Work in German southwest Africa

Curt of Francois was used as a captain of the imperial army since 1887 as measurement and research officer in the German colonies Togo and Cameroon. There it the inquiry reached 1889 whether it would be ready to develop and lead on behalf of the German colonization and administration company for colonies in the new colony German southwest Africa a colonial force for the security of the German interests. It accepted this offer and went after Teneriffa, where it Angang June 1889 on angelandete, under guidance of his younger brother, the there, second lieutenant Hugo of Francois, standing colonial force met: it consisted i.e. 8 active ones from the imperial armed forces and 13 Freiwilligen of 21 soldiers. From Francois this troop transferred and landed with it on 24 June 1889 in the port of Walvis Bay, standing under English sovereignty. From there captain of Francois led its soldiers in foot marches after Otjimbingwe and furnished here on 8 July 1889 its headquarters. Otjimbingwe was at that time the seat of the first realm commissioner of German southwest Africa, Dr. Heinrich Ernst

As the first military measure a fastened station (the so-called "“William celebrations"”) let establish as a check of the there trade route from Francois in August 1889 at the Swakop in close proximity to Tsaobis. Then it went to one nearly investigation route by the east and the north of the still to a large extent unexplored country. After its return 1890 it found not only the requested 50 men reinforcement in Otjimbingwe, but also and therefore in the departure Dr. present already recalled. As its successor Francois took over also its task. As a new realm commissioner it renewed 1890 already in October 1885 the closed, but briefly after it widerufenen in May protection contract with Maharero, the upper chieftain of the Herero, and reached on this occasion also its agreement, in at present uninhabited settlement Windhuk establishes itself and a fastened station to establish to be allowed. Samuel Maharero, the son and successor briefly after the contract conclusion of the deceased Maharero, tried, to explain the present Treaty again for futile failed thereby however because of energetic persisting of the new national captain Francois. On 18 October 1890 the foundation-stone for the "“old person of celebrations"” was put and thus for the city Windhuk. Windhoek had existed already under Jonker African since 1840 with a quite considerable number of inhabitants of approximately 30,000 inhabitants, thereafter had been however attacked several times and destroyed and had as place stopped to exist. Today still in Windhuk a monument of Curt of Francois reminds of this event.

From 1890 to 1892 captain of Francois as well as its brother dedicated itself Hugo above all to the cartographic collection of the country. After completion of the old persons of celebrations 1891 headquarters and Reichskommissariat from Otjimbingwe to Windhuk were shifted, whereby Windhuk became now also state capital of German southwest Africa. Francois attached particular importance to the creation of a port independent of the Englishmen; with its investigation routes it became to the and created here on 12 September 1892 the port Swakopmund. Here for the first time 1893 - under adventurous, because lethal circumstances - landed the urgently needed military reinforcement of 225 soldiers. With their assistance it succeeded to Francois on 12 September 1893 in the battle of horn ring successfully to strike the Witbooi under guidance of its chieftain Hendrik Witbooi.

On 1 January 1894 arrived the designate successors of the past realm commissioner and commander of the colonial force in Swakopmund: Major Theodor God-help Leutwein. It was subordinate first likewise to the major carried from Francois and by this into the country and its problems was instructed. Both undertake separate, but one on the other co-ordinated investigation courses into the south of the country, where Francois let fastened colonial force stations establish in March 1894 in Gibeon and Keetmanshoop (at that time "“Modderfontein"” or also "“Swartmodder"” mentioned). 1894 occurred a substantial change in the status of the colonial force: so far it was quasi a private army of the German colonization and administration company for colonies; this changed by imperial decree from the May of the yearly: the colonial force was explained to the names "“imperial colonial force for German southwest Africa"” (which also with new uniforms - which now blue - was connected) now as the official part of of the imperial one armed forces and received.

In August 1894 leave major Curt of Francois Africa over Capetown, in order after Germany return. It left extensive and founded map material to its successor, on whose basis the first military maps of the entire colony could be made. Hugo of Francois, the younger brother of Curt of Francois remained in the country and created the farm "“Francois"”, where he fell 1904 in connection with the Hererokrieg.

Articles in category "Curt Karl Bruno of Francois"

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