in Dokumenten / hrsg.
E.G. Jacob, Leipzig 1938: 320; Hubatsch gives his death date as 30.12.1931
Königswusterhausen; Deutsches Koloniallexikon; SA military who's who; Deutsches
Koloniallexikon; Bülow 1896:52; Drechsler 1966: passim; DSAB I:853-855
000617
Von François, Hugo
* 12.05.1861 at Reichenbach, Silesia, Germany (now Poland)
+ 13.03.1904 at Owikokorero
First entry to Namibia: 24.06.1889
---
Hugo von François was born on 12.05.1861 at Reichenbach, Silesia, Germany (now Poland).
He was the younger brother of Curt von François. He arrived with him at Walvis Bay on
24.06.1889 in command of the 21-strong first German military force in Namibia. In October
his brother charged him with the major share in the settlement and fortification of the
seat of government in Windhoek. In 1891 he was promoted to lieutenant and in 1896 to
captain. He left the country in 1894, retired from the military in 1898 and returned to
Namibia in 1901 to farm at Otjihase. At the outbreak of the Great Resistance War in 1904,
he fled to Windhoek on 12.01.1904 and rejoined the Schutztruppe. As military commandeer of
the town, he organised the defence of the capital. He fell in combat against the Ovaherero
in the battle of Owikokorero on 13.03.1904. He married Else Gödecke during a visit to
Germany in June 1892.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Lau 1995:250; DSAB I:855-856; SA military who's who; Drechsler 1966:74, 304,
333, 337-338; Bülow 1896:52;
000376
Von Frankenberg und Proschlitz, Victor Günter Egbert
* 19.07.1873 at Berlin, Germany
+ 04.06.1934 at Berlin, Germany
Last departure from Namibia: 1914
---
Victor Günter Egbert von Frankenberg und Proschlitz was born on 19.07.1873 at Berlin in
Germany. He studied law at Paris and geodesy at Cape Town. He was the district
commissioner of Omaruru from 1907 to 1912 and then in the Caprivi Strip from 1913 to 1914.
He was taken prisoner at Schuckmannsburg in the Caprivi Strip by the British forces on
22.09.1914, interned in Rhodesia until 1919, then returned to Germany where he pursued a
government service career. He died on 04.06.1934 in Berlin. He was married to Agnes
Streitwolf, née von Opel.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM
Functions: Distriktsamtmann - Omaruru - 1907-1912
Distriktsamtmann - Caprivizipfel - 1913-1914
Married to: Agnes Streitwolf, née von Opel
Collections/Papers:
1). Unclear - Bundesarchiv Koblenz, or Archiv des Traditionsverbandes? (Diary)
RAW DATA: Hubatsch;
001535
Von Gaertringen, Hiller
*
---
Hiller von Gaertringen was the Bezirksamtmann of Keetmanshoop from 1913 to 1914 (but on
leave in 1914).
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM
RAW DATA: Hubatsch;
000013
Von Garnier, Christine, Dr.
[Christine Hoesch - maiden name]
* in Switzerland
First entry to Namibia: 1967
---
Christine von Garnier, née Hoesch, was born in francophone Switzerland (Le Locle). She
came to Namibia in 1967 after marrying the Namibian farmer, Piet von Garnier. She obtained
a doctorate in social sciences from the University Neuchâtel in 1983. She was a
correspondent for Journal de Genêve, Afrique contemporaine and Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
---
Gender: f
Field of activity: Journalism
Profession: Journalist
Married to: Piet von Garnier, married 1967
RAW DATA: Vom Schutzgebiet bis Namibia (2002);
001407
Von Gersdorff, Ernest
* 25.05.1878
+ 19.06.1916
---
Ernest von Gersdorff was born on 25.05.1878. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He died in
action in World War One on 19.06.1916.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:168-174;
000394
Von Glasenapp, Georg
* 18.01.1857
+ 15.08.1914
---
Georg von Glasenapp was born on 18.01.1857. He served in the German-Namibian War from 1903
to 1908 as commander of a marine battalion. He held the Oberkommando der Schutztruppen in
the Reichskolonialamt from 1908 to 1914. He died on 15.08.1914.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Dt.Biogr.Jb. Teil 1914 [not seen]; Gann: Rulers; Fischer 1935:82, 120, 183, 184;
000829
Von Goldammer, Hugo
* .1856
+ .1905 at Barmen, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1885
---
Hugo von Goldammer was born in 1856. He began his career in the German Army, qualified as
paymaster, and was sent to Namibia in 1885 as one of the first German officials. He became
police chief, commissariat inspector, firstly in Otjimbingwe, and from 1897 secretary of
the German South West Africa government in Windhoek. He died in 1905 at Barmen in Germany.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM
Profession: Colonial administrator
Collections/Papers:
1). NAN: A.4 (Diaries 1886-1888; personal file: correspondence with Foreign Office on
personal matters and career; accounts of official journeys, 1886-1888)
RAW DATA: NAN Accessions finding aid; Drechsler 1966:42;
001494
Von der Groeben
*
---
Von der Groeben was the Bezirksamtmann for Gibeon between 1907 and 1910 and Karibib
between 1911 and 1913.
