Battle of Trekkopjes | |||||||
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Part of South West Africa Campaign | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
South Africa | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Maj. Hermann Ritter | Col. P. C. B. Skinner | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
700–1,500 2 field guns |
1,350 9 armoured cars | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
14 killed 14 wounded 13 captured[1] |
8 killed 34 wounded[1] |
The Battle of Trekkopjes on 26 April 1915[2] was a German assault on the South African held railway station of Trekkopjes during the South West Africa Campaign of World War I. The South African Major Skinner had been ordered to defend Trekkopjes, and came into contact with a German column advancing on the station. Skinner withdrew back into Trekkopjes and dug in his forces. The German attack was repulsed with the help of armoured cars, leaving the South Africans victorious. The Battle of Trekkopjes saw the last German offensive in German South West Africa leaving them on the defensive for the remainder of the campaign.