Introduction

The historiography of the events around the Herero genocide is subject to a great deal of controversy. The reasons why there was a war (or a rebellion) between the Herero and Germany in 1904 are extensively debated. Even the linguistics are not accepted without argument. Thus, Melber has termed the events between the Germans and the Herero the ‘German-Namibian War’. Acknowledging that the use of the word ‘Namibia’ only emerged in the 1960s, his preference is motivated by political reasons. Neville Alexander has called it ‘the first war of anti-colonial resistance’. It was undeniably a resistance conflict, but given the size of the force that was eventually pitted against the Herero and the type of arms and methods used against them, one can hardly classify such a one-sided affair as a war. Other terms, such as ‘massacre’, ‘slaughter’ and ‘annihilation’ seem more apt, as would the term ‘genocide’. Although the first few months of the conflict might fit the description of a war, thereafter the conflict involved a superior force hunting down its opponents and wiping them out by all means possible.

Another subject matter that remains unsettled is when the war or rebellion started and finished. According to Du Pisani the war occurred between 1902 and 1907. However, he groups the Nama and Herero rebellions together. Other tribes also rebelled, including the Bondelswartz in 1903. In 1904, in addition to the rebellions by the Herero, Nama and Bondelswartz, the Franzmanns, the Red Nation and the Veldschoendragers also rebelled. The Bethanie chief initially refused to participate, but his tribe defied him and joined in. The Rehoboths, however, decided it was more advantageous for them to support the Germans. Therefore, the Herero uprising or war, if seen without the involvement of others, began in 1904.

The end date of the war is also subject to debate.