---
Gender: a
Field of activity: ADM
Functions: Bezirksamtmann - Gibeon - 1907-1910
Bezirksamtmann - Karibib - 1911-1913
RAW DATA: Hubatsch;
001498
Von Gudenberg, Thilo Ernst Otto Moritz Eitel Wolff, Freiherr
* 11.12.1883 at Klein-Calden, Germany
+ 01.06.1915 at Wilhelmstal
First entry to Namibia: 1910
---
Thilo Ernst Otto Moritz Eitel Wolff von Gudenberg was born on 11.12.1883 at Klein-Calden
in Germany. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He came to Namibia in 1910. He was wounded in
World War One near Otjimahengu and died on 01.06.1915 at Wilhelmstal.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
Mother: Marie Wolff von Gudenberg, née Goeddaeus
Father: Alexander Wolff von Gudenberg
RAW DATA: Namibiana I,1:21-25;
001412
Von dem Hagen, Eberhard
* 23.03.1872
+ 16.03.1920
---
Eberhard von dem Hagen was born on 23.03.1872. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He died on
16.03.1920.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:70, 111;
001510
Von Hammerstein
*
---
Von Hammerstein was a Schutztruppe officer. He was involved in the war crime of Ombakaha
(massacre of Ombakaha (at the Omuramba Ganas) on 02.11.1904) where nearly 70 surrendering
Ovaherero soldiers where killed.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:188;
001413
Von Hanenfeld, Paul
* 21.05.1877
---
Paul von Hanenfeld was born on 21.05.1877. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:111;
001414
Von Hanneken, Ferdinand
* 28.05.1877
---
Ferdinand von Hanneken was born on 28.05.1877. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:205;
000846
Von Hansemann, Adolph
* 22.07.1826 at Aachen, Germany
+ 09.12.1903 at Berlin, Germany
---
Adolph von Hansemann was born on 22.07.1826 at Aachen in Germany. He was a banker and
director of one of Germany's largest banks, the Discontogesellschaft, which had been
established by his father David. He was one of the most active promoters of German
colonial ambitions, especially in the Pacific region and China. He was founder member of
the "Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft für SWA". He also established the
"Otavi-Minen-und Eisenbahngesellschaft" to exploit the Tsumeb copper deposits in
Namibia and to build the relevant railway infrastructure. He was a Member of the
Kolonialrat from 1891 to 1903. He apparently never visited Namibia. He died on 09.12.1903
at Berlin.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL BUS
Profession: Politician Businessman
Functions: Managing director - Discontogesellschaft - 1857-1903
Member - Kolonialrat - 1891-1903
Father: David Hansemann
Collections/Papers:
1). In private custody (private papers)* Disappeared 1945 in the war turmoil in Silesia
RAW DATA: Mommsen 1,I; Deutsches Koloniallexikon; Drechsler 1966:10, 12, 30, 39, 41, 301,
312, 323-324, 349;
001416
Von Hardenberg, Hans, Graf
* 13.04.1875
---
Graf Hans von Hardenberg was born on 13.04.1875. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
001417
Von Hardenberg, Rudof, Graf
* 21.11.1876
---
Graf Hans von Hardenberg was born on 21.11.1876. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
000443
Von Hase, Hans Jürgen
* .1911 in Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1933
---
Hans-Jürgen von Hase was born in 1911 in Germany. He came to Namibia in 1933. He
received his training in the fur trade in Germany at the firm Theodor Thorer, Leipzig,
1934-193?. He returned to Namibia in 193?, working in the karakul trade. He was interned
in South Africa from 1940 to 1946. He was a karakul farmer (Farm Jena) until 1975. He was
active in the Republican Party and the DTA. He was a Member of the Interim's Turnhalle
Government 1980-1983 (Minister of Transport). In 1984 von Hase moved to Hout Bay, South
Africa. He was married to Hilda von Hase, née Lühl ( -1981) and to Karin von Hase, née
Neumann.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: AGR
Profession: Farmer
Married to: <1>Hilda von Hase, née Lühl ( -1981)
<2>Karin von Hase, née Neumann
RAW DATA: AZ 16.10.2001, p.5;
000015
Von Hase, Reimar
* .1948
---
Reimar von Hase was born in 1948. He received his schooling on the farm Jena, at the
Deutsche Höhere Privatschule Windhoek (DHPS) and the Gymnasium Schloss Plön in Germany
which he concluded with the "Abitur". He absolved his military service. He
studied agricultural economy at the University of Pretoria (B.Sc.Agr.) He became then
farmer and was engaged in national and international karakul farming bodies.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: AGR
Functions: Member - Karakul Board of South West Africa
Member - International Karakul Secretariat
Director - AFRA
Chairman - Farmerverein Uhlenhorst
Namibia National Archives Database
001418
Von Haxthausen, Christian, Freiherr
* 04.08.1878
+ 28.02.1916
---
Schutztruppe officer. Died in action in World War I in Europe.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:232;
001419
Von Heidebrand und der Lasa, Oskar
* 24.04.1867
+ 12.03.1931
---
Oskar von Heidebrand und der Lasa was born on 24.04.1867. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:179;
001421
Von der Heyde, Hermann
* 21.05.1857
---
Hermann von der Heyde was born on 21.05.1857. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:82; Drechsler 1966:182-183;
000864
Von Heydebreck, Joachim
* 06.10.1861 at Schwedt, Germany
+ 12.11.1914 at Karasburg
First entry to Namibia: 1893
---
Joachim von Heydebreck was born on 06.10.1861 at Schwedt in Germany. He served in the
Prinz Carl Grenadierregiment before being sent to Namibia in 1893. He was the Distriktchef
of Gobabis (?). He served in the German-Namibian War of 1904-1908 in command of an
artillery division. From 1911, he was the commanding officer of the Schutztruppe. He died
by the accidental explosion of a rifle grenade in Kalkfontein-Süd (subsequent Karasburg)
on 12.11.1914. He was succeeded as Schutztruppe commander by Erich Victor Carl August
Franke. He was married to Ruth Heydebreck, née Selle.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
Married to: Ruth Heydebreck, née Selle
RAW DATA: SA Military Who's Who; Hubatsch; Drechsler 1966:342;
001422
Von Hornhardt, Alexander
* 10.07.1866
---
Alexander von Hornhardt was born on 10.07.1866. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:83;
001557
Von Jacobs
*
---
Von Jacobs was an employee of the German Consulate-General in Cape Town.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: DIP
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:2558-259, 358, 360, 365;
001577
Von Kageneck, Graf
* in Germany
---
Von Kageneck was the Distriktchef of Warmbad.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:133, 346;
000816
Von Kaschke, Otto Ernst Walter
* 21.09.1874 at Magdeburg, Germany
+ 10.07.1943 at Windhoek
First entry to Namibia: 15.07.1921
---
Otto Ernst Walter von Kaschke was born on 21.09.1874 at Magdeburg in Germany. He received
his schooling in Berlin from 1882 until 1893. He studied humanities and theology at Halle
from 1893 until 1900. He taught at Berlin-Wilmersdorf from 1901 to 1907, and was then from
1908 until 1910 pastor at the same place. He was a navy chaplain as from 1911. He came to
Namibia in 1921 as pastor of the German Lutheran congregation in Windhoek. As from 1925,
he was a teacher in Windhoek and later until 1938 at Swakopmund. He was a founding member
and board member and Secretary of the SWA Scientific Society as from 1925. He died on
10.07.1943 at Windhoek.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: REL EDU
Profession: Clergy Teacher
Functions: Secretary - SWA Scientific Society 1925-19??
RAW DATA: Mitteilungen Nam.Sci.Soc. 43:7-12(2002):41-42;
001425
Von Kathen, Hans
* 15.01.1882
+ 08.06.1915
---
Hans von Kathen was born on 15.01.1882. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He died on
08.06.1915.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:138, 204;
001430
Von Kleist, Alfred
* 01.02.1882
---
Alfred von Kleist was born on 01.02.1882. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:179;
001431
Von Kleist, Bogislav
* 14.09.1862
---
Bogislav von Kleist was born on 14.09.1862. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:179;
001432
Von Kleist, Detlef
* 27.08.1873
---
Detlef von Kleist was born on 27.08.1873. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:179;
001433
Von Kleist, Ewald
* 21.05.1872
---
Ewald von Kleist was born on 21.05.1872. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:179;
001434
Von Kleist, Rudolf
* 22.02.1875
---
Rudolf von Kleist was born on 22.02.1875. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:179;
001435
Von Kleist, Ulrich
*
---
Ulrich von Kleist was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:179;
001436
Von Kleist, Wilhelm
* 15.05.1875
---
Wilhelm von Kleist was born on 15.05.1875. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:179;
001437
Von Klewitz, Carl
* 12.08.1881
---
Carl von Klewitz was born on 12.08.1881. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:200, 204;
001923
Von Klitzing, Kurt Otto
* 22.05.1913 at Windhoek
+ 14.05.2003 at Swakopmund
---
Kurt Otto von Klitzing was born on 22.05.1913 at Windhoek. He was educated in Swakopmund,
Naumburg (Germany) and Windhoek. He learned karakul farming on farm Voigtsgrund. He bought
the farm Okongona in 1951 and became a prominent karakul breeder. He retired in 2002 to
Swakopmund. He died on 14.05.2003 at Swakopmund.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: AGR
Profession: Farmer
Married to: <1>?
<2>Hedi von Klitzing, née Knapmann, married 1954-
RAW DATA: Obituary in AZ 19.5.2003;
001439
Von Knobelsdorff, Paul
* 07.02.1879
---
Paul von Knobelsdorff was born on 07.02.1879. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935;
001607
Von Koenen, Eberhard
* .1915 in Namibia
---
Eberhard von Koenen was born in 1915. He received his schooling in Namibia and Potsdam.
From 1935 to 1940 he was farmer in Namibia. He was interned in South Africa during World
War Two. He studied sciences. He made ethnographical films in the Kaokoveld, Singapore,
and Indonesia. He was involved in the establishment and first research work at Gobabeb. He
studied medicine and graduated in Johannesburg 1973. Thereafter he was a homeopathic
medical practitioner in Windhoek. He published about medical botany.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MED
Profession: Medical practitioner
Married to: Heide Eva Maria Koenen, née von (?)
Namibia National Archives Database
001608
Von König
* in Germany
---
Von König was Personalreferent (head of personnel administration) in the
Kolonialabteilung des Auswärtigen Amtes and Geheimrat.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM
Namibia National Archives Database
001441
Von Kummer, Wilhelm
* 30.04.1869
---
Wilhelm von Kummer was born on 30.04.1869. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:154;
001628
Von Kunow, Berndt
*
---
Berndt von Kunow was the Managing Director of the Karakul Breeders Association from June
1975.
---
Gender: m
Namibia National Archives Database
001631
Von Kusserow, Heinrich
* 05.11.1836 at Köln, Germany
+ 15.10.1900
---
Heinrich von Kusserow was born on 05.11.1836 at Köln in Germany. He was the head of the
Kolonial-Dezernat im Auswärtigen Amt (Colonial Division in the German Foreign Office)
from 1880 to 1885. He died on 15.10.1900.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM
RAW DATA: Hubatsch; Dt. Koloniallexikon; Drechsler 1966:28, 30, 35, 37, 39-40, 328, 330;
001641
Von Lekow
* in Germany
---
Von Lekow was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:346;
000395
Von Lettow-Vorbeck, Paul
* 20.03.1870 at Saarlouis, Germany
+ 10.03.1964 at Hamburg, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1904
Last departure from Namibia: 1907
---
Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck was born on 20.03.1870 at Saarlouis in Germany. He was the son of
a general, he was trained at the military academy at Potsdam and was thereafter rapidly
promoted, being a member of the general staff in 1899. That year he served in the Western
intervention against the Yihotuan ("Boxer") rising in China. He served in the
Schutztruppe in Namibia from 1904 until 1907, i.a. in operations against Jakob Marengo
(battle of Blydeverwacht 05.01.1906). He was wounded and his left eye seriously damaged.
He was the Commander of the Schutztruppe in German East Africa from 1914 to 1918, where
the troops under his command successfully evaded defeat by the superior British forces
until the end of the war. After his return to Germany, he became a divisional commander in
the Reichswehr in 1919 and suppressed a revolutionary uprising in Hamburg. He retired as a
Major General in 1920. He was a member of various right-wing organisations, but not of the
Nazi party. Because of his sustained resistance against British troops in German East
Africa, he became an icon of the post-World War One colonial movement in Germany and
continued to be popular among German right-wingers and military traditionalists until his
death on 10.03.1964 at Hamburg.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
Collections/Papers:
1). Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv Freiburg (Papers 1881-1957, including diaries from his
service in Namibia)
2). Destroyed in 1944 through war bombing in Berlin
RAW DATA: SA military Whos' who; Gann: Rulerw; Nuhn 1988; DSAB IV; Fischer 1935:83;
001644
Von Lieres und Wilkau, Waldemar Friedrich Wihelm Christian
* 02.09.1943 at Somerset West, South Africa
---
Waldemar Friedrich Wilhelm Christian von Lieres und Wilkau was born on 02.09.1943 at
Somerset West in South Africa. He is the Managing Director of Engen (Namibia) since 1990.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
RAW DATA: WWSA 1994/95;
001645
Von Lilienthal
*
---
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:31, 329, 335, 340;
000321
Von Linsingen, Bertha
[Siebrecht, Bertha - birth name]
* 28.11.1831 at Notheim [Northeim?], Germany
+ 13.06.1923 at Gordon's Bay, South Africa
---
Bertha von Linsingen, née Siebrecht, was born on 28.11.1831 at Notheim [Northeim?] in
Germany. She was the wife of Wilhelm Carl Ferdinand von Linsingen (1831-1923)(married
1856-1880). She died on 13.06.1923 at Gordon's Bay in South Africa.
---
Gender: f
Married to: Carl Ferdinand von Linsingen (1831-1923), married 1856-1880
Children: Anna Judith Julie Auguste von Linsingen (married Hahn)(1861-1938)
Namibia National Archives Database
000322
Von Linsingen, Wilhelm Carl Ferdinand
* 03.03.1822 at Verden, Germany
+ 14.11.1880 at Snodgrass, Cape, South Africa
---
Wilhelm Carl Ferdinand von Linsingen was born on 03.03.1822 at Verden in Germany. He
joined the German Legion for service in the Crimea in Russia in 1854, but as hostilities
ended before the Legion could be deployed there, he decided to emigrate to the Cape Colony
in South Africa, arriving in Cape Town on 30.12.1856. He was sent to the Second Regiment,
stationed at Wiesbaden (Cape Colony), where he stayed for eleven years. In 1867, he joined
the Government Service as a police inspector with the Railways in East London, and in
1879, he was made Governor of the Breakwater Prison in Cape Town. In September 1880, he
volunteered for service during the Pondoland Rebellion, in which both he and his
sixteen-year-old son, Ernst Friedrich Georg, were killed on 14.11.1880 at Snodgrass when
they turned back to help a dehorsed comrade after the section had run into an ambush. He
was married to Bertha von Linsingen, née Siebrecht (1831-1923)(married 1856-1880).
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Married to: Bertha von Linsingen, née Siebrecht (1831-1923), married 1856-1880
Children: Anna Judith Julie Auguste von Linsingen (married Hahn)
Namibia National Archives Database
000323
Von Lippe-Detmold, Augusta
* 01.10.1833 in Germany
+ 08.12.1875 in Germany
---
Augusta von Lippe-Detmold was born on 01.10.1833 . She was the Daughter of Count Albert
von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and widow of Prince Paul Friedrich Emil Leopold zur Lippe. She
was a Countess who was a member of the circle who contributed an initial sum of 2 500
Thaler towards the establishment of the Augustineum in 1862, and promised of a further 100
Thaler per year over the following 10 years. She died on 08.12.1875.
---
Gender: f
Married to: Fürst Paul Friedrich Emil Leopold Zur Lippe
Father: Albert Graf von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
RAW DATA: Diehl 1973:143; Baumann 1965:xii; Faulenbach;
001024
Von Mallinckrodt, Emil Albert Ernst
* 19.01.1878 at Wesel, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1910
---
Emil Albert Ernst von Mallinckrodt was born on 19.01.1878 at Wesel in Germany. He was
educated in Germany and came to Namibia in 1910. He was a merchant. 1921 he started in
Lüderitzbucht a business of his own and in 1927 he opened up in Windhoek. He was the
Managing Director of Ernst von Mallinckrodt (Pty)Ltd.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Businessman
Married to: Theresa von Mallinckrodt, née Hambitzer
Father: Ernst von Mallinckrodt
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001025
Von Maltzahn, Anna
[Uhlig, Anna - birth name]
* 22.08.1888 at Zwickau, Germany
+ 07.09.1960 at Otavi
First entry to Namibia: 1913
---
Anna von Maltzahn, née Uhlig, was born on 22.08.1888 at Zwickau in Germany. She
married the farmer Heinrich von Maltzahn in Walvis Bay in 1913. She lived on the farm
Sissekab. She died on 07.09.1960 at Otavi.
---
Gender: f
Married to: Heinrich von Maltzahn, married 1913 -
Collections/Papers:
1). NAN: A.391 (Diaries 1917-1920, 1936, 1954 and 1959; Reminiscences of Heinrich von
Maltzahn)
001712
Von Maltzahn, Heinrich
*
---
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: AGR
Profession: Farmer
Married to: Anna von Maltzahn, née Uhlig (1888-1960), married 1913-
Collections/Papers:
1). NAN: A.391 (includes reminiscences of Heinrich von Maltzahn)
001658
Von der Marwitz, Kurt Hildebrand
* 12.12.1877
+ 02.12.1904 at Rietmond
---
Kurt Hildebrand von der Marwitz was born on 12.12.1877. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He
died in action against the Witbooi Nama near Rietmond on 02.12.1904.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:179;
001659
Von Massow, Ewald
* 02.11.1875
---
Ewald von Massow was born on 02.11.1875. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:60, 179;
001660
Von Massow, Werner
*
---
Werner von Massow was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:179;
001661
Von Meien, Hans
* 01.12.1877
+ 17.06.1915
---
Hans von Meien was born on 01.12.1877. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He died on
17.06.1915.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:;
001664
Von Nauendorff, Heinrich
* 29.08.1860
+ 02.04.1905 at Gross-Nabas
---
Heinrich von Nauendorff was born on 29.08.1860. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He died in
action on 02.04.1905 against the Witbooi Nama in the battle of Gross-Nabas.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:198;
001085
Von Oertzen, Fortunat Hans-Konrad Anton
* 29.06.1928 at Rostock, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1952
---
Fortunat Hans-Konrad Anton von Oertzen was born on 29.06.1928 at Rostock in Germany. He
was educated at Rostock and Spiekeroog. He came to Namibia in 1952. He was the Managing
Director of Windhoek Textile Distributors (Pty) Ltd. and J.W. Nel Co (Pty) Ltd. as well as
the Owner of Windhoek Textile Agencies and Excelsior Agency. He was married to Lieselotte
Mathilde Oertzen, née Goedeke in 1957.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Businessman
Married to: Lieselotte Mathilde Oertzen, née Goedeke, married 1957-
Father: Detloff von Oertzen
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
001089
Von Ostertag, Robert
* 24.03.1864 at Schwäbisch-Gmünd, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1910
---
Robert von Ostertag was born 24.03.1864 at Schwäbisch-Gmünd in Germany. He studied
veterinary medicine in Stuttgart and medicine in Berlin. He was Professor of Hygiene at
the Tierärztliche Hochschule Stuttgart (1891-1892) and Berlin (1892-1907), then Director
of the Veterinary Department in the "Kaiserl. Gesundheitsamt". He travelled to
Namibia (1910) to study a sheep disease and the organisation of the veterinary services,
and to German East Africa (1913) to study rinderpest and other animal diseases. He was a
prolific author of publications in veterinary science. He was nobilitated 1913 in
Württemberg.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: VET
Profession: Veterinarian
RAW DATA: Dt.Koloniallexikon;
000618
Von Perbandt, Konradin
*
First entry to Namibia: 06.1894
Last departure from Namibia: 1899
---
Konradin von Perbrandt arrived in Namibia in June 1894 as Lieutenant of the Schutztruppe.
He was promoted to Captain in 1896 and left in 1899. No further details traced.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:340; NAN A.648;
001667
Von Petersdorff, Eberhard
* 24.10.1877
+ 05.10.1918
---
Eberhard von Petersdorff was born on 24.10.1877. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He died on
05.10.1918.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:162, 167;
001097
Von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth, Joachim, Graf
[Von Pfeil, Joachim, Graf - short form]
* 30.12.1857 at Neurode, Schlesien, Germany (now: Poland)
+ .1924
---
Joachim von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth was born on 30.12.1857 at Neurode, Silesia in Germany
(now: Poland). He was a German colonial politician, traveller and writer. He went to farm
in South Africa in 1873. He returned to Germany in the early 1880s. He was the co-founder
of the Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Gesellschaft, travelled in East Africa from 1884 to 1887,
where he also concluded treaties. He returned to Germany in 1887, travelled to the Pacific
in the employ of the Neu-Guinea-Kompagnie to lead German settlement in the Bismarck
Archipelago. He travelled to Java, returned to Germany in 1890. A travelled anew to German
East Africa in 1891, and to Namibia in 1892. He was an ardent promoter of Boer settlement
in Namibia, an undertaking which was not much favoured by the German colonial
administration.
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: Giesebrecht: Behandlung der Eingeborenen;
001113
Von Prittwitz und Gaffron, Joachim Bernhard Hermann
[Pix]
* at Windhoek
---
Joachim Bernhard Hermann von Prittwitz und Gaffron (Pix) was educated at
the Prussian Cadet School Schloss Bischofstein and the Ingenieursschule Hamburg. He became
a mechanical engineer and Director of Triplejay Equipment (SWA). He was a Windhoek Town
Councillor from 1964 to the 1970s. He was the Mayor of Windhoek from 1970 to 1971. He
chaired the Windhoek Motor Club, he was the President of the Ramblers Club, the Kalahari
Yacht Club and a Committee of the Deutsche Höhere Privatschule (DHPS). He was married to
Hannelore Martha Prittwitz und Gaffron, née Woratz in 1954.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ENG
Profession: Engineer
Married to: Hannelore Martha Prittwitz und Gaffron, née Woratz, married 1954-
Father: Joachim Bernard Paul Edwald Alexander von Prittwitz und Gaffron
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
001786
Von Quitzow, Lieutenant
*
First entry to Namibia: 1888
---
Von Quitzow was the first commanding officer of the Schutztruppe in 1888.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Esterhuyse 1968:1299; Drechsler 1966:332;
001669
Von Rappard, Emil
* 26.11.1863
+ 26.09.1914 at Sandfontein
---
Emil von Rappard was born on 26.11.1863. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He explored the
Namib Desert and published about it. He died in action during World War One in the Battle
of Sandfontein on 26.09.1914.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:219-220;
001119
Von Rechenberg, Albrecht
* .1861
+ .1935
---
Albrecht von Rechenberg was born in 1861. He was the Governor of German East Africa
between 1906 and 1907. He was a Zentrum deputy in the Reichstag from 1913 to 1914. He was
the Vice President of the Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft from 1923 to 1925. He died in
1935.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL
Profession: Politician
RAW DATA: Gann: Rulers;
001671
Von Reibnitz, Karl Alexander
* 19.02.1878
+ 21.07.1929
---
Karl Alexander von Reibnitz was born on 19.02.1878. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He died
on 21.07.1929.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:102-103, 179;
001120
Von Richthofen, Oswald, Freiherr, Dr.
* 13.10.1847 at Jassy, Romania
+ 17.01.1906 at Berlin, Germany
---
Oswald von Richthofen was born on 13.10.1847 at Jassy in Romania. He was the son of a
Prussian Consul General. He presented Germany in the Egyptian Caisse de la Dette. He was a
Kolonialdirektor in the German Foreign Office, from 15.10.1896 to 31.03.1898. Then he was
Unterstaatssekretär in 1898. He was Staatssekretär in the German Foreign Office in 1900
and Prussian Staatsminister in 1905. He died on 17.01.1906 at Berlin.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: DIP
Profession: Diplomat Administrator
RAW DATA: Gann: Rulers; Hubatsch; Drechsler 1966:230, 347, 350;
001678
Von Saurma-Jeltsch, Wilhelm, Graf (Count)
* 25.08.1872
+ 01.02.1923
---
Wilhelm von Saurma-Jeltsch was born on 25.08.1872. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He died
on 01.02.1923.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:83, 106;
000878
Von Schirp, Alexander, Dr.
* .1911 at Namatanga, Outjo District
+ 01.12.1992 in Germany
Last departure from Namibia: 1962
---
Alexander von Schirp was born at Namatanga near Outjo in 1911, where his parents owned the
farm Namatanga. He received his education in Germany (Stendal and University Göttingen,
where he graduated as Diplom-Kaufmann). After World War Two, he returned to Namibia to the
family farm Namatanga. He returned to Germany in 1962. He was a Member of the SWA
Scientific Society, where he served as President from 1957 to 1958. He died on 01.12.1992
in Germany.
---
Gender: m
Functions: President - SWA Scientific Society - 1957-1958
RAW DATA: Mitt.NWG 43,4-6;
000660
Von Schönau-Wehr, Friedrich, Freiherr
* 02.12.1869 at Wehr, Germany
+ 23.03.1949 at Sigmaringen, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 06.1896
Last departure from Namibia: 1906
---
Friedrich von Schönau-Wehr was born on 02.12.1869 at Wehr in Germany. He served as
officer of the Schutztruppe from 1896 to 1906 in Namibia, and reached the rank of
Oberleutnant. He was seriously wounded in the battle of Otjihinamaparero on 25.02.1904,
and returned to Germany for some months but was deployed again to Namibia until 1906.
After his final return to Germany, he served in the Prussian Police in the rank of
Oberstleutnant. He died on 23.03.1949 at Sigmaringen. He was
married to Ursula Freifrau von Schönau-Wehr.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
Married to: Ursula Freifrau von Schönau-Wehr
Children: Roderich Freiherr von Schönau-Wehr (1915-1997)
Collections/Papers:
1). NAN: A.351
2). In family custody
RAW DATA: Mitteilungsblatt des Traditionsverbandes 85 (1999), p.66;
000388
Von Schuckmann, Bruno
* 20.12.1857 at Rohrbeck, Germany
+ 04.06.1919
First entry to Namibia: 1907
Last departure from Namibia: 1910
---
Bruno von Schuckmann was born on 20.12.1857 at Rohrbeck in Germany. He was a Prussian
estate owner. He studied law and served in the German consular service (Chicago) from 1888
to 1890. 1890 he was transferred to the Kolonialabteilung des Auswärtigen Amtes. From
1896 to 1899 he was Consul-General in Cape Town. He was a Member of the Prussian Landtag
from 1904 until 1907 and again 1912 (Konservative Partei). He was the Governor of German
SWA from 1907 to 1910. He retired to his estate Rohrbeck. He was an Executive Member of
the Deutschnationaler Kolonialverein. He died on 04.06.1919.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM
Collections/Papers:
1). Bundesarchiv Berlin-Lichterfelde
RAW DATA: Mommsen 1,I; Gann: Rulers; Dt.Koloniallexikon; DSAB IV:754; Drechsler 1966:115,
234-237, 241, 246, 269, 275, 361-363, 366-367;
000063
Von Schumann, Gunther
* 20.04.1939 at Omaruru
---
Gunther von Schumann was born on 20.04.1949 at Omaruru. He received his schooling in
Rustenburg, Omaruru and Swakopmund. He visited the Technikon Johannesburg, received
vocational training with the postal service and Siemens in Germany. Since 1970 he was
working for the SWA Department of Posts and Telecommunication, until his retirement in
2000. He last held the position of Head of the Philatelic Services. He is active in the
Namibia Scientific Society, National Monuments Commission and the Philatelic Society. He
is a Member of Sub-Committee: Research of the Archives of the Anticolonial Resistance and
Liberation Struggle (AACRLS) from 2001-. He is an amateur historian with several
publications. He is married to Julia von Schumann, née Arendt.
---
Gender: m
Married to: Julia von Schumann, née Arendt
Namibia National Archives Database
001148
Von Schütz, Yorck Hans Albrecht
* 23.11.1912 at Gobabis
+ Namibia
---
Yorck Hans Albrecht von Schütz was born on 23.11.1912 at Gobabis as son of a former naval
officer who farmed in Namibia. The family emigrated in 1923 via Germany to Brazil, while
von Schütz stayed for schooling in Germany and moved to Brazil in 1928. In 1932 he
returned to Namibia, and learned karakul farming at Voigtsgrund, then worked as farm
manager for the Voigts family. He was the Chairman of the Karakul Board and the
International Karakul Secretariat. He was board member of several agricultural
organisations as well as the Swabank and Bank Windhoek. He died in Windhoek.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: AGR
Profession: Farmer
Married to: Ursula Paula Maria Schütz, née Berens, married 1937-
Mother: ? Schütz (1888-)
Father: Julius von Schütz
Collections/Papers:
1). NAN: A.?
001326
Von Spee, Graf
* in Germany
---
Graf von Spee was a German Admiral. In October 1884, then still a lieutenant, he
accompanied Consul-General Nachtigal to Bethany in Namibia.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
RAW DATA: Esterhuyse 1968:72;
001864
Von Steinäcker
* in Germany
---
Von Steinäcker was one of the first Schutztruppe officers in 1888.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Esterhuyse 1968:129;
001865
Von Stempel, Baron
* in Germany
---
Von Stempel was the District Chief of Bethany.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:156;
001866
Von Stempel, Nikolai
* 17.10.1875 in Sebbeen, Russia
+ 30.08.1904 at Kouchanas (||Khauxa!nas)
---
Nikolai von Stempel was born on 17.10.1875 in Sebbeen in Russia. He was a Schutztruppe
officer (Oberleutnant), killed in action against Jakob Marengo near ||Khauxa!nas
(Kouchanas, Gugunas) on 30.08.1904.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
RAW DATA: Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
001175
Von Stengel, Karl, Freiherr
* 26.07.1840 at Peulendorf, Germany
---
Karl von Stengel was born on 26.07.1840 at Peulendorf in Germany. He studied law in
München from 1859 to 1863. He was Professor of law in Breslau (1881), Würzburg (1890)
and München (1895). He was specialised in colonial law. He served on the board of the
Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft since 1885 with a honorary membership in 1911. He had
numerous publications on colonial and administrative law.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: LAW
Profession: Jurist
RAW DATA: Dt.Koloniallexikon;
001684
Von Stillfried und Rattwitz, Georg, Graf
* 17.07.1870
---
Georg von Stillfried und Rattwitz was born on 17.07.1870. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:179; Drechsler 1966:168, 352;
001871
Von Stülpnagel, Conrad
001684
Von Stillfried und Rattwitz, Georg, Graf
* 17.07.1870
---
Georg von Stillfried und Rattwitz was born on 17.07.1870. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:179; Drechsler 1966:168, 352;
* 20.08.1875 in Germany
+ 05.11.1917
---
Conrad von Stülpnagel was born on 20.08.1875 in Germany. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
He died on 05.11.1917.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:179;
000270
Von Trotha, Adrian Dietrich Lothar
* 03.07.1848 at Magdeburg, Germany
+ 13.03.1920 at Bonn, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1904
Last departure from Namibia: 1905
---
Adrian Dietrich Lothar von Trotha was born on 03.07.1848 at Magdeburg in Germany. He was a
German General. On 24.11.1865 he joined the 2nd Prussian Guards Regiment and fought with
them in the "Seven Weeks" War against Austria, 1966. He fought in the 1870/71
Franco-Prussian war, was decorated and promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. From 1894-97 he
commanded German forces in East Africa, i.a. against the Wahehe rising. He was promoted to
brigadier and commanded a German detachment in the Western allied forces against the
Yihotuan ("Boxer") Rising in China in 1900. In 1901, he travelled in Japan,
South and South East Asia. He returned to Germany in 1902, where he commanded the 16th
Division. He was sent to Namibia in May 1904, and in June that year replaced Theodor
Leutwein as Commander of the Schutztruppe, and later also as Governor. On 02.10.1904 Von Trotha issued a proclamation threatening the Ovaherero with
total extinction: "The Herero are no longer German subjects. They have murdered and
plundered. ... Now, out of cowardice, they want to give up the fight. ... The Herero
nation must leave the country. If it will not do so I shall compel it by force. Inside
German territory every Herero tribesman, armed or unarmed, with or without cattle, will be
shot. No women and children will be allowed in the territory: they will be driven back to
their people or fired on. These are the last words to the Herero nation from me, the great
General of the mighty German Emperor." Von Trotha’s proclamation was in effect
the mere legal sanctioning of that which, as the numerous diaries of the German Schutztruppe
soldiers showed, had already been commonplace since early 1904. Some diary entries may
serve as examples: Captain Victor Franke wrote at Otjihinamaparero on 27.02.: "A
wounded man with a terribly damaged leg is brought in . ... He is questioned and then
shot, Von Arnim executes him properly. He is shot from the back without noticing what is
happening to the unfortunate man." Lieutenant H.F.R. Knoke wrote on 08.07.1904:
"Of the five captured Herero four have been hung. The fifth is used for labour
purposes"; 09.07.: "Our prisoner has a noose around his neck which is then
attached to the saddle of a horse. The particular Witbooi ensures that things do not
become too comfortable for him"; 16.08.: "A captured Herero female was, ..., set
free. However, the bitterness of the people is great. The female had barely left the
encampment when two shots were fired. A sign that this one had also left its life.";
07.10: "As last night we had noticed a number of fires in our vicinity, we looked for
tracks this morning, ... We junior officers galloped ahead, our men followed on foot. We
took the werft [settlement], shot down part of the inhabitants, the remainder we took
along as prisoners". In the diaries of Emil Malzahn, who accompanied Von Trotha on
one of his pursuits, it was noted that prisoners taken on 26.09. at the waterhole of
Owisombo-Owidimbo, were summarily executed: "Newly caught Herero prisoners-of-war
were hung by the neck. Since that day, I would often see Herero swaying from the branch of
a tree". Von Trotha’s genocide and chain orders, however, were later mitigated
by the German Government. During a field service at Osombo-Windimbe Von Trotha announced
that the war against the Ovaherero would be continued without mercy. He claimed that
" ... Since I neither can nor will come to terms with these people without express
orders from His Majesty the Emperor and King, it is essential that all sections of the
nation be subjected to rather stern treatment. I have begun to administer such treatment
on my own initiative and, barring orders to the contrary, will continue to do so as long I
am in command here. My intimate knowledge of so many Central African tribes - Bantu and
others - has made it abundantly plain to me that Negroes will yield only to brute force,
while negotiations are quite pointless. Before my departure yesterday I ordered the
warriors captured recently to be court-martialled and hanged and all women and children
who sought shelter here to be driven back into the sandveld ... ". At dawn the
following morning, Ovaherero prisoners-of-war who had been sentenced to death by a field
court martial were hung in the presence of about 30 Ovaherero prisoners-of-war, women and
children amongst them. After the hanging, Von Trotha’s proclamation was read out to
the prisoners in Otjiherero. His notorious and extremely brutal conduct of
the German-Ovaherero War led to his recall in November 1905. To keep up appearances, he
was decorated with the Pour-le-mérite order. In May 1906 his request for discharge from
the military was granted. He lived in retirement until his death. His first wife died in
October 1905. In 1912 he married Lucy Brinkman, née Goldstein. He died on 13.03.1920 in
Bonn.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
Married to: ? (-1905), married -1905
<2>Lucy von Trotha, née Goldstein, married 1912-
Father: Thilo von Trotha
Collections/Papers:
1). Trothasches Familienarchiv des Thilo-Lebrecht von Trotha in Dieburg/Hessen
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:97, 203; A military who's who; Nuhn 1988; Deutsches
Koloniallexikon; Mommsen 1,II; Drechsler 1966: passim ; Lau 1995:253; Chronology of
Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
001195
Von Uechtritz und Steinkirch, Edgar
* 05.05.1866 at Tzschocha, near Lauban, Germany (now Poland)
First entry to Namibia: 1891
---
Edgar von Uechtritz und Steinkirch was born on 05.05.1866 at Tzschocha, near Lauban in
Germany (now Poland). He was a military officer and traveller. He travelled in Brazil
(1889/90), Namibia (1891/93), and Cameroon (1893). Then he became a farmer in Namibia, but
returned to live in Gebhardsdorf in his native Silesia in Germany.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL AGR
Profession: Military officer Farmer
RAW DATA: Dt.Koloniallexikon;
001895
Von Ujest, Herzog
*
---
Herzog Von Ujest invested in the Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft für Südwestafrika.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:41, 44;
001903
Von Vietz, Dr.
* in Germany
---
Von Vietz was the Distriktchef of Rehoboth in 1909.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM
RAW DATA: Hubatsch;
001689
Von Vollard-Bockelberg, Fritz Wilhelm
* 26.11.1876
+ 03.01.1905 at Gross-Nabas
---
Fritz Wilhelm von Vollard-Bockelberg was born on 26.11.1876. He was a Schutztruppe
officer. He died in the Battle of Gross-Nabas against the Witbooi Nama on 03.01.1905.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:198;
000069
Von Wietersheim, Anton
* 10.06.1951 at Windhoek
---
Anton von Wietersheim was born on 10.06.1951 in Windhoek. He grew up on the family's farm
"Gras", received his schooling in Windhoek (DHPS), Abitur 1970 in Windhoek. In
1971 he undertook his military service in the South African Army. From 1972 until 1975 he
undertook his university studies at Cape Town and Stellenbosch. He obtained his
B.Agric.Admin. in 1975. He was qualified as a private pilot in 1975 and a hunting guide in
1977. He established the farm school Gras in 1980. He obtained the qualification as a
South African air force pilot in 1983. He was a Member of the Executive of the SWA
Agricultural Union, Chairman of the Game Producers Association, Vice-Chairman of the
National Game Committee of SWA and Vice-Chairman of the Association of Professional
Hunters and Hunting Guides. He became a Member of the Constituent Assembly for the SWAPO
Party in 1989 and a Member of the National Assembly from 1990 until 1995. He was appointed
Minister of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development from 1992 to 1993 and dismissed
because of disagreement with the President on the handling of a corruption affair. Later
he joined the Opposition Party, the Congress of Democrats (CoD).
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL AGR
Profession: Farmer, Businessman
Functions: Deputy Minister - Ministry of Trade and Industry - 1991-1992
Minister of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development - 1992-1993
Member of National Assembly 1990-1995
RAW DATA: Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
001693
Von Wilm, Ludwig
[Ritter von Wilm, Ludwig]
* 25.11.1869
+ 16.04.1934
---
Ludwig von Wilm was born on 25.11.1869. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He died on
16.04.1934.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:91, 213, 240-251;
001694
Von Winterfeld, Joachim
* 21.05.1873
---
Joachim von Winterfeld was born on 21.05.1873. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:179;
000698
Von Wolf, Hansheinrich
* 11.01.1873 in Germany
+ 04.09.1916 in France
First entry to Namibia: 1904
Last departure from Namibia: 1914
---
Hansheinrich von Wolf was born on 11.01.1873. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He came to
Namibia in 1904 and fought in the war until 1906. From 1906 to 1907 he had home leave. He
was married to Jayta Humphries on 08.04.1907 in Dresden. He returned to Namibia in
mid-1907, bought the farm Duwisib and started building the Duwisib Castle (designed by
architect Sander). He returned to Germany in 1914, fought in World War One and died in
action on 04.09.1916 in the battle of the Somme in France.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
Married to: Jayta von Wolf, married 1907-1916
Mother: Caroline Louise von Wolf, née von Opel
Father: Ernst Hugo von Wolf
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:134, 191, 258;
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks
001936
Von Zastrow, Berengar
* 07.06.1876 in Schlesien, Germany (today Poland)
---
Berengar von Zastrow was born on 07.06.1876 in Schlesien, Germany (today Poland). He was
the Bezirksamtmann of Grootfontein 1911-1915.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ADM
RAW DATA: Hubatsch;
001690
Vorberg, Hans Otto
* 24.11.1881
---
Hans Otto Vorberg was born on 24.11.1881. He was a Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:155, 260;
001235
Vorster, Balthazar Johannes
* 12.1915 at Jamestown, South Africa
+ 10.09.1983 at Kareedouw, South Africa
---
Balthasar Johannes Vorster was born in December 1915 at Jamestown in South Africa. He was
educated at the Stellenbosch University. During World War Two, he was a General in the
Ossewa Brandwag and interned by General Smuts. After the war, he practised as an attorney
at Johannesburg and then entered Parliament. He was Minister of Justice from August
1961 to September 1966. He succeeded H.F. Verwoerd as South African Prime Minister on
13.09.1966 after latter was assassinated, until 20.09.1978. He served as leader of the
National Party from 1966 to 1978 and as South African State President from 04.10.1978 to
04.06.1979.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL
Profession: Politician
RAW DATA: SA Military Whos' Who;
000325
Vos, C.J. Michael
*
---
C.J. Michael Vos was the Rhenish missionaries' main business agent, based at the Cape. By
1880, he was evidently one of the main suppliers of arms and ammunition to Namibia.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Namibia National Archives Database
001725
Voswinckel, Georg
* .1891 at Rönsahl, Germany
+ .1977
First entry to Namibia: 1912
Last departure from Namibia: 1919
---
Georg Voswinckel was born in 1891 at Rönsahl in Germany. He emigrated in 1912 to Namibia
where he farmed in Otjomikambo. He fought in World War One as reserve non-commissioned
officer. He was convicted in 1918 for the murder of a Bushman by the South Africans. He
escaped from the Windhoek prison in December 1918 together with Alfred Feuerstein, and
joined Mattenklodt in his flight to Angola. He returned to Germany in 1920, was a merchant
in Berlin, and emigrated to Angola in 1930 to grow coffee. During World War Two he stayed
in Germany. In 1949 he went back to Angola. He published his memoirs "Verfehmt,
gehetzt durch Afrika" in 1976.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: AGR
RAW DATA: AHK 1975:111-113;
002125
Vries, David, |Hai-|khauan (Berseba Nama)
[|Gurob Tsauramab - Nama name]
*
+ .1956 at Berseba
---
David Vries (Nama name |Gurob Tsauramab) was a Captain of the |Hai-|khauan (Berseba Nama).
When Captain Diederik Ruben Goliath (1933-1938) was deposed by the South Africans in 1938
and two Deputy Captains (Edward Isaak (Snr.) and David Vries (|Gurob
Tsauramab)(1938-1956)) were appointed, Edward Isaak (Snr.) declined the offer. His son
Edward Isaak (Jnr.)(||Khaub Khurimab)(1938-1959) was appointed instead. David Vries
represented the Goliath Clan until his death in 1956 but was not related to the group.
He was the sixth in the recorded genealogy of the |Hai-|khauan captains.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL
RAW DATA: Budack 1972:255; Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
001914
Vries, Elias
*
---
Elias Vries was a Captain of the Baster Community of Kalkfontein, ca.1884.
---
Gender: m
Namibia National Archives Database
 TO
"U" |